Rockets set to face Blazers tonight for 1st of 5 straight meetings

The Kelowna Rockets are ready to take on their closest rivals, the Kamloops Blazers, tonight at Prospera Place in their first of three straight meetings to wrap up the WHL pre-season.

The teams also play exhibition games on Friday in Kelowna and Saturday in Kamloops, before opening the regular season with another home-and-home on Friday, Sept. 22 at Prospera Place and Saturday, Sept. 23 in Kamloops.

Rockets head coach Jason Smith says the pre-season is about players improving each night.

“It’s about evaluating and trying to introduce systems, making sure compete and work ethic are there,” Smith said. “We want the young guys to continue to get better and build confidence. We want them to show they’re coachable, that they work, and that they get better each time they’re out there.”

Kelowna’s prospects and younger returnees will be getting more opportunity to showcase their talents this week, as the Rockets will be without Dillon Dube (Calgary), Kole Lind (Vancouver), Cal Foote (Tampa Bay), Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia), Braydyn Chizen (Minnesota), Devante Stephens (Buffalo) and Tomas Soustal (Dallas, tryout) — all of whom will be dispersing throughout the week to their respective NHL rookie camps.

Defencemen Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsendager — both over-age players this season — may also be invited to attend NHL camps and prospect tournaments.

Calvin Thurkauf (Columbus), Nick Merkley (Arizona) and Lucas Johansen (Washington) are all signed by their NHL clubs and not expected to return to the Rockets this season.

Tonight, the Rockets will be looking to rebound from Saturday’s 5-4 overtime loss to the visiting Victoria Royals in Kelowna’s pre-season opener at Prospera Place. The Rockets blew leads of 2-0 and 4-2 in that contest.

Tickets for tonight’s game, as well as Friday’s rematch, are available online through selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.