Dube returning to lineup as Rockets face off against Hurricanes
The Kelowna Rockets get set to honour their assistant captain Dillon Dube, who captained Team Canada to a gold-medal finish at the 2018 World Junior hockey championships.
The ceremony happens prior to tonight’s WHL contest against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Prospera Place.
Dube returns to the lineup fully recovered after battling the flu following the World Junior tournament.
The Calgary Flames prospect last skated with the Rockets on Dec. 9 in Brandon when the Rockets fell 7-4 to the Wheat Kings.
Assistant coach Kris Mallette said Tuesday that adding Dube into tonight’s lineup against the Hurricanes will give the team another welcome boost.
“Adding a player back into our lineup like Dillon will be a great addition to our group. He is an elite player who plays in all situations,” Mallette said. “The Rockets’ forwards have done a great job in his absence and having him back will allow us to employ another skilled threat up front.”
Following a strong 6-2 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday in Kent and then a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants on Saturday in Langley, Mallette said the Rockets need to get right back to what led the team to their successes this season.
“We need to continue to pay attention to detail, have contribution throughout the lineup, compete for 60 minutes and finally, have strong special teams,” Mallette said.
This is the second of three meetings this season for the Rockets and the Hurricanes. The first time these clubs met was in November when the Rockets defeated the Hurricanes 7-4 at Prospera Place.
Kelowna enters tonight with a record of 27-13-2-1 giving them 57 points, placing them first in the B.C. division. Kelowna sits one point ahead of the second-place Vancouver Giants with two games in hand, and three points ahead of the third-place Victoria Royals.
The Hurricanes entered last night’s game against the Kamloops Blazers with a record of 20-19-3-0 giving them 43 points. They currently sit in second place in the Central division, nine points back of the Medicine Hat Tigers with three games in hand.
The gold-medal ceremony for Dube is prior to puck drop, which is at 7:05pm.
It’s also “Hat-Trick Wednesday” at Prospera Place which means if you purchase your ticket before 2 p.m. today, $19.99 gets you a hot dog, pop, and your ticket to the game.
After tonight, Kelowna returns to Kent, Wash. for another Friday night battle with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Rockets return home on Saturday night to face off against their divisional rivals the Victoria Royals. Game time is at 7:05pm.
Tickets for all Rockets home games, including tonight’s, are available for Rockets home games through selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
See complete Western Hockey League standings on Page B4.