Bruce Hamilton admits he wasn含羞草研究社檛 expecting to cross paths with the Portland Winterhawks again this season.
But after an opening round upset of the Prince George Cougars in six games, the 含羞草研究社楬awks will provide the opposition for Hamilton含羞草研究社檚 in the WHL含羞草研究社檚 Western Conference semifinal.
The best-of-seven series opens Friday night at Prospera Place.
含羞草研究社淭hey obviously played a great series, they beat a pretty good team, the top team in our division all year long, so it is a bit of a surprise,含羞草研究社� the Rockets含羞草研究社� GM said of the
含羞草研究社淪aying that, the (Winterhawks) have been real good since Christmas, they含羞草研究社檙e a fast team and it含羞草研究社檒l be a good challenge for our players.含羞草研究社�
Seeing Portland in the spring is old hat to the Rockets franchise, which has met the Winterhawks in the playoffs five times in the last seven seasons.
The last meeting, in 2015, saw the Rockets prevail in six games over Portland, en route to a WHL championship and trip to the Memorial Cup in Quebec City.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e looking forward to it,含羞草研究社� Hamilton said of renewing the rivalry. 含羞草研究社淭hey have a solid fan base and it含羞草研究社檚 good atmosphere playing down there.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 just happy we含羞草研究社檙e starting at home in front of our fans,含羞草研究社� he added. 含羞草研究社淥ur players are going to be excited to play them.含羞草研究社�
After two seasons coaching in the NHL, Mike Johnston returned this season as head coach and GM of the Hawks, a club he led to three WHL finals in a four-year span between 2011 and 2014.
含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 a very good coach with a lot of experience and he含羞草研究社檒l have them well prepared,含羞草研究社� Hamilton said of Johnston.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檒l be a good challenge for our young coaches to match up against him and get our players ready.含羞草研究社�
The Rockets advanced to the second round after disposing of the Kamloops Blazers in six games.
Reid Gardiner scored a hat-trick in the series clincher, a 4-2 win Sunday at the Sandman Centre.
Kelowna Rockets vs. Portland Winterhawks
Friday, April 7 含羞草研究社擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 8含羞草研究社擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 11含羞草研究社擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12含羞草研究社擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 14含羞草研究社擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
Sunday, April 16含羞草研究社擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m. *
Tuesday, April 18含羞草研究社擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
* If necessary
have a renewed playoff battle with the Portland Winterhawks for round 2! Read about it here: 馃殌馃悏
含羞草研究社� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)
Herringer goalie of month含羞草研究社�
Thanks to his stellar play in March, Rockets含羞草研究社� netminder Michael Herringer has been named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month.
Herringer, a 21-year-old product of Comox, chalked up a record of 10-3-0-0 during the month of March, with an outstanding 1.89 goals-against average, .934 save percentage, three shutouts and 337 saves.
The Rockets含羞草研究社� goaltender logged one shutout during regular-season action, making 21 saves on Friday March 17, in a 7-0 win versus Vancouver. He then posted two shutouts during Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 six-game triumph over the Kamloops Blazers to open the 2017 WHL Playoffs.
He made 15 saves on Friday, March 24, in a 4-0 win versus Kamloops before then registering another 24 saves on Wednesday, March 29, in a 1-0 win at Kamloops.
In 13 appearances during the month of March, Herringer surrendered two goals or fewer on eight occasions, earning first-star honours once and second-star recognition twice.
Herringer was recognized as WHL Goaltender of the Week twice during the month of March and three times over the course of the entire 2016-17 regular season.
In the playoffs, He is 4-2 with a 2.00 GAA, .928 save percentage and two shutouts through six appearances.
