Having reeled in the Prince George Cougars over the course of the last month, a B.C. Division pennant is now in clear view for the Kelowna Rockets.
With just a week left in the WHL regular season and holding one game in hand, the Rockets (41-21-5-0) are a mere two points back of the Cougars (42-21-3-2) for top spot.
With four of their last five games at Prospera Place含羞草研究社攁nd three remaining against the last-place Vancouver Giants含羞草研究社攖he Rockets couldn含羞草研究社檛 ask for a much more favourable scenario.
Prince George, on the other hand, will visit Tri City and Spokane, before closing out the season with a home-and-home set against the rival Kamloops Blazers.
While the prospects of a division title loom large and excitement builds toward the start of the postseason, head coach Jason Smith said it含羞草研究社檚 imperative the Rockets remain focused on their day-to-day tasks.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e excited that the playoffs are coming but we still have games to play and they含羞草研究社檙e all important games,含羞草研究社� said Smith. 含羞草研究社淲e have a real good opportunity to put a good stretch together here between now and the end of the year and that含羞草研究社檚 what we want to do含羞草研究社e want to have energy and excitement and compete every night.含羞草研究社�
The Rockets look to have hit their stride at just the right time of year, with seven wins in their last eight games and 10 in the last 12.
Kelowna defenceman James Hilsendager says the Rockets含羞草研究社� game is definitely trending in the right direction.
含羞草研究社淎s a group we含羞草研究社檝e come together the past three weeks or so, our systems are great and we含羞草研究社檙e sticking to them,含羞草研究社� said Hilsendager. 含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 not a lot of individual play, we含羞草研究社檙e playing as a group.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e playing really well right now, we含羞草研究社檝e just gotta keep it going into the playoffs.含羞草研究社�
And Hilsendager含羞草研究社檚 assessment is backed up by his head coach. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e trying to fine-tune our game, make sure we含羞草研究社檙e ready to play come playoffs,含羞草研究社� said Jason Smith. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e starting to play more complete games, we含羞草研究社檙e playing with structure and detail, and that含羞草研究社檚 allowing us to have success.含羞草研究社�
The Rockets host the Vancouver Giants Friday night, followed by the Victoria Royals on Saturday. Face-off both nights is 7:05 p.m.
