Bruce Hamilton admits he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 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 香蕉视频直播楬awks will provide the opposition for Hamilton香蕉视频直播檚 in the WHL香蕉视频直播檚 Western Conference semifinal.
The best-of-seven series opens Friday night at Prospera Place.
香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� the Rockets香蕉视频直播� GM said of the
香蕉视频直播淪aying that, the (Winterhawks) have been real good since Christmas, they香蕉视频直播檙e a fast team and it香蕉视频直播檒l be a good challenge for our players.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e looking forward to it,香蕉视频直播� Hamilton said of renewing the rivalry. 香蕉视频直播淭hey have a solid fan base and it香蕉视频直播檚 good atmosphere playing down there.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just happy we香蕉视频直播檙e starting at home in front of our fans,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淥ur players are going to be excited to play them.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a very good coach with a lot of experience and he香蕉视频直播檒l have them well prepared,香蕉视频直播� Hamilton said of Johnston.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檒l be a good challenge for our young coaches to match up against him and get our players ready.香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 8香蕉视频直播擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 11香蕉视频直播擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12香蕉视频直播擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 14香蕉视频直播擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
Sunday, April 16香蕉视频直播擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m. *
Tuesday, April 18香蕉视频直播擯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
香蕉视频直播� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)
Herringer goalie of month香蕉视频直播�
Thanks to his stellar play in March, Rockets香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 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.
