As both the WHL and BCHL regular seasons kick off this weekend, both the Kelowna Rockets and West Kelowna Warriors are making their final adjustments.
The Kelowna Rockets have been busy since ending the preseason, announcing that forward Connor Pankratz has cleared waivers, while Peyton Kettles, Harrison Boettiger and Jakub Frolo have returned from NHL rookie camp. Nate Corbet and Vojtech Cihar have made the LA Kings’ main camp, and Tomas Poletin has made the New York Islanders’ main camp. The Rockets also announced the signing of forward Von Lakovic to a WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement.
In the Rockets’ four preseason games, they lost 2-1 and won 3-2 in a shootout against Kamloops, while both winning and losing 6-1 to the Penticton Vees.
The new WHL campaign will also introduce several new rules, including the no-return overtime rule, not allowing the offensive team to skate or pass the puck out of the offensive zone after entering, as well as introducing video review for goals that may have been scored after a missed offside call.
The Rockets open the new campaign on Sept. 19 when they face off against the Vancouver Giants in Langley.
The West Kelowna Warriors are also set to open their new campaign when they host the Cranbrook Bucks on Sept. 18 and the Langley Rivermen on Sept. 19.
The Warriors are coming off a playoff series against the Cranbrook Bucks, when the heavily favoured Warriors were stunned, losing in five games to the Bucks.
The Warriors split their two preseason games, winning 5-2 against the Vernon Vipers and losing 3-2 in overtime to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
