If the games were played strictly on paper, the and couldn香蕉视频直播檛 be any better matched heading into the Western Hockey League playoffs.

The clubs split four regular season meetings right down the middle, each winning twice, with two of the games ending in overtime. On the scoreboard, the Rockets and Americans were also dead even with 13 goals apiece.

Throw in a season where both teams battled multiple key injuries and still finished third and fifth, respectively, in the Western Conference, and Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton expects a long, hard-fought series.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a real good matchup,香蕉视频直播� Hamilton said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e a team similar to us, that had a lot of injuries through the regular season and they香蕉视频直播檙e getting healthy now, too.

香蕉视频直播淚 think you香蕉视频直播檝e got the makings of a long series,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檒l probably be a physical side to it, too, I think we香蕉视频直播檙e going to have to play that way. It香蕉视频直播檚 the playoffs, so as usual it will likely come down to who defends the best and whose goaltender has the best series.香蕉视频直播�

The Ams (38-25-8-1) are led into the series by high-scoring forwards Michael Rasmussen (first-round draft, Detroit), Morgan Geekie (84 points) and Jordan Topping, who are supported by an active and mobile defence, featuring Dylan Coghlan, Juuso V盲lim盲ki and Canadian junior team defenceman Jake Bean, who Tri-City acquired prior to the trade deadline from the Calgary Hitmen.

The Rockets (43-22-5-2) counter with their share end of high-end talent, including Kole Lind (95 points), Dillon Dube, Carsen Twarynski (45 goals), and blueline anchor, captain Cal Foote (70 points).

Rockets rookie James Porter and Americans香蕉视频直播� 20-year-old Patrick Dea will head into the series as their team香蕉视频直播檚 No. 1 netminders.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a fun series, I know the (Americans) play a fast game, they strike quick and they have a few weapons we need to watch out for,香蕉视频直播� said Cal Foote, the Rockets team MVP. 香蕉视频直播淏oth teams played pretty well towards the end of the season, so it should be fast, exciting hockey.香蕉视频直播�

Much like the Americans, who won six of seven down the stretch, the Rockets also closed out the regular season on a high, with five straight victories.

Forward Dillon Dube expects the Americans to present a formidable challenge for the Rockets, not unlike any other playoff team would in the Western Conference.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to have to play a team like this at some point, so it香蕉视频直播檚 nice to play them right away and have home ice advantage,香蕉视频直播� said Dube, the WHL香蕉视频直播檚 player of the week with seven points in two games.

香蕉视频直播淚 think the split for the weekend, Thursday and Saturday games, is good to get the full rest and be 100 per cent for each game. Hopefully we get to where we want to be and we香蕉视频直播檝e got the team to do it.

香蕉视频直播淪o let香蕉视频直播檚 hope we stay healthy, that香蕉视频直播檚 the thing about playoffs,香蕉视频直播� Dube added, 香蕉视频直播測ou never know what will happen, but I think we香蕉视频直播檙e a pretty resilient team and we can do it.香蕉视频直播�

Series schedule:

Game 1: Tri-City @ Kelowna香蕉视频直播擳hursday, March 22 7:05

Game 2: Tri-City @ Kelowna香蕉视频直播擲aturday, March 24 7:05

Game 3: Kelowna @ Tri-City香蕉视频直播擶ednesday, March 28 7:05

Game 4: Kelowna @ Tri-City香蕉视频直播擳hursday, March 29 7:05

Game 5 *: Tri-City @ Kelowna香蕉视频直播擲aturday, March 31 7:05

Game 6 *: Kelowna @ Tri-City香蕉视频直播擲unday, April 1 5:05

Game 7 *: Tri-City @ Kelowna香蕉视频直播擳uesday, April 3 7:05

* If necessary

Rockets Awards

Not an overly vocal captain, Cal Foote led more by example for the Kelowna Rockets香蕉视频直播� during the 2017-18 WHL season.

On Sunday, the 19-year-old blueliner香蕉视频直播檚 impact on the Western Hockey League club couldn香蕉视频直播檛 have been more clear during the Rockets香蕉视频直播� annual awards ceremony at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

Following on the heels of a stellar regular season, Foote was named both the Rockets香蕉视频直播� MVP and, for the second straight year, the club香蕉视频直播檚 top defenceman.

Humbled by the MVP honour, Foote said the recognition could have just as easily gone to Dillon Dube, Kole Lind or Carsen Twarynski.

香蕉视频直播淚 was surprised when I got it because we have so many great players, we have three other guys that are in the running for it,香蕉视频直播� said Foote, who had 19 goals and 70 points this season. 香蕉视频直播淭hey all had a great seasons, credit to them they played well this year.香蕉视频直播�

Forward Dillon Dube won the first ever President香蕉视频直播檚 Award, a new honour designed to recognize outstanding and significant accomplishments by a member of the team.

Dube was the first Kelowna Rockets player ever to earn a spot on the Canada香蕉视频直播檚 world junior team roster in back-to-back seasons. The Cochrane, AB native served as team captain and helped Canada win gold at the 2018 championship in Buffalo.

Defenceman Gordie Ballhorn left the ceremony with three awards in his possession. The 20-year-old from Wetaskiwin, AB won the Unsung Hero and Plus-Minus Awards, and shared the Hamilton Humanitarian Award with fellow over-ager, Carsen Twarynski.

Twarynski, who led Kelowna with 45 goals this season, was also named the Rockets香蕉视频直播� most improved player.

Other award winners:

香蕉视频直播� Top scorer香蕉视频直播擪ole Lind (95 points).

香蕉视频直播� Rookie of the Year香蕉视频直播擪aedan Korczak

香蕉视频直播� Top defensive forward香蕉视频直播擟onner Bruggen-Cate

香蕉视频直播� Most sportsmanlike香蕉视频直播擫eif Mattson

香蕉视频直播� Scholastic Award香蕉视频直播擶il Kushniryk

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