By Regan Bartel
Short summer

Rockets start season on road

Jun 17, 2026 | 1:36 PM

When you play late into May, like the Kelowna Rockets did hosting the 2026 Memorial Cup, the WHL offseason doesn’t feel like much of an offseason at all. You blink, and suddenly mid-June is here and the next season is already taking shape.

On Wednesday, the Rockets got more clarity on the road ahead as the WHL released key details of its 2026-27 schedule. Kelowna will officially open the season on Friday, September 19th on the road in Vancouver against the Giants.

From there, it’s a quick early-season division swing. Game two sees the Rockets head to Penticton on Friday, September 25th, before returning home for game three — the home opener — on Saturday, September 26th against the Penticton Vees at Prospera Place.

It’s an unusual but intense opening stretch, with the Rockets seeing the Giants once and the Vees twice in the span of their first three games.

As for that home opener, it continues a recent run of high-profile early-season matchups at Prospera Place. For the past four seasons, the Rockets have opened at home against U.S. Division opponents – Portland three times and Spokane once. This year, it’s a B.C. Division rival in the Penticton Vees coming to town to start the home schedule.

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With the WHL schedule now essentially finalized, the full release is expected in the coming week or so, likely around June 24th, similar to last year.

And just like that, a season that felt a long way off during a deep playoff run is suddenly right around the corner.

All home and away games can be heard on 104-7 The LIZARD, and streamed online at RocketFAN.ca.

by Regan Bartel

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