When RocketFAN first launched in early September, they said there would be no math.
That said, 17 multiplied by 4 = 68.
That is 17 Kelowna Rockets games multiplied by four equals 68 regular season games, the length of an entire WHL season.
Higher mathematics would suggest we are officially 1/4 through the season.
We do know Andrew Cristall leads the team with 15 goals and 35 points in 17 games.
That is 2.06 points per game.
The 17-year-old had just six goals after 17 games a season ago along with 20 fewer points.
Of those 15 goals in 2022-2023, 11 have come on home ice.
No sophomore jinx for forward Gabriel Szturc either. The 19-year-old has 8+19=27 after 17 games, which is 19 more points than a year ago.
Six of Szturc’s eight goals have come at Prospera Place.
Let’s also consider, 10 of the team’s 17 games have been on home ice this season, so the goal count should be higher than on opposition ice.
Adam Kydd, who is one of only two players with double digits in goals on the team (Cristall is the other with 15) has 10+11=21 in 17 games this season. When he joined the squad in a one-for-one deal with the Calgary Hitmen, playing his first game with the Rockets on January 8, 2022, the 20-year-old put up 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in his opening 17 games.
Eight of Kydd’s 10 goals this season have come in front of the hometown crowd.
Captain Colton Dach, while feeling like a slow start for him this season in dealing with concussions, the 19-year-old has more points after 8 games this season than a year ago.
Dach has 5+5=10, which is one point better than the 4+5=9 he collected when he was acquired from the Saskatoon Blades and made his debut with the Rockets in Victoria on opening night in 2021.
The Rockets have also scored the third most home goals in the WHL at the 1/4 mark, with 46.
Only Portland (54) and Moose Jaw (47) are better.
When it comes to goals for and goals against, the team is basically on par with the number of goals scored a season ago. This season, 66 goals have been scored compared to 65 after 17 games in 2021-2022.
The team has allowed four more goals against though, with 64 this year compared to 60 a season ago.
If you want to compare records after 17 games, the Rockets are 8-8-1-0=17 points after 17 games.
Last season they were 10-5-0-2=22 points.
The team was involved in seven-one goal games a quarter through last season. This season, six-one goal games have been played.
I’d argue that this seasons schedule has been significantly harder, with three games against Portland, two against Kamloops and one each vs. Everett, Winnipeg and Seattle.
Those five teams have a combined record of 70-16-6-2.
O.K, enough math, my head hurts!
Comments