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From heartbreak to heart attack hockey

Does a crushing one-goal defeat reveal character? If Monday afternoon's one-goal win over the Tri-City Americans is an indicator, the answer would be a resounding yes. Tij Iginla's breakaway goal with...

Regan Bartel Feb 20, 2024 Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

Rockets and Royals wanting to erase late season struggles

One team with consistency issues face another with injury woes. The Kelowna Rockets, who look great one night only to appear uninterested the next, face the Victoria Royals (104.7 The Lizard pre-game ...

Regan Bartel Feb 16, 2024 Photo credit: Gord Rufh

Pushing the right buttons to get everyone going

When teams need a spark, a head coach often tinkers with the lines to give his hockey club a jolt. If it happens too often throughout a 68-game regular season schedule, 'armchair coaches' who pay a ti...

Regan Bartel Feb 13, 2024 Photo credit: Allen Douglas

Things that make me go hmm....

Let me introduce you to Jan Vandervort. I met the about-to-turn 79-year-old at Veterans Memorial Coliseum two years ago and chatted with her this past week when the Kelowna Rockets visited the Portlan...

Regan Bartel Feb 07, 2024 Photo credit: RocketFAN

Rockets hit rumble strips on road swing

Two out of eight points were earned. Nineteen goals were surrendered in the last two games. With only one win during a four-game road trip, which included losses to Kamloops (3-2), Portland (11-1), an...

Regan Bartel Feb 05, 2024 Photo credit: Larry Brunt

'We just have to get that moxie and swagger back' - Rockets HC Kris Mallette

It was a head-scratching weekend for the Kelowna Rockets. How could the team, with playoff positioning so pivotal, play so lethargic for five out of six periods? The only resemblance of themselves cam...

Regan Bartel Jan 28, 2024 Photo credit: Allen Douglas

Eye-opening experience for Rockets' Eli Barrett

Being a highly regarded prospect isn't easy. Fifteen-year-old Eli Barrett is finding that out this season after being chosen by the Kelowna Rockets in May's WHL Prospects Draft. Returning to Yale Hock...

Regan Bartel Jan 26, 2024 Photo credit: RocketFAN

Rockets head coach watching women's professional league with interest

Kris Mallette is a girl dad first, and a hockey dad second. The father of two daughters, Grace and Kaitlyn, the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets is interested in the first season of the newly formed ...

Regan Bartel Jan 19, 2024 Photo credit: Paige Bednorz

'Gabby' on the cusp of greatness

When the Kelowna Rockets selected a 17-year-old forward by the name of Gabriel Szturc 44th overall in the CHL Import Draft in the summer of 2021, he was a virtual unknown on this side of the ocean. It...

Regan Bartel Jan 17, 2024 Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

'We can play with them' - Rockets AC Josh MacNevin

A goalie can steal a game, while a hot one can steal an entire playoff series. That is the hope for the Kelowna Rockets and Jari Kykkanen when the games become extremely important two months from now....

Regan Bartel Jan 15, 2024