couldn乌鸦传媒檛 have asked for a much better conclusion to 2017.

Five straight wins乌鸦传媒攁nd 12 consecutive victories on home ice乌鸦传媒攈ave Jason Smith乌鸦传媒檚 club heading into the new year atop the Western Hockey League乌鸦传媒檚 B.C. Division.

On Wednesday night, in their first action of 2018, the Rockets (23-11-2-1) will look to extend both streaks when the Tri-City Americans pay a visit to Prospera Place. Face off is 7:05 p.m.

While Kelowna is among the league乌鸦传媒檚 hottest teams, the Americans aren乌鸦传媒檛 far behind with five victories and a pair of overtime losses in their last seven games.

乌鸦传媒淲e try not to think about the streak too much, we just need to go out there and play our game,乌鸦传媒� said Rockets assistant captain Gordie Ballhorn. 乌鸦传媒淭ri-City is a good team, we乌鸦传媒檝e had a couple of good battles with them this season, so we乌鸦传媒檒l need to be ready to play and bring our best game against them.乌鸦传媒�

What乌鸦传媒檚 most encouraging for the Rockets is the success they乌鸦传媒檝e had without the services of Dillon Dube and captain Cal Foote, both of whom are playing with Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.

乌鸦传媒淲e wanted to get as many wins as we could with Dillon and Cal away, and the guys have really stepped up,乌鸦传媒� Ballhorn said. 乌鸦传媒淪ome guys have had their roles expanded and have really excelled and contributed. It乌鸦传媒檚 made us better as a team.乌鸦传媒�

In addition to some timely scoring in recent games, the Rockets have been getting exceptional goaltending from their two rookie netminders.

In three games since Christmas, and have combined for three wins, a shutout, a 0.95 goals against average and a save percentage of .982.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been huge for us,乌鸦传媒� Ballhorn said of the goaltending of Porter and Basran. 乌鸦传媒淭hey give us a chance to win pretty much every night. They乌鸦传媒檙e young guys, they乌鸦传媒檙e learning, and they乌鸦传媒檙e doing a great job for us.乌鸦传媒�

Porter, the WHL乌鸦传媒檚 goaltender of the week, earned his second shutout of the season and his career in a 3-0 win Dec. 29 in Kamloops.

Rockets forward Kole Lind has been red hot since being returned from Canada乌鸦传媒檚 junior team evaluation camp last month.

In his last seven games, the 19-year-old Vancouver Canucks乌鸦传媒� draft choice has eight goals乌鸦传媒攊ncluding two hat tricks乌鸦传媒攁nd 14 points.

The Rockets will be home again Friday to host the Seattle Thunderbirds, then will travel to Calgary to face the Hitmen on Sunday afternoon.

Porter goaltender of the week

With a pair of victories and just one goal allowed, James Porter has been named the WHL乌鸦传媒檚 goaltender of the week.

In two starts, the 5-foot-11, 157-pound product of Bonners Ferry, Idaho posted a 0.48 goals against average, a .987 save ratio and one shutout

Last Wednesday, Porter stopped 46 of 47 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over the visiting Kamloops Blazers. Two nights later, he stopped all 28 shots in Kamloops for his second career shutout in a 3-0 win.

Porter, 17, is 15-5-2-0 this season with a 3.22 goals against average and .904 save percentage.

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