Last Friday night, the Kelowna Rockets jumped on the hometown Seattle Thunderbirds early en route to a convincing 6-2 win.

A week later, the T-Birds will undoubtedly be looking for payback when the teams face off once again tonight in Kent, WA.

Rockets乌鸦传媒� head coach Jason Smith said replicating last week乌鸦传媒檚 first period will be key for his team.

乌鸦传媒淲e went in there last time and got off to a good start in the game,乌鸦传媒� Smith said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 important when you spend that much time on the bus and going into a building that乌鸦传媒檚 hard to play in.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 about starting the game the right way, making sure you乌鸦传媒檙e ready to compete and do things that allow your team to have success.乌鸦传媒�

With rookie goaltenders James Porter and Roman Basran both sidelined, veteran Brodan Salmond will shoulder the netminding load, at least through the weekend.

Salmond, who had been recovering from injury, played his first game since early November on Wednesday as the Rockets edged the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime.

乌鸦传媒淚 think he乌鸦传媒檚 excited about the challenge,乌鸦传媒� Smith said of Salmond, 19. 乌鸦传媒淎ny time you乌鸦传媒檙e out hurt and you have the chance to come back, you乌鸦传媒檝e got that energy and that burst, and he was excited (Wednesday). Now it乌鸦传媒檚 about getting food, rest, and being ready for the next one.乌鸦传媒�

Porter is sidelined on a day-to-day basis with an upper body injury, while a lower body injury will keep Basran out for the long term.

Cole Tisdale, who plays midget AAA in Lethbridge, will serve as Salmond乌鸦传媒檚 back up.

Meanwhile, in his first game back since the world junior championship, Dillon Dube had a goal and an assist for the Rockets, while fellow gold medalist Cal Foote netted the overtime winner. Both were honoured for their world junior victory prior to Wednesday乌鸦传媒檚 game.

Congratulations to both of our gold medalists! You made the country proud! 馃嚚馃嚘馃帠锔�

乌鸦传媒� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)

Connor Bruggen-Cate scored twice Wednesday for the Rockets (28-13-2-1) who stretched their lead to three points over Vancouver atop the B.C. Division.

The Rockets will be back home Saturday to host the Victoria Royals.

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whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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