Since the third week of October, Prospera Place hasn乌鸦传媒檛 been a particularly hospitable setting for opponents of the Kelowna Rockets.

Led by Carsen Twarynski乌鸦传媒檚 hat trick, the Rockets extended their home-ice winning streak to nine games with a victory Wednesday over the Prince George Cougars.

Twarynski, 20, connected for his first of the night 4:01 into the game on a power play to put the Rockets on top. Dillon Dube then upped Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 lead to two just four minutes later and the Rockets were off and running.

乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 what we were aiming to do was have a good start, we乌鸦传媒檝e been trying to do that the last couple of games,乌鸦传媒� said Twarynski. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e been pretty good the last little stretch for the most part but tonight was a really good first period and that helped us win the game, so that was key for us.乌鸦传媒�

The hat trick gave Twarynski 18 goals for the season, just two short of his career high with the Calgary Hitmen during the 2015-16 season.

Dube乌鸦传媒檚 goal, a shorthanded effort, was of the highlight-reel variety as he dangled through four Cougar defenders, then ripped a shot past Isaiah DiLaura for his 15th of the season.

And Dr. Dube made some magic happen with this beautiful shorty 馃殌馃悏

乌鸦传媒� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)

Captain Cal Foote also scored for the Rockets who haven乌鸦传媒檛 lost at Prospera Place since a 3-1 setback to Portland on Oct. 20.

乌鸦传媒淭he guys obviously really enjoy playing here,乌鸦传媒� Rockets head coach Jason Smith said of his team乌鸦传媒檚 success at home. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e started games well at home which makes it a lot easier, I think if we can continue to come out of the gates and do things the right way off the start of the game, then it really gives you a chance.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a hard place to play and when teams come in and get behind early, it gives us a real good opportunity to win.乌鸦传媒�

Down 5-1, the Cougars beat James Porter twice in the game乌鸦传媒檚 final three minutes. Porter stopped 26 shots in the Kelowna net for his 11th win of the season.

The Rockets (15-8-2-1) will head out on the road Friday when they visit Dan Lambert and the Spokane Chiefs.

Kelowna returns home Saturday to take on the Kootenay Ice on the annual Teddy Bear Toss night at Prospera Place. Face off is 7:05 p.m.

Lind nears return乌鸦传媒�

Kole Lind, who has been sidelined for the last two weeks, is expected back in the Rockets乌鸦传媒� lineup in the near future, possibly as early Saturday night at home against the Kootenay Ice.

Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton confirmed Wednesday that the 19-year-old forward, who hasn乌鸦传媒檛 played since Nov. 14, has been battling mononucleosis.

With Canada乌鸦传媒檚 world junior selection camp roster to be announced on Monday, Hamilton said hopefully the diagnosis will give Lind a chance to be in the running.

乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 likely at the very end stages (of mono) and they乌鸦传媒檝e cleared him to play,乌鸦传媒� said Hamilton. 乌鸦传媒淜ole will be able to play on the first two games of our Prairie trip for sure. It乌鸦传媒檚 been a long, challenging test here for him.

乌鸦传媒淔ortunately for him and for us, that乌鸦传媒檚 likely going to still give him an opportunity to be in the running to be invited to the world junior camp which was probably first and foremost in his mind, to still be on that list.乌鸦传媒�