Rockets to play five WHL pre-season games

The Western Hockey League has announced its pre-season schedule which includes 52 games, beginning Friday, September 10 and concluding Saturday, September 25.

The Kelowna Rockets will start the new season with a five-game preseason schedule.

Kelowna will open the 2021 preseason on the road against the Vancouver Giants at the Ladner Leisure Centre in Delta, BC on September 15. The Rockets will play host to the Victoria Royals for back-to-back games on September 17 and 18.

Following those back to back games, the Rockets will wrap up the preseason with a home and home series against the Kamloops Blazers on September 24 and 25.

Details on individual game tickets for the Rockets preseason games at Prospera Place will be released in July.

KELOWNA ROCKETS 2021 PRESEASON SCHEDULE (games are subject to change)

The Rockets will open the 2021-22 regular-season schedule on home ice at Prospera Place, hosting the reigning U.S. Division champion Everett Silvertips on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

The 2021-22 WHL Regular Season is scheduled to open on Friday, October 1. With the anticipated lifting of health restrictions in all jurisdictions the 2021-22 season will call for a 68-game schedule with full capacity in a fan-friendly and safe environment throughout all WHL markets. The 2021-22 WHL Regular Season will conclude Sunday, April 3.

Rockets season ticket holders will receive their renewal packages in the coming weeks.

Season seats for new season seat holders will go on sale in July through the Rockets office.

The 2021-22 WHL Regular Season Schedule will not feature any interlocking games between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.

The 2021 WHL Western Conference Regular Season Schedule will be announced on Wednesday, June 23 at 11 a.m. MT. The 2021-22 WHL Eastern Conference Regular Season Schedule will be announced at a later date.

The 2021 WHL pre-season features two tournaments, including events hosted by the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans.

The puck drops for Everett’s pre-season tournament on Friday, September 10 with a pair of games as the Portland Winterhawks take on the Seattle Thunderbirds (2 p.m. PT) before the Everett Silvertips host the Spokane Chiefs (6 p.m. PT). Angel of the Winds Arena will welcome the Winterhawks, Thunderbirds, Chiefs, and Americans for a U.S. Division six-game mini tournament.

Tri-City’s pre-season tournament gets underway on Friday, September 17 with two games as the Spokane Chiefs take on the Portland Winterhawks (3 p.m. PT) and the Tri-City Americans host the Everett Silvertips (7:05 p.m. PT). The Toyota Center in Kennewick, Wash. will welcome the Silvertips, Winterhawks, Thunderbirds and Chiefs for another U.S. Division six-game mini tournament.

Once again, the WHL pre-season will take WHL action to five non-WHL towns. On Friday, September 24 (7 p.m. PT), the Vancouver Giants and Prince George Cougars will meet in Maple Ridge, B.C., while the Saskatoon Blades and Prince Albert Raiders will head to Warman, Sask., to wrap up pre-season play on Saturday, September 25 (7 p.m. MT). The Medicine Hat Tigers will play both of their games in Irvine, Alta., while the Calgary Hitmen face-off in Siksika, Alta., and Tsuut’ina Nation, Alta.

The 2021-22 WHL regular season schedule for the Western Conference will be announced on Wednesday, June 23 at 11 a.m. MT. The 2021-22 WHL regular season schedule for the Eastern Conference will be announced at a later date.