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After a tough series against the Portland Winterhawks, the Kelowna Rockets are ramped up and ready to hit the road for the WHL Championship.
Players practised at Prospera Place Tuesday before they fly out to Brandon, Man., Wednesday.
Both the players and head coach Dan Lambert expressed optimism and enthusiasm as they prepare to take on the Wheat Kings, after missing their chance at the title last year.
“I think there is a lot more confidence, and we are a lot closer as a group,” says team captain Madison Bowey. “I know we all want to win, we are all really battling for each other and I don’t think that was there last year. We are not ready to let it end now. We have one more goal in mind – and we are going to keep trying to achieve that.”
“The guys are a little hungrier, having gone through what we have gone through not only this year but the last few years,” adds Coach Dan Lambert.
“I have been playing here for four years, with some of the guys like Bowey, Martin, and we've always said we wanted to win before we left, and I think this is our last year to do it,” adds centre Tyson Baillie.
The players joked about getting off the team bus and flying first class.
“It is going to be so much nicer – four years on that bus has been a long haul,” laughs Bowey.
The players will then fly back for Game 3 in Kelowna. Their opponents will be on board, but the players said they won't be chatting it up during the flight.
The Rockets made it to the championship after knocking out Portland on Sunday.
The win was crucial for team morale after the Winterhawks knocked the Rockets out in the same round last year.
“It is unreal, especially after they embarrassed us here in Game 5, 7-3. To do the same to them in Game 6 was justice for us, and it felt nice,” says Baillie.
“Going in to a final series, if you are not optimistic you are thinking the wrong way. So, we are all really confident in what we can do and we are all looking forward to it,” says centre Leon Draisaitl.
The series begins Friday between the WHL Eastern Conference champion Brandon Wheat Kings and the WHL Western Conference champion Rockets.
The series winners will earn a spot at the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Quebec City.
This is the first time since 2005 that Brandon and Kelowna have met at the WHL Championship.
Both teams have identical 12-3 records in the playoffs; Brandon has scored 65 goals to the Rockets' 64. The Wheat Kings have also allowed 34 goals to the Rockets' 39.
The teams met once during the regular season – a 6-1 Kelowna win back on Oct. 25 at Prospera Place.
The series will open up in Brandon Friday and Saturday before shifting to Kelowna for games three, four and five.
Those games will be played Monday, May 11, Wednesday, May 13 and Friday, May 15 at Prospera Place.
There are still tickets left for the home games at Prospera Place, you can buy through www.selectyourtickets.com at the box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
– with files from Wayne Moore
