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Rockets get needed help

Help is on the way for the Kelowna Rockets.

Two of the six players at NHL training camps over the weekend were returned to the Rockets Monday.

Defencemen Braydyn Chizen, training with Minnesota, and Devante Stephens, with Buffalo, were sent back, and should be in the lineup Wednesday.

The help is welcome, especially on the blueline, where the Rockets were forced to move Riley Stadel back to his former defensive position just to get to five D-men.

The additions of Chizen and Stephens will fill out the blueline while allowing Stadel to move back up front.

Ironically, Stadel had just the fourth multi-goal game of his career Saturday after moving back to the blueline.

Despite the return of Stephens and Chizen, the Rockets may still be forced to face the Cougars below the 20-player roster limit.

They split their season opening weekend series with Kamloops with just 17 players dressed.

Four players remain at NHL camps, including Nick Merkley, with Arizona, Dillon Dube, with Calgary, Lucas Johansen, with Washington and Calvin Thurkauf, with Columbus.

Johansen is scheduled to make his pre-season debut for the Capitals Tuesday night.

Merkley, who missed all of training camp last year with an injury may get a longer look than the rest, as the Coyotes look to see what they have in their 19-year-old first round draft choice.

Merkley has spent the last several months rehabbing a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Wednesday's game is the first of three straight between the Rockets (1-1) and the Cougars (2-0).

The teams also hook up for back-to-back games in Prince George Friday and Saturday.

 



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