Rockets Up For Awards

Three members of the Western Hockey League regular season champion Kelowna Rockets are finalists for league awards. Goaltender Kelly Guard, who led the league with 44 wins, 13 shutouts and a 1.56 goals against average is the Western finalist as the league's top goaltender. Guard is up against Cam Ward of the Red Deer Rebels. Team captain Josh Gorges is a finalist for top defenseman against Red Deer's Dion Phaneuf. Gorges finished the year with 11 goals and 31 assists. Rockets President Bruce Hamilton and Kelly Kisio of Calgary are finalists for Executive of the Year.

The Western Division All-Star teams were also announced. Guard and Gorges were named first team all-stars, while defenseman Shea Weber was named a 2nd team all-star.

The Rockets open defense of their Western Hockey League title Friday night, when they host the Kootenay Ice in game one of the best of seven Western Conference quarter-final.