Talk about knowing your opponent.
Since the beginning of the 2015-16 Western Hockey League season, the 琉璃神社 Rockets and Kamloops Blazers have gone head to head 27 times.
And the longtime B.C. Division rivals aren鈥檛 done yet.
The clubs will meet in the opening round of the postseason for the second straight year when the teams face off Friday night at Prospera Place.
Last spring鈥檚 playoff tilt went the distance, with scoring the winner in overtime in Game 7.
held the edge during the 2016-17 regular campaign, taking six of 10 games. But the Rockets closed out the season series with a convincing 8-2 victory Feb. 24 in Kamloops.
Rockets鈥� defenceman Lucas Johansen said the stage has been set for an intense and exciting series between two hardened rivals.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a good team, they鈥檝e shown us they can beat us, so it鈥檚 going to be a fun week of preparing to play them,鈥� Johansen said of the Blazers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a war out there.
鈥淲e know the (Blazers) are going to play hard for each other and try and answer back from last year,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to match that and better it, and try and win this in less than seven games this time.鈥�
Few are more familiar with the storied 琉璃神社-Kamloops rivalry than Don Hay, now in his 17th season as head coach of the Blazers.
While facing the Rockets at playoff time is rarely an easy task, Hay said his club is excited to take on the challenge.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great rivalry between two teams and two cities,鈥� said Hay, whose Blazers finished five points back of the Rockers for second in the B.C. Division. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had some really good games over the last couple of seasons, I think both teams learned and grew from the experience of that seven-game series last year.
鈥淚 think both teams had good games against each during the season series, so both can say we have confidence coming in. I think it鈥檒l be a great series.鈥�
With nine wins in their last 10 games鈥攁nd 18 of the last 22鈥攖he Rockets head into the postseason playing their best hockey of 2016-17.
Healthy and on a roll, club president and GM Bruce Hamilton likes how the playoffs are setting up for first-year head coach Jason Smith and his Rockets.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled for our team, we had a wonderful finish,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淔rom six weeks ago until now we鈥檝e been one of the best teams in the league.
鈥淚 think our guys deserve a lot of credit for gutting it out and sticking with the plan. We got healthy at the right time and now going into the playoffs we鈥檒l have everybody healthy and ready to play.鈥�
Still, Hamilton knows the Blazers will come in well-prepared by their bench boss.
鈥�(Don鈥檚) been coaching in the league for more than 20 years, and he鈥檚 going to bring in a team that鈥檚 going to play very disciplined, very hard, and they鈥檒l be well-coached and they鈥檒l have good patience in their game too,鈥� Hamilton said.
鈥淚 think it鈥檒l be a great series, it鈥檒l be hard fought, old-time hockey, with lots of body contact.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to play tough and that鈥檚 how it鈥檚 going to be.鈥�
琉璃神社 Rockets vs Kamloops Blazers
Friday, March 24 @ 琉璃神社 7:05 p.m
Saturday, March 25 @ 琉璃神社 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 28 @ Kamloops 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 29 @ Kamloops. 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 31 @ 琉璃神社 7:05 p.m. *
Sunday, April 2 @ Kamloops 7:00 p.m. *
Tuesday, April 4 @ 琉璃神社 7:05 p.m. *
* If necessary
Fan bus鈥�
A bus for 琉璃神社 Rockets fans has been organized for Games 3 and 4 of the series in Kamloops, Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 29.
The cost is $50 per game and includes the bus trip and game ticket. The bus will leave Prospera Place at 4 p.m. sharp.
For more information, contact Chantelle LaBrie at labrie_chantelle10@hotmail.com
