For much of the 2016-17 Western Hockey League season, Connor Ingram had the 琉璃神社 Rockets鈥� number.

With three wins and a scant three goals allowed in his first three starts against 琉璃神社, the Kamloops Blazers鈥� netminder looked next to unbeatable.

But in the final meeting between the clubs on Feb. 24 in Kamloops, the Rockets broke the dyke against Ingram, chasing the Blazers鈥� stopper with six goals on 26 shots, en route to a .

After struggling to find an answer for Ingram early in the season, leading scorer Kole Lind said the Rockets鈥� last encounter with the Blazer goalie was a positive sign.

鈥淗e was (in our heads) a little bit, I think,鈥� Lind said of Ingram鈥檚 early dominance of 琉璃神社.

鈥淚 think there was a little bit of doubt in our minds against him, but I think we finally figured him out, so it should be a fun series.

鈥淲e just gotta keep going at him,鈥� added Lind, who led the Rockets with 87 points this season. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to make brilliant saves, we know that but I think we just gotta keep firing pucks, second and third chances, and battling for pucks in front will be a huge part of it.鈥�

Ingram鈥檚 play will be centre stage as the Rockets battle the Blazers for the second straight year in the opening round of the WHL playoffs.

Game 1 goes Friday, 7:05 p.m., at Prospera Place.

The Rockets gave more than a few opposing goalies fits down the stretch, scoring 76 goals and closing out the season with 12 wins in 14 games.

琉璃神社 GM Bruce Hamilton said the club鈥檚 offense鈥攚hich struggled at times earlier in the season鈥攈as awakened at the right time of the year. Now it鈥檚 a matter of maintaining that attack against Ingram and the Blazers.

鈥淕etting pucks by (Ingram) is going to be one of the differences in the series,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淲e made some goalies look pretty good in this building this year early on, where we just didn鈥檛 finish. But it鈥檚 been a lot better the last part of the season.

鈥淣ow I think our team understands you gotta go to some areas where you鈥檙e going to get whacked and that鈥檚 just the way it is if you want to have success.鈥�

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series goes Saturday, 7:05 p.m., at Prospera Place, with Games 3 and 4 in Kamloops next Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Blazer faces ex-mates鈥�

Defenceman Joe Gatenby will have a different perspective than a year ago when he was wearing Rockets鈥� colours for their first round series against the Blazers.

The 19-year-old from 琉璃神社 was dealt to Kamloops by the Rockets in the off-season and has been one of the Blazers more dependable blueliners in 2016-17.

Gatenby is looking forward to the challenge of facing his former team but assures he won鈥檛 be feeling the least bit sentimental towards the Rockets once the puck drops.

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting, it鈥檚 a great opportunity for our team and that鈥檚 all I really look at,鈥� said Gatenby, who had seven goals in 38 points in 71 games this season. 鈥淩eally now I鈥檓 just focused on the series, what we need to do.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 get caught up too much in the storylines and the history. Once the game starts, that鈥檚 all I鈥檓 thinking about, trying to do what I can to help the Blazers win.鈥�

As for what key factor will determine a winner in the series, Gatenby believes it will simply come down to the will to win.

鈥淚n the end, it鈥檚 two really good teams going head to head that want the same thing,鈥� said Gatenby. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just going to be who wants it more, that鈥檚 all it will really come down to.鈥�