WHL PLAYOFFS: Rockets meet Portland in Western Final

KELOWNA – For the fourth time in the past five seasons, the Kelowna Rockets and Portland Winterhawks will meet in the WHL playoffs.

After Portland ended the Rockets playoff seasons in 2014, 2012 and 2011, the Rockets will get a chance for revenge when they take on the Hawks in the WHL Western Conference final beginning this coming weekend in Kelowna.

Games one and two are at Prospera Place Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25.

Both teams advanced into the WHL West final with five game series victories. Kelowna beat out Victoria while the Winterhawks ousted Everett in five games after a win on Sunday.

The series pits two of the top three finishers in the WHL Western Conference. Kelowna finished first in the Conference this season with a 53-13-5-1 record while the Winterhawks finished third in the conference at 43-23-2-4.

The team’s playoff history should make for an entertaining series as an intense rivalry has been built up and each of the past three series have been great battles. Last season Portland won in five games while back in ’11 it was a six game series and ’12 saw the Hawks win in four.

Tickets for games one and two are on sale now at Select Your Tickets.

Here is the series schedule:

Game 1 – Friday, April 24 – Kelowna
Game 2 – Saturday, April 25 – Kelowna
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 28 – Portland
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 29 – Portland
Game 5 – Friday, May 1 – Kelowna
Game 6 – Sunday, May 3 – Portland
Game 7 – Tuesday, May 5 – Kelowna