Former Vernon Vipers forward Alex Swetlikoff went pointless in his Kelowna Rockets Debut Friday. The Rockets fell 3-2 in overtime last night in Kamloops.
Alex Swetlikoff's Player Profile:
This was posted on Globalnews.ca
From Vernon Viper to Kelowna Rocket, Alex Swetlikoff makes his WHL debut
December 27, 2018
By Travis Lowe Global News
The boys are back in town. After a two-week Christmas break, the Kelowna Rockets will return to action on Friday night.
At practice Thursday, in amongst the regulars who were skating off their holiday indulgence, is new face and a new number.
That new face is Alex Swetlikoff, wearing number 17.
Back in early December, Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton announced that the team had made a trade for Swetlikoff’s WHL rights.
“Obviously we think he’s a pretty good player and would give us some depth” Hamilton said at the time.
The trade was a bit of a gamble, but one that paid off. Swetlikoff, who was born and raised a in Kelowna, grew up cheering for the Rockets and signed almost immediately with the team.
“I just thought I needed better development. Obviously in the WHL, you are playing better players, a lot faster, more competitive and I just felt I needed to develop right now. And this is the place that is going to get me to the next level,” Swetikoff said.
And with the Kelowna Rockets hosting the Memorial Cup next season, it would have been hard for Swetlikoff to say no.
“I’m super excited for that. Obviously that’s a benefit, but you know that isn’t the reason I signed. But next year, it will be an honor to play for Kelowna in the Memorial Cup,” Swetlikoff said.
The big center had been playing just up the road in Vernon for the Vipers. But on Boxing day, he swapped his Vipers jersey for a Rockets jersey.
The question now is how will he handle the transition from junior A to major junior, where it’s bigger, faster and stronger?
“I think it’s going to take me a little bit of time. Yesterday was a little bit tough, you know, first practice, the guys, but I think everyday I am getting better and today was a little bit easier,” Swetlikoff said.
So what will Swetlikoff bring to his new WHL team?
“I’m a big 200-foot center. I’ll use my speed and size to take pucks to the net,” Swetlikoff said.
Swetlikoff will get his chance to do exactly that Friday night in Kamloops when the Rockets start the second half of the season against the Blazers.
Here is a story-video on Swetlikoff making his Rockets debut
This is posted on the Rockets website:
Rockets fall to Blazers in overtime
December 28, 2018
James Porter Kaedan Korczak kamloops blazers Lane Zablocki Rockets Recap
The Kelowna Rockets were defeated by Kamloops Blazers 3-2 in overtime Friday night at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, BC.
The two teams shook off the holiday break rust in the opening frame. They exchanged chances, but neither team could get the puck past the opposing goaltender. The Rockets and Blazers entered the first intermission in a scoreless tie.
Just when it looked like the second frame would end the same as the first, Lane Zablocki (4) got the Rockets on the board with 1:10 remaining in the period. Zablocki fired a shot that pinballed through the crowd and trickled between the legs of Blazers starter, Dylan Ferguson. Kelowna held a 1-0 lead through 40 minutes of play.
While down a man, the Blazers skated up the ice on a two on one opportunity; Brodi Stuart (10) put the puck past Rockets starter, James Porter to tie up the game 7:23 into the third. On the power play, Kaedan Korczak (3) teed up a bomb that put the Rockets up 2-1 at 15:26. The Blazers pulled their goalie while on the man advantage, Zane Franklin (18) tied the game up with 1:06 left to force overtime.
The teams went back and forth for just over four minutes to make for a thrilling three on three sudden death overtime. Franklin (19) scored his second of the night with 42 seconds left to give the Blazers the victory.
Kelowna’s record is now 16-17-3-0.
James Porter turned aside 26 of the 29 shots he faced, his record moves to 5-7-2-0. The Rockets outshot the Blazers 38 to 29.
Kelowna won’t have to wait long to face Kamloops again, they’ll host them tomorrow night at Prospera Place. Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
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