VICTORIA (Interstat) — The Kelowna Rockets will visit the Victoria Royals on Friday in a minor league hockey matchup at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia. Kelowna enters with a 4-6 record, while Victoria is 6-3 and will be the home team.

Kelowna’s most recent result was a 3-2 shootout loss to Portland. Jacob Henderson was the Rockets’ most productive player in that game, scoring two goals on four shots on goal. Owen Folstrom added one assist and six shots, and Jakub Frolo contributed one assist and four shots with two penalty minutes. Henderson has been a consistent offensive presence for Kelowna, with recent performances that include two goals and four shots against Portland, one goal and five shots against Brandon, and a goal and assist in earlier action. He also has assists in recent games against Portland and Swift Current. The Rockets will look to Henderson to help generate offense as they open the visit against Victoria. Kelowna has had several close finishes this season, including overtime and shootout decisions, and will need to convert scoring chances in a tight road setting.

Victoria’s most recent result was a 4-3 loss at Edmonton. Jacob Schwartz scored once, added one assist, recorded one shot and took two penalty minutes in that game. Miles Cooper scored one goal and recorded five shots, while Hayden Moore added one assist, three shots and two penalty minutes. Schwartz also had one shot in his previous outing at Lethbridge. Victoria has a stronger early-season record and will try to use home ice to build on its 6-3 start. The Royals’ recent schedule has included high-scoring wins and a difficult loss at Edmonton, and Schwartz remains a player to watch as Victoria seeks a balanced attack. Victoria’s recent results include a 5-2 win at Lethbridge and a 6-1 win at Medicine Hat, showing the Royals can produce offense away from home as well.

Kelowna will be looking to improve on a 4-6 start and will need a strong defensive effort against a Victoria team that has won six of nine. The Rockets have shown some scoring depth in their recent games, with Henderson, Folstrom and Frolo among the players who have contributed. Victoria will counter with Schwartz, Cooper and Moore as it tries to take advantage of home ice. The matchup is the first of two consecutive games between the teams, with the rematch set for the next day. The teams will meet again the following day, giving both sides an early look at each other in a two-game set. Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Victoria 4, Kelowna 2.