The Kelowna Rockets are a Major Junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Rockets play in the Western Hockey League (WHL), out of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). They play their home games at Prospera Place. __TOC__

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Franchise history

Established in 1991, the team started out as the Tacoma Rockets, previously playing in Tacoma, Washington, and playing their home games at the Tacoma Dome. Prior to the 1995–96 season, the team relocated to Kelowna, playing their home games at the city's Memorial Arena. Following the 1998–99 season, they moved into their then-new home arena, Skyreach Place.

1991–94: Early years

The season marks the first season of the Rockets in Tacoma, Washington. Playing in one of North America's largest hockey arenas, the Tacoma Dome, the expansion Rockets blasted their way to one of the most memorable inaugural seasons in the 25 year history of the Western Hockey League. Attendance of 14,975 and 15,240 at two heated contests against their then arch rival, the Seattle Thunderbirds, assisted the Rockets in chalking up the highest per game average for a first year expansion team under the Canadian Hockey League umbrella.

In 1992–93, the Rockets startled everyone in the league by winning 24 straight home games for an all-time Western Hockey League record. Tacoma held first place in the West Division for three months and finished with a promising 45–27–0. In addition to the winning streak, the Rockets home record of 36–6–0 and collecting 37 more points than the previous year, proved them serious contenders in the WHL. Once again the Rockets attendance of 13,769 saw them defeat the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 in win number 24 and marked the third largest crowd in the history of the WHL. Three Rockets won best in the WHL West. Goaltender, Jeff Calvert – Most Valuable Player; Michal Sykora – Most Valuable Player; and Jamie Black selected as Most Sportsmanlike Player.

The 1993–94 season marks the year of transition for the Rockets, with the graduation of high scoring veteran Allan Egeland, solid forward, Trever Fraser and netminder, Jeff Calvert. The Rockets's third season also brought forward some of the league's best rookies and a phenomenal base of nine NHL drafted players. Six alone were selected in 1994, bringing the total to thirteen Rockets drafted in three seasons. Rockets finished third in the West with a 33–34–5 record.

With a strong finish in the 1993–94 season, the Rockets strive to compete at a higher level of excellence. They launched their third season boasting size in defense and the strength of nine NHL draft picks. Adding the skill and talent of one of Europe's top young forwards, Vaclav Varada who slotted 50 points and tied the team's rookie scoring record. Todd MacDonald, 1993 Florida Panthers draft choice, became the team's top goalie, nominated for the best in the West award. Veteran Dallas Thompson became team Captain. This combination brought the Rockets to a second place finish in the West.

1995–2004: New ownership

The 1995–96 season brings significant change to the entire Rockets organization: not only the loss of defenceman Alexander Alexeev and Captain Dallas Thompson due to age, but the decision to bring the Rockets to Kelowna, British Columbia. After long deliberation and consideration for the City of Tacoma and the many dedicated fans who supported the Rockets, the 22,000 seat Tacoma Dome was no longer a long term viable home for the Rockets. Key dates became more difficult to secure, leaving the Rockets in search of home ice for play-offs at the end of each regular season. No future of change for the poor site lines in the arena brought the Rockets organization to the conclusion the team needed to be moved. There were several viable choices prospected. Kelowna's rich history in hockey and the prospect of a new arena made Kelowna the natural choice. Since the move to Kelowna, the Rockets are right at home in their beautiful new city. They have been accepted by the community with open arms and strong local support. With that brings the talent of first round NHL draft pick, Kyle McLaren and fifth round pick Dale Purinton and the hometown talents of Jason Deleurme, Ronny Grimmard and Trevor Lornson.

2004: Memorial Cup Champions

Kelowna went to three straight Memorial Cup tournaments in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005. They won the Memorial Cup for the first time in franchise history in 2004, coincidentally the same year they were selected to host the event.

Fans lined up outside Prospera Place for hours to witness the 2-1 victory for the Kelowna Rockets in the championship game at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. Every game of the tournament was sold out and an enthusiastic host city cheered wildly as their home team claimed their first Memorial Cup victory. The Rockets are the first team since the Ottawa 67's in 1999 to win the Memorial Cup on home ice and the victory marks the first time the host team has gone undefeated in the tournament.

Justin Keller scored the game winning goal late in the third period as the host Kelowna Rockets won their first ever MasterCard Memorial Cup by defeating the QMJHL Champion Gatineau Olympiques. Despite numerous chances on both ends of the ice through the first two periods of play, neither team could find the back of the net until the third. With six and a half minutes gone in the third and Gatineau on the power-play, Jean Michel Daoust slapped a pass to Guillaume Fournier, who tipped it past Kelly Guard for his first of the tournament. Less than four minutes later, Kelowna tied things up after a rebound from a Brett Palin slap shot went straight to Randall Gelech who chipped it in past Gatineau goaltender David Tremblay for his third of the tournament. Kelowna had a chance to take the lead just seconds later but found the post instead.

With 13:38 left to play in the period, Keller streaked in from the right side and tucked the puck between the pads of Tremblay, bringing the largest-ever crowd to attend Kelowna's Prospera Place to their feet. The Canadian Hockey League was proud to announce more than 1.2 million viewers tuned in to Rogers Sportsnet and RDS coverage of the championship tournament, including 410,000 for the final game when the Kelowna Rockets defeated the Gatineau Olympiques to win the 2004 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Team uniforms

Since 2000, their uniforms have featured a logo resembling the legendary Okanagan Lake monster, Ogopogo. Their current third jersey features the monsters head, taken from their shoulder patch design. The team's colours are jaguar teal, athletic red, copper gold, orange sun, black, and white. In 1998, their team jerseys changed from their traditional "Rockets" logo, to more localized jerseys.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against''

Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Points	Finish	Playoffs
1995–96	72	35	33	4	–	338	309	74	4th West	Lost Western Conference quarter-final
1996–97	72	35	35	2	–	298	314	72	4th West	Lost Western Conference quarter-final
1997–98	72	33	35	4	–	234	253	70	5th West	Lost Western Conference quarter-final
1998–99	72	25	42	5	–	224	282	55	6th West	Lost Western Conference quarter-final
1999–00	72	25	40	4	3	193	228	57	5th West	Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2000–01	72	37	23	7	5	259	240	86	1st West	Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2001–02	72	31	26	10	5	257	232	77	4th B.C.	Lost Western Conference final
2002–03	72	51	14	6	1	311	164	109	1st B.C.	Won Championship
2003–04	72	47	21	4	0	185	115	98	1st B.C.	Lost Western Conference final; Won Memorial Cup
2004–05	72	45	13	12	2	215	139	104	2nd B.C.	Won Championship
Season	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	GF	GA	Points	Finish	Playoffs
2005–06	72	46	22	1	3	243	188	96	2nd B.C.	Lost Western Conference semi-final
2006–07	72	22	41	5	2	156	245	53	5th B.C.	Out of playoffs
2007–08	72	38	26	2	6	248	215	84	2nd B.C.	Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2008–09	72	47	21	1	3	267	178	98	2nd B.C.	Won Championship ; Lost Memorial Cup

Team records

Team records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most points	109	2002–03
Most wins	51	2002–03
Most goals for	338	1995–96
Least goals for	156	2006–07
Least goals against	125	2003–04
Most goals against	314	1996–97

Individual player records for a single season
Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Most goals	Jesse Schultz	53	2002–03
Most assists	Marty Flichel	79	1996–97
Most points	Robb Gordon	114	1995–96
Most points, rookie	Tomas Oravec	65	2000–01
Most points, defenceman	Burt Henderson	74	1995–96
Best GAA (goalie)	Kelly Guard	1.56	2003–04
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Current roster

Updated September 13, 2008.

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