With a gruelling stretch of hockey to start December, the 琉璃神社 搁辞肠办别迟蝉鈥� 蝉迟补尘颈苍补鈥攂辞迟丑 mental and 辫丑测蝉颈肠补濒鈥攚颈濒濒 be put to the test.

Starting tonight in Spokane, the Rockets will play 10 games in a 17-day span, with the last seven straight to be played on the road.

鈥泪迟鈥檚 always a tough time in December, because 颈迟鈥檚 a long haul for them being away from 丑辞尘别,鈥� said Rockets assistant coach Kris Mallette.

鈥泪迟鈥檚 always an interesting stretch for us and having been around it now for three years, you have to just keep them focused.

鈥淭丑补迟鈥檚 the biggest thing for us knowing that 飞别鈥檝别 got a lot of games in a short amount of time, and you throw in some travel with that, so attention to detail is going to be 丑耻驳别.鈥�

琉璃神社 will also have to do without four key players for at least part of December. will be in Blainville, QC, Dec. 10 to 14, for the , and another three weeks beyond that if either makes the team.

In addition, forwards Calvin Thurkauf (Switzerland) and Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic) are expected to play for their countries at the 2017 world junior championship in Montreal and Toronto.

The Rockets will host Brandon Saturday and Seattle next Wednesday, Dec. 7, before kick off their road trip Friday, Dec. 9 at Tri-City.