A pair of Cochrane centres are matching up tonight in the opening round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.

Four-year veteran Dillon Dube and rookie Connor Bouchard, who both wear #19 for their respective clubs, are at the opposite ends of their careers in the opening matchup between the Kelowna Rockets and Tri-City American and both have confidence their team can win and go deep into the playoffs.

Dube has 54 WHL playoff games under his belt, but winning never gets old.

Dillon Dube has 54 WHL playoff games under his belt and is hungry for more. (Courtesy of Kelowna Rockets)

"Right now, the biggest thing is to come out in this first round and really show we are a team that can go all the way," says Dube. "Tri-City is a good team and it's a really good matchup."

Dube says the Rockets just need to focus on playing their game. 

"They play a fast game, they like to get everybody up on the rush so we'll have to keep our head on the swivel and be ready for that. They don't really do anything different than any other team. We've got to worry about ourselves and push the pace out there and hopefully win that series. When we're on, we're on and were a good hockey team."

For Bouchard, who has just turned 17, it's WHL playoff game #1 and he's excited to get going. He says the team has come through some injuries and adversity but it's made them a better them team and they're ready to go.

"Now that we have our full team back we're starting to roll and it's a perfect time because we're going into the playoffs in a tough place to play. It's going to be tough but I think our team's good enough to go all the way. We just have to play our game and do what we do."

Kelowna's Prospera Place can be intimidating to visiting clubs and Bouchard expects the place to be bumping Thursday and Saturday night. He wants to see the Americans take the crowd out of the game early.

"We have to play physical, play with our speed, play with our skills and take the crowd early. We've got to go in there the first 10 minutes and make a statement."

Bouchard has never met Dube but holds him in high regards and know he's an impact player in the league.

"I think it's pretty cool that I get to play against I guy I look up to, but at the same time, I want to beat him."

Dube didn't know Bouchard was from Cochrane, but he has noticed his play when they met early in the season.

"I noticed him before and watched his skill out there and took note of him. It's exciting to know he's from Cochrane and that will be a good matchup. Hopefully, he can take a big step and put Cochrane on the map for everybody, too, because he has a good chance to."