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Kelowna Rockets

Cougars End Rockets' Season

April 20, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets' Caden Price congratulates Prince George Cougars' Hudson Thornton
Kelowna Rockets' Caden Price congratulates Prince George Cougars' Hudson Thornton
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: James Doyle)

The Kelowna Rockets season came to an end as the Prince George Cougars eliminated them in game five of their second-round playoff series.

The Cougars, who were the top ranked team in the Western Conference, came back to defeat the Rockets 6-3. After scoring the opening goal of the game, the Rockets scored back-to-back goals to take the lead before the Cougars responded with five unanswered goals.

Zac Funk (5) opened the scoring 7:55 into the game with the lone goal of the period while on the power play.

The Rockets took the lead after back-to-back goals 15 seconds apart before the five-minute mark in the second period. Tij Iginla sprung Andrew Cristall (4) on a breakaway to tie the game at 4:03, seconds later Cristall fed the puck from behind the net to tee up Iginla (9) at the right side. Nearly five minutes later Jett Lajoie (1) at the side of the net put away Chase Pauls rebound. Prince George reclaimed the lead 1:18 later after Funk (6) redirected a shot past Jari Kykkanen. Riley Heidt (2) skating through the Rockets zone and around the net turn around and let a shot go from the right faceoff circle that squeaked its way past Kykkanen. Four minutes later Heidt (3) struck again, putting the puck in the blue paint across the goal line. Funk (7) at the backdoor completed the hat trick before the end of the frame.

Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc (7) scored the final goal of Kelowna's season and his WHL career 2:51 into the third period.

ADDITIONAL STATS

Prince George outshot Kelowna 39-31

Kelowna was 0/2 on the power play, while Prince George was 2/4

This was the final WHL game for Gabriel Szturc, Dylan Wightman and Kayden Sadhra-Kang. The trio were the Rockets 20-year-olds, who have now aged out of the league.

The Cougars win the best of seven series 4-1

UP NEXT

The US Priority Draft and WHL Prospects Draft will take place in early May. The Rockets hold the fourth overall pick in the Prospects Draft.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets' Caden Price congratulates Prince George Cougars' Hudson Thornton
Kelowna Rockets' Caden Price congratulates Prince George Cougars' Hudson Thornton
(James Doyle)		   

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2024


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