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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Cristiano picks up first win in Rockets 5-1 victory

April 28, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets goaltender Nicholas Cristiano faces a shot from the Victoria Royals
Kelowna Rockets goaltender Nicholas Cristiano faces a shot from the Victoria Royals
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Paige Bednorz)

The Kelowna Rockets picked up their third straight win with a 5-1 victory over the Victoria Royals on Tuesday night at Prospera Place.

Overage forward David Kope led the charge with a goal and two assists, while 16-year-old goaltender Nicholas Cristiano made 31 saves to pick up his first WHL win in his first start.

David Kope (3) scored the lone goal of the opening period, beating Keegan Maddocks 26 seconds into the game.

During the second period, Mark Liwiski (6) drove to the net on the power-play to put the Rockets up by two. Scott Cousins (1) scored his first Western Hockey League goal just 30 scronds after Liwiski's goal. Matthew Smith (1) got the Royals on the board, but Trevor Wong (6) responded right away for the Rockets.

Tyson Feist (2) put the Rockets up by four with an empty net goal.

Maddocks also started in his first WHL game, he turned aside 30 of the 34 shots fired on him.

The Rockets power play went two-for-five on the night, while the Royals were one-for-nine with the man advantage.

Kelowna outshot Victoria 35-32.

The Rockets record is now 6-2-0-0.

Rilen Kovacevic, Elias Carmichael, John Babcock, Ethan Ernst, Jackson DeSouza and Roman Basran were the Rockets scratches.

Because the game was an away game, there was no 50/50 or post game media availability.

The Rockets have Wednesday off before gearing up for a busy three-in-three weekend. They'll host Vancouver on Thursday before playing a home-and-home series with the Kamloops Blazers on Friday and Saturday.

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As the WHL returns to play in the WHL Hub Centers in Kamloops and Kelowna, no spectators will be permitted to enter Sandman Centre or Prospera Place.

WHL fans can look forward to taking in games across the whole league through the newly-launched WHL Live on CHL TV. More are details available by visiting watch.CHL.ca.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets goaltender Nicholas Cristiano faces a shot from the Victoria Royals
Kelowna Rockets goaltender Nicholas Cristiano faces a shot from the Victoria Royals
(Paige Bednorz)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 28, 2021


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