Iginla, Leslie, and Folstrom Each Score Twice as Rockets Cruise Past Giants, 8-2
WHL Kelowna Rockets

Iginla, Leslie, and Folstrom Each Score Twice as Rockets Cruise Past Giants, 8-2

Published on February 15, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets on game night
Kelowna Rockets on game night
(Kelowna Rockets)

The Kelowna Rockets, powered by multi-goal performances from Tij Iginla, Mazden Leslie, and Owen Folstrom, along with a strong outing in net, cruised past the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night. The Rockets came out firing, scoring five times in the opening period, and carried that momentum through the rest of the game. The night also marked Ty Halaburda's 300th career WHL game, making the win even more special.

GAME SUMMARY

The Rockets came out ready to play and took control of the game right from the drop of the puck. It took just 2:39 for Owen Folstrom (11) to open the scoring, burying a Connor Pankratz rebound. Less than a minute later, at the 3:17 mark, Tij Iginla (28) drove straight through the middle, made a slick move to the backhand, and slipped it past the Giants' netminder. Ty Halaburda picked up the assist.

Mazden Leslie (12) made it 3-0 at 5:40 of the period with a perfect redirect off a Rowan Guest pass, with Halaburda earning the secondary assist. Folstrom (12) struck again at 7:18 for his second of the period, finishing off a point shot from Keith McInnis to make it 4-0 Rockets.

The Rockets weren't done there. On the powerplay at 17:29, Leslie (13) scored his second of the night, finishing a crisp passing play from Iginla and Shane Smith to give Kelowna a commanding 5-0 lead after one.

The Giants got on the board early in the second period when Leonardo Domenichelli (6) scored on a breakaway at 4:53. Just over five minutes later, Iginla feathered a beautiful saucer pass to Carson Wetsch (18), who made no mistake at 9:56. Late in the period, at 18:37, Jaxson Pawlenchuk (2) capitalized on a rebound in front to bring the Rockets' lead back within five.

The third period started in similar fashion to the first. Just 14 seconds in, Iginla (29) scored his second of the night on a backhand from the slot, assisted by Wetsch and Halaburda. Over a minute later, Vojtech Cihar added a shorthanded goal at 1:28 with a nifty backhand move, with Smith picking up the assist.

The score held at 8-2 as the Rockets defeated the Giants for the fourth time this season.

Iginla finished with four points on the night and now has 10 points in his last two games against Vancouver. Halaburda, facing his former team in his 300th career WHL game, recorded three assists. Folstrom notched his first career WHL multi-goal game with his two tallies.

Goaltender Josh Banini was solid in net, stopping 30 of 32 shots for the win. The Rockets went 1-for-5 on the power play, added a shorthanded goal, and were excellent on the penalty kill, holding the Giants to 0-for-5 with the man advantage.

ADDITIONAL STATS

Shots on Goal: Kelowna 41 | Vancouver 32

Power Play: Kelowna 1/5 | Vancouver 0/5

Faceoffs: Kelowna 39 | Vancouver 27

UP NEXT

The Rockets remain at Prospera Place Monday to play the Tri-City Americans. That game will have a special 2:05 pm PST start, as it is a family-day game. Tickets are available now at selectyourtickets.com.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics

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Kelowna Rockets on game night
Kelowna Rockets on game night
   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2026


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