
Kamloops Tops Rockets, 3-1
September 23, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
The Kelowna Rockets fell 3-1 on Saturday night to the Kamloops Blazers at the Rockets home opener at Prospera Place.
The Blazers got on the board first as Orrin Centazzo(1) was the benefactor of a lucky bounce in Kamloops' favour 4:16 into the opening frame. The two clubs traded chances throughout the remainder of the period but the score stayed at 1-0 Kamloops.
Jermaine Loewen(1) extended the Blazers lead to 2-0 just 35 seconds into the middle stanza snapping a shot past Rockets netminder Roman Basran. With just under four minutes to go in the second period Zane Franklin(2) gave Kamloops a 3-0 lead that they held into the final frame despite being outshot 29-25 through 40 minutes of play.
In the third Leif Mattson(2) got the Rockets on the board for the second night in a row, but that capped off the scoring resulting in a 3-1 Blazers final.
Kelowna's record falls to 0-2-0-0.
Roman Basran made the start for Kelowna stopping 31 of the 34 shots he faced as the Rockets outshot the Blazers 40-34.
Prior to puck drop fans were witness to the raising of the 7th B.C. Divisional title banner at Prospera Place honouring their 2017-2018 WHL regular season success in which they captured the B.C. Division title with a total of 93 points and 43 wins.
KELOWNA, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 22: Leif Mattson #28, Kyle Topping #24, Erik Gardiner #11, Jack Cowell #8, Braydyn Chizen #22 and Conner Bruggen-Cate #20 of the Kelowna Rockets stand at centre ice to raise the 2018 BC Division Banner during home opener against the Kamloops Blazers on September 22, 2018 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze) *** Local Caption ***
The Rockets are back in action on Wednesday night when they host another B.C. Divisional rival in the Prince George Cougars. Wednesday, September 26th will be the first Hat-Trick Wednesday of the 2018-2019 WHL regular season. Get your tickets before 2pm on Wednesday and for $19.99 fans receive a hot dog, a pop, and a ticket to the game. Tickets for Wednesday night are available here: https://bit.ly/2Nuc6D4
Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. First six regular season games now available.
Season tickets are on sale now. Contact us by email - Gavin Hamilton - gavinh@kelownarockets.com or Andrew Deans - andrewd@kelownarockets.com, or by phone at 250-860-7825.
Stay tuned to kelownarockets.com, follow us on Twitter @Kelowna_Rockets, Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram @kelownarocketswhl for all of your Rockets info.
Images from this story
![]() Kelowna Rockets unveil 2018 B.C. Division championship banner (Marissa Baecker) |
![]() Kelowna Rockets C Kyle Topping vs. the Kamloops Blazers (Marissa Baecker) |
Western Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2018
- Dewar, Wolf Lift 'Tips - Everett Silvertips
- Winterhawks Drop Game Two to Everett - Portland Winterhawks
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Everett - Game #2 - Portland Winterhawks
- Wheat Kings Complete Weekend Sweep - Brandon Wheat Kings
- ICE Down Hitmen 5-3 in Home Opener - Kootenay Ice
- Giants Earn a Weekend Sweep of the Everett Silvertips - Vancouver Giants
- Americans Bring Fire in 6-1 Home Opener Win over Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Blades Rout Broncos 8-0 in Home Opener - Saskatoon Blades
- Blades Power Play Too Much as Broncos Lose - Swift Current Broncos
- Tendeck Stonewalls Silvertips - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Use Special Teams to Defeat Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Tigers Split Weekend with Hurricanes After Falling 4-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Young Rebels Struggle Offensively in Home-Opener Loss to Oil Kings - Red Deer Rebels
- Kamloops Tops Rockets, 3-1 - Kelowna Rockets
- Fonstad, Leason Pace Raiders To Weekend Sweep - Prince Albert Raiders
- Andrusiak and Hamaliuk Lead T-Birds to Season Opening Victory - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hawks Battle with Seattle But Come up Short - Portland Winterhawks
- Pats Drop Home Opener - Regina Pats
- Slow Start Dooms Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Kelowna Rockets Stories
- Rockets Add Former NHL Forward and Alumnus Brandon McMillan as Assistant Coach
- Varga and Poletin Named to National Teams for the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
- Rhett Stoesser Clears WHL Waivers
- Iginla and Wetsch Invited to Hockey Canada's World Junior Summer Showcase
- Rockets Captain Max Graham Signs First Pro Contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

