Rockets Battle Hard But Fall To Tigers On Tuesday Night
March 5, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
Jackson Gillespie of the Kelowna Rockets
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)
The Kelowna Rockets got two goals from Hayden Paupanekis but fell 5-2 to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday night at Co-op Place.
GAME SUMMARY
Kelowna would open the scoring on Tuesday night as Hayden Paupanekis was able to beat Tigers goaltender Jordan Switzer at the midway point of the period to make it 1-0 Kelowna. The marker would give Paupanekis 20 goals on the season, the first time he's reached the accomplishment in his young career. Medicine Hat would tie the game three minutes later when Markus Ruck scored his eighth of the campaign to tie the game at 1-1. Paupanekis would score his second of the game with less than a minute to go on the power play to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead after 20.
Liam Ruck would put the Tigers back on even footing with six minutes remaining in the second period before scoring the eventual game winner at 12:40 in the third period. Mathew Ward would get the insurance marker and Ryder Ritchie would score into the empty net for a 5-2 Tigers victory.
ADDITIONAL STATS
Medicine Hat outshot Kelowna 38-25
Kelowna went 1/4 on the power play while Medicine Hat went 0/3
Rhett Stoesser made 33 saves
UP NEXT
Kelowna will now finish off their Alberta road trip with a pair of games, beginning on Wednesday against Lethbridge before finishing on Friday against the Oil Kings in Edmonton. The Rockets will return home on March 14th when they host the Kamloops Blazers.
Tickets can be purchased online at selectyourtickets.com, by calling Select Your Tickets at 250-762-5050 or by visiting the Select Your Tickets box office at the Prospera Place box office. The box office is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday home game days.
Images from this story
 Jackson Gillespie of the Kelowna Rockets (Steve Dunsmoor) |
Western Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2025
- Oil Kings Fall to Wheat Kings in Closely Contested Battle - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Giants Officially Clinch WHL Playoff Berth - Vancouver Giants
- Wheat Kings Win Third Period to Complete Season Sweep of Edmonton - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Broncos Score Six Straight and Down Blades on the Road - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Re-Assign Gower to MJHL - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Nickelodeon Night for Children's Miracle Network - Red Deer Rebels
- Broncos Look for Third Straight Win on the Road against Blades - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Open Homestand against Wheat Kings - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars at Wild: Game Preview - Prince George Cougars
- T-Birds Burned Early by Blazers - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tigers Defuse Rockets 5-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rockets Battle Hard But Fall To Tigers On Tuesday Night - Kelowna Rockets
- Maze Ties Contest Late in Regulation, Pats Fall 4-3 in Shootout - Regina Pats
- Penalty Kill Falters as Wheat Kings Fall in Red Deer - Brandon Wheat Kings
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 Name Legendary WHL Coach Don Hay as Associate Coach; Martin Named Head Coach
- Rockets Alumnus Duncan Keith Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
- Rockets Unveil 2025-26 Regular Season Schedule as Memorial Cup Countdown Begins
- Rockets Acquire First Overall Pick in 2025 CHL Import Draft from Moose Jaw
- Rockets Announce 2025-2026 Preseason Schedule
