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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Collect First Win Of The Season

October 1, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets defenceman Jackson DeSouza
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Jackson DeSouza
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Paige Bednorz)

The Kelowna Rockets recorded their first win of the 2023-24 regular season, picking up a 5-3 victory over the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday night at Prospera Place.

Kelowna struck first, with Wenatchee posting a short-handed tally to tie the game before the end of the first. The Rockets headed into the third period with a 2-1 lead thanks to Hiroki Gojsic's first WHL goal during the second frame. Wenatchee took a 3-2 lead, recording a power play goal and another shortly thereafter. The Rockets responded with three unanswered goals including two power play markers, to complete the comeback.

Andrew Cristall, Jackson DeSouza and Jari Kykkanen all made their regular season debuts after they were returned from NHL camps earlier in the week.

Cristall earned first star honours after recording a three-point night, while Hiroki Gojsic was named the games second star after recording his first WHL goal and assist.

Veteran players Marcus Pacheco (1-3 weeks) and Caden Price (week-to-week) both missed the game due to lower-body injuries.

Andrew Cristall fed the puck across the goal mouth to set up Tij Iginla (2) with the opening goal of the game. Twenty-year-old Easton Armstrong's (1) short-handed goal tied the game before the end of the first.

Iginla set Hiroki Gojsic (1) up at the backdoor of the Wild's net with his first WHL goal and the lone tally of the second period.

With two Rockets sitting in the penalty box Rodzers Bukarts (1) tied the game early into the third period. Evan Friesen (1) then quickly pushed the Wild ahead for the first time in the game. With the puck sitting in the blue paint, Michael Cicek (1) tapped in his first as a Rocket while on the power play. Andrew Cristall's (1) sharp-angled shot found its way between Daniel Hauser's pads to restore the Rockets lead. Jackson DeSouza (1) unleashed a rocket while on the power play to secure the Rockets insurance goal.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 1-0-1-0

Kelowna was 2/5 on the powerplay, while Wenatchee was 1/5

The Rockets outshot the Wild 42-29

Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen made his first start of the regular season, stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced

Wenatchee and Kelowna will play each other three more times this season, their next meeting is set for October 28 at the Town Toyota Center in Washington

UP NEXT

The Rockets will head out on their first road trip of the season, they'll face the Prince George Cougars at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 3 and Wednesday, October 4 at the CN Centre. You can watch on CHL TV or listen on 104.7 The Lizard.

The Rockets next home game is set for Saturday, October 7 at 7:05 p.m. when Michael Cicek will face his former team, the Spokane Chiefs, for the first time. Kelowna will then play the Victoria Royals on Thanksgiving Monday at 12:35 p.m. Single-game tickets for the entire Rockets regular season as well as Mini Packs are now on sale at Select Your Tickets.

Single Game 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 4:00p.m. Monday through Friday, and opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday home game days.

Six and twelve game Mini Packs for the Kelowna Rockets season are now on sale through Select Your Tickets.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets defenceman Jackson DeSouza
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Jackson DeSouza
(Paige Bednorz)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from October 1, 2023


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