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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Continue Win Streak With 6-5 Win Over Giants

October 21, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets battle the Vancouver Giants
Kelowna Rockets battle the Vancouver Giants
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets extended their win streak to three games with a 6-5 victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night at Prospera Place.

It was a seesaw affair. After jumping up to a 2-0 lead, the Giants pushed back with three answered goals to take a 3-2 lead. The Rockets then leapfrogged back into the lead by the end of the second period with two more goals. The Giants pulled back within one early into the third, but Kelowna responded with two more goals. Vancouver made it a one-goal game once again in the third period, but Kelowna was able to hold off the final press.

Tij Iginla was named the first star of the game after recording two goals and two assists to extend his point streak to four games. Andrew Cristall was the second star of the night, pushing his point streak to seven games with a goal and two assists.

Jari Kykkanen made 34 saves on 39 shots to collect his fourth win of the campaign.

GAME SUMMARY

Andrew Cristall (7) opened the scoring 6:57 into the game while on the power play. Tij Iginla (11) followed up his own rebound on Matthew Hutchison to give Kelowna a two-goal lead. Kyren Gronick (3) cut the lead in half.

Adam Titlbach (3) tied the game early into the second period, Mazden Leslie (1) then added a power play marker to give the Giants their first lead of the game. Dylan Wightman's (6) power play tally tied the game once again before Marek Rocak's (1) first of the season restored the Rockets lead.

The Giants tied the game on a shorthanded tally from Ty Halaburda (1) at 2:58 into the third. Tij Iginla (12) picked up the puck off the faceoff win to unleash a shot from the top of the slot for his second goal of the game. Gabriel Szturc (4) followed the puck to the net to poke in the eventual game-winner just before the midway point of the period. The Giants didn't back down, pulling back within one on a goal from Tyler Thorpe (8).

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 6-4-1-0

Kelowna was 2/6 on the powerplay, Vancouver was 1/3

The Giants outshot the Rockets 39-34

This was the first of eight meetings between the Rockets and Giants, they'll face each other next on December 1 at the Langley Events Centre

The 50/50 jackpot was $64,730.00, Ashley Steiger won half of that total

UP NEXT

The Rockets will host the Victoria Royals for a Wednesday night matchup at Prospera Place before departing for a two-game road trip next weekend to Washington.

Wednesday's game will be a Fan First Menu night with $2 hot dogs and $5 Lucky Lager. The Fan First Menu is available at all Monday to Wednesday regular season games.

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 4:00 p.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 battle the Vancouver Giants
Kelowna Rockets battle the Vancouver Giants
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2023


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