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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Downed by Cougars

January 13, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets' Hiroki Gojsic versus Prince George Cougars'Hunter Laing
Kelowna Rockets' Hiroki Gojsic versus Prince George Cougars'Hunter Laing
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

The BC Division and Western Conference-leading Prince George Cougars scored four unanswered goals to take down the Kelowna Rockets 5-2 on Friday night at the CN Centre in Prince George, BC.

After giving up the opening goal in the early minutes of the game, the Rockets responded with back-to-back goals to take the lead.

GAME SUMMARY

With the puck loose in the Rockets crease, Carlin Dezainde (9) was able to put the rebound past Jari Kykkanen to put the Cougars on the board first 2:49 into the game. Following the goal, the Rockets called a timeout as Prince George had been pressing in the early minutes of the hemming Kelowna into their zone. Caden Price dumped the puck in along the right side from the redline, the puck carried around the net to the left side where Andrew Cristall (25) let a slap shot go from the faceoff dot that flew past Ty Young at 4:42. Moments later Hiroki Gojsic passed the puck off to Michael Cicek entering the neutral zone who carried it into the Cougars zone, along the top of the slot the puck was poked off of Gojsic's stick where he recovered it. Feeding it back to Hiroki Gojsic (9) at the right faceoff circle, Gojsic skated to the net going from forehand to backhand and skating around a sprawled Young to put it into the net. Aiden Foster and Ethan Neutens dropped the gloves 45 seconds after the Rockets second goal of the game. Oren Shtrom (10) put his own rebound past Kykkanen to tie the game at 13:21.

Dezainde (10) scored early again, tying the game 2:28 into the second frame. Three and a half minutes later Hudson Thornton (11) capitalized on the Cougs first power play of the game to double up their lead.

Dezainde (11) completed the hat trick 5:17 into the third period.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 19-18-2-0

Kelowna's power play was 0/3 on the night, while Prince George was 1/3 with the man advantage

The Cougars outshot the Rockets 35-27

The Rockets were without forward Tij Iginla, who is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Rockets leading scorer Andrew Cristall extended his point streak to twenty games after posting a goal

This was the fifth meeting of the regular season between the two, with the Cougars leading the season series 4-1

Carter Kowalyk, who was acquired from Edmonton on Wednesday, made his Kelowna Rocket debut

UP NEXT

The Rockets will face the Cougars again tomorrow night at the CN Centre, puck drop is set for 6:00 pm.

Kelowna will then return home to host Nate Danielson and the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday, January 17 at Prospera Place. A Fan First Menu game, hot dogs will be on for $2 and Lucky Lager beers will be on for $5.

Single Game Tickets for all Rockets games 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' Hiroki Gojsic versus Prince George Cougars'Hunter Laing
Kelowna Rockets' Hiroki Gojsic versus Prince George Cougars'Hunter Laing
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2024


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