WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Drop Game One

Published on March 29, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen battles Wenatchee Wild's Briley Wood
Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen battles Wenatchee Wild's Briley Wood
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Russ Alman/Wenatchee Wild)

The Wenatchee Wild came back to take Game One 8-6 in their best of seven series opening round series with the Kelowna Rockets on Friday night in Wenatchee, Was.

Playing in their first WHL playoff game, the Wild fell behind early after the Rockets found the back of the net 1:07 into the game. At the end of the opening frame, Wenatchee trailed 4-1. The two then traded goals early in the second period before the Wild were able to capitalize on their man advantages and swing the momentum their way. Read more about the Wild comeback below in the game summary.

Wenatchee goaltender Daniel Hauser made his return to the crease tonight after being held out of the lineup since February 9 with an injury. He made 29 saves on 35 shots.

In a game that saw 14 goals scored, Briley Wood scored four goals on the night and added a pair of assists, while Tij Iginla also recorded a hat-trick.

GAME SUMMARY

Tij Iginla (1) scored the first goal of the series 1:07 into the game. Cutting his way along the right faceoff circle and then towards the dot, Iginla let a shot go that beat Daniel Hauser. Just past the midway of period, Max Graham (1) standing in front of the net capitalized while on the power play. Just over a minute later the Wild responded with a power play goal of their own from Briley Wood (1). Gabriel Szturc (1) won the faceoff clean back to Caden Price, skating to the net Szturc was able to put the puck past Hauser. Twelve seconds later Iginla (2) found the back of the net for the second time in the night.

After Jari Kykkanen misplayed the puck behind the net Evan Friesen (1) pounded 20 seconds into the second period. At 6:18, Tij Iginla (3) unleashed a one-timer while on the power play to put the Rockets up 5-2 and complete the hat-trick. The Wild then went to work on the power play, mounting a massive comeback in the span of 3:16 with three unanswered goals while on the man advantage. With Michael Cicek sitting in the box for tripping, Wood (2) was at the backdoor where the rebound bounced to him. Nearly a minute later Carter Kowalyk was assessed a double minor for slew footing, while his defence partner Caden Price was assessed a ten minute misconduct. On the ensuring power play Karter Prosofsky (1) and Graham Sward (1) 25 seconds apart to tie the game at five. Two minutes later Rockets defenceman Marek Rocak (1) skated from along the point to the right faceoff circle where he restored Kelowna's lead. While playing four-on-four hockey, Wood (3) at the back door tapped in his third of the game with 11 seconds left in the frame.

Wood (4) again in tight, was able to give the Wild their first lead of the game with his fourth of the night 7:06 into the third period. Kenta Isogai (1) added an empty net goal with two seconds left in regulation.

ADDITIONAL STATS

Goaltender Jari Kykkanen stopped 29 of the 36 shots fired his way

Kelowna was 2/6 on the man advantage while the Wild were 4/5

The Wild outshot the Rockets 37-35

The Wild lead the best of seven series 1-0

UP NEXT

The Rockets will face the Wild again tomorrow in Wenatchee for game two at 6:00 pm. Fans can watch on CHL TV or listen on 104.7 the Lizard.

Fans can watch the Rockets next at Prospera Place on April 2 and 3 when Kelowna hosts the Wenatchee Wild for games three and four of their best of seven series in the opening round of the 2024 WHL Playoffs.

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.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics

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Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen battles Wenatchee Wild's Briley Wood
Kelowna Rockets' Jari Kykkanen battles Wenatchee Wild's Briley Wood
(Russ Alman/Wenatchee Wild)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2024


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