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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Drop Score-fest to Prince George

March 1, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets vs. the Prince George Cougars
Kelowna Rockets vs. the Prince George Cougars
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: James Doyle)

The Kelowna Rockets dropped a crazy 7-6 decision in Prince George to the Cougars on Wednesday night in which both teams battled until the very end.

Rockets forward Kole Lind started the game with a bang, scoring his 33rd, 34th, and 35th(PP) of the season for a natural hat-trick starting with the first coming at 5:40, the second at 7:10, and the hat-trick marker coming at 15:59. Ilijah Colina(9) responded for the Cougars at 17:16 and Kelowna led 3-1 after 20 minutes of play.

6:37 into the middle frame Conner Bruggen-Cate(18) regained Kelowna's three goal lead but the Cougars wouldn't roll over yet. Aaron Boyd(11) scored at 11:47 before Brogan O'Brien(12) made it 4-3 at 14:45. The score remained that way into the third period.

In the third Jared Bethune(21) evened the game at 6:05 to make it three unanswered goals in Prince George's favour this time. Erik Gardiner(6) stopped the bleeding and regained the Rockets lead at 11:40, but again, the Cougars responded, this time 16 seconds later as Austin Crossley's(3) point shot found its way through traffic. For the first time of the night Prince George took a lead as Jackson Leppard(14) snapped a shot that bounced over the head of James Porter at 15:45, but this time it was the Rockets who quickly responded as Cal Foote(17) evened the game at 6-6 just 49 seconds later. At 17:47 Lind was issued a double minor for high-sticking and the Cougars took to the power play. With just 18 seconds remaining Colina(10) put the dagger in the heart of the Rockets with his second of the night. Carsen Twarynski hit the post in the dying seconds but the Cougars would hold on for a 7-6 victory.

Kelowna had multi-point evenings from Kole Lind(3G, 1A), Dillon Dube(3A), Cal Foote(1G, 1A), and Gordie Ballhorn(2A).

James Porter's record drops to 19-8-3-1 after stopping 33 of 40 shots he faced. The Cougars outshot the Rockets 40-37.

Kelowna's record is now 38-20-4-2.

Kelowna finishes the trip off in Everett on Friday against the Silvertips with puck drop going at 7:35pm.

Kelowna returns home again following their three game trip on Saturday when they host Dan Lambert and the Spokane Chiefs at 7:05pm at Prospera Place.

Tickets are available for Rockets home games through selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets vs. the Prince George Cougars
Kelowna Rockets vs. the Prince George Cougars
(James Doyle)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2018


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