WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Edged by Spokane

February 14, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets attempt to score vs. the Spokane Chiefs
Kelowna Rockets attempt to score vs. the Spokane Chiefs
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Spokane Chiefs came back to take down the Rockets 4-2 on Wednesday at Prospera Place.

The Rockets heavily outshot the Chiefs 42-29, but goaltender Cooper Michaluk made 40 saves to earn the second star of the game.

"Sometimes it just doesn't go your way," said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his postgame availability. "I think we hit half a dozen posts or crossbars tonight. Credit to their goalie, he made saves, a lot of them. He killed a lot of our momentum offensively, we had opportunities to put this game away."

The Chiefs cashed in a short-handed tally, while also finding the back of the net again on a two-on-one and a breakaway.

"It's a young group back there on the back end," said Mallette about his defence core. "A couple of over-aggressive plays probably lead to some chances for them. The big one at the end and earlier, just some ill-advised decisions. You learn this at a young age that as a defenceman you can't dive in on a play unless you've got coverage or a forward that's high. They get excited at times and ultimately it cost us."

Marek Rocak's drive from the point while on the power play found its way onto Andrew Cristall's (31) stick at the left faceoff circle to score the 100th goal of his WHL career. While short-handed Berkly Catton found himself alone in the Rockets zone with two Kelowna defenders, he dropped the puck back to a trailing Conner Roulette (34) who made a toe drag move around Marek Rocak to let a shot go from the slot that beat Jari Kykkanen. Standing in front of the Spokane net Kayden Longley (5) was able to restore the Rockets lead after he got the puck past goaltender Cooper Michaluk.

Saige Weinstein (7) scored the lone goal of the middle stanza after he took off on a two-on-one, electing to shoot.

Shortly after exiting the penalty box, Weinstein (8) struck again for the Chiefs, giving them their first lead of the game 2:24 into the third period. Cutting wide-around Rockets defender Caden Price, the signed Colorado Avalanche prospect drove to the Rockets net. As a chasing Price whacked at his stick, the puck popped up and over Kykkanen's glove side shoulder. With 2:12 remaining in regulation Rasmus Ekström (12) found himself alone on a breakaway to pad the Chiefs lead.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 24-26-3-0

Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen stopped 25 of 29 shots fired his way

Spokane was 0/4 with the man advantage, while the Rockets power play went 1/7

The Rockets outshot the Chiefs 42-29

This was the final meeting between the two this regular season, with the Chiefs taking the season series 3-1

Tij Iginla appeared in his 100th WHL game

UP NEXT

The Rockets will now head to Victoria for games on Friday and Saturday.

Kelowna's next home game is set for Family Day on Monday, February 19 when the Tri-City Americans make their final visit of the season to Prospera Place. Kids (12 and under) tickets are on sale for $10. It will also be a Fan First Menu night at Prospera, which means $2 hot dogs and $5 beer from Lucky Lager.

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 attempt to score vs. the Spokane Chiefs
Kelowna Rockets attempt to score vs. the Spokane Chiefs
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2024


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