
Rockets Fall to Giants
March 25, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
With three seconds left in the third period, the Vancouver Giants scored to down the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, BC.
Scoreless until the second period, the two traded goals before the Rockets took the lead just past the midway point of the frame. Vancouver tied the game early in the third period. With five seconds to play in the game, top prospect Samuel Honzek scored the game-winning goal.
Resting veteran players Gabriel Szturc and Adam Kydd, affiliate players Landon Cowper and Kayden Longley drew into the Rockets lineup.
GAME SUMMARY
Marek Rocak stretched out a pass from his own zone to Andrew Cristall (39) working his way past the Giants defence and putting the Rockets on the board 4:31 into the second period. Skyler Bruce (14) scored 41 seconds later for Vancouver. Afiliate player Kayden Longley (1) skated from behind the net to the right side where the puck bounced right onto his stick for his first WHL goal in his seventh game with the Rockets.
Samuel Honzek (22) capitalized on the power play to tie the game 4:44 into the third period. Ty Hurley was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for charging at 6:28, the Rockets were able to kill off the ensuing power play. Carson Golder and Damian Palmieri dropped the gloves with ten seconds to play in the game. With time ticking away, Ty Thorpe dished the puck from the left corner to an unguarded Honzek (23) in the right faceoff circle, who beat Talyn Boyko with three seconds left on the clock.
ADDITIONAL STATS
Talyn Boyko made 17 saves on 20 shots
Samuel Honzek was the games first star, Andrew Cristall was the second and Brett Mirwald was the third star of the night
Kelowna was 0/2 on the power play, while Vancouver was 1/2 with the man advantage.
The Rockets record is now 26-37-4-0
UP NEXT
Kelowna will wrap up their regular-season tomorrow night against the Vancouver Giants with their fan appreciation game.
There will be live music from The Hip Replacements before and during the game
It will also be a Fan First Menu night with $2 hot dogs and $5-$6 options from Blue Ribbon.
The season-long Bighorn Moving and Storage jersey off-the-back winners will be drawn, learn more about how to enter here
Kids tickets for the Rockets final home game of the season are on sale for $10.00 (plus taxes and fees).
Single-game tickets for all Rockets home games are on sale at Select Your Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office, or by phone at 250-762-5050.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2023
- Warriors Drop Regular Season Finale Against Saskatoon - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Giants Come Back But Fall Short in Kelowna, 5-4 - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Recognize Overage Players, Hand out Team Awards in Pre-Game Ceremony Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Berezowski Sets Single-Season Goals Record, Tips Win 4-3 Shootout - Everett Silvertips
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Pats Lose Regular Season Finale 5-3 to Raiders - Regina Pats
- Tigers Punch Their Ticket to the WHL Playoffs - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blades Finish 2022-23 Season with Third-Best Winning Percentage in Franchise History - Saskatoon Blades
- Hawks Hit 40 Wins with 3-1 Victory Over Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Host Medicine Hat Tigers to Open WHL Playoffs - Winnipeg Ice
- Raiders End Regular Season with 5-3 Win in Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- ICE Get Past Brandon, 5-3 - Winnipeg Ice
- ICE Win 15th Straight Over Wheat Kings to Close Season - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Saturday's Season Finale vs Tri-City Officially Sold Out - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen Secure Playoff Spot with Win over Oil Kings - Calgary Hitmen
- Oil Kings Edged by Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels and Hitmen to Meet in WHL Playoffs - Red Deer Rebels
- Oil Kings Announce 2022-23 Team Awards Winners - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Head to Spokane for Last Regular Season Home Game - Tri-City Americans
- Single Game Playoff Tickets Are on Sale Now - Saskatoon Blades
- Blazers Sign 2004-Born Defenseman Ryan Nolan - Kamloops Blazers
- Preview: Chiefs Host Americans in 2022-23 Regular Season Finale Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers Sign 2006-Born Forward Max Sullivan to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement - Kamloops Blazers
- Game Day Preview March 25 vs Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Final Regular Season Contest Goes Inside the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Topple Portland - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game Day Hub: March 25 at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Game #68 - ICE vs Brandon Wheat Kings, 6:00 at the ICE Cave Inside Wayne Fleming Arena - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Best Pats 3-2 in Front of 14,786 Fans - Saskatoon Blades
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Triumph in Shootout - Winnipeg Ice
- 7 Different Goal Scorers Lift Cougars Over Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Berezowski Nets Hat Trick in Home Regular Season Finale, Royals Win 6-4 - Everett Silvertips
- Second-Period Stumble Fells Hawks - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Fall to Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Sloppy Third Period Chiefs' Downfall in 7-4 Loss at Tri-City - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Drop 3-1 Decision to Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Patton Propels Royals to 6-4 Road Win Over Silvertips - Victoria Royals
- Honzek's Last Second Heroics Lift Giants to 3-2 Win - Vancouver Giants
- Uchacz Scores 50th Goal - Red Deer Rebels
- Broncos Down Tigers 3-1 in Regular Season Home Finale - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors Knock off Raiders in Prince Albert on Friday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Fall 3-2 to Blades in Playoff Preview - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes to Face Warriors in First Round - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- GAME HUB: Wheat Kings Close out Season in Winnipeg - Brandon Wheat Kings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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