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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Hold Off High Scoring Cougars

October 14, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets battle the Prince George Cougars
Kelowna Rockets battle the Prince George Cougars
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

The Kelowna Rockets opened their weekend with a 5-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars on Friday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.

The Cougars entered Friday ranked seventh on this week's CHL Top-10 rankings, they led the CHL in goals scored with 51.

Jari Kykkanen made his return to the lineup after missing the Rockets last three games with a lower-body injury that he suffered on October 3 against the Cougars. The goaltender made 35 saves on 39 shots to collect his second win of the campaign.

Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc and defenceman Caden Price both made their 2023-24 season debuts, both recorded a goal and an assist.

Twenty-year-old Dylan Wightman posted a pair of goals, including the game-winner while shorthanded. It was the forward's second consecutive two-goal game.

GAME SUMMARY

Gabriel Szturc (1) capitalized on the first the first power play of the game, to put the Rockets up 1-0 2:57 into the first period. Once again on the power play, Szturc fed the puck up top to Caden Price (1) to give Kelowna a 2-0 lead.

In on a two-on-one while short-handed Carlin Dezainde (5) cut the Rockets lead in half, but seconds later Dylan Wightman (3) redirected Ethan Mittelsteadt's shot past Vancouver Canucks prospect Ty Young. Andrew Cristall (5) took off on a breakaway, restoring the Rockets two-goal lead.

Zac Funk (9) recorded a quick power play goal six seconds into the third period. Just over a minute and a half later Los Angeles Kings prospect Koehn Ziemmer (3) struck again for the Cougars. As the momentum seemed to be shifting, the Rockets called a timeout and then took a penalty. While down a man, Wightman (4) once again restored Kelowna's two-goal cushion with his second of the game. Zac Funk's (10) made it a one goal game with a power play goal in the final minute of the game.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 3-3-1-0

Kelowna was 3/6 on the powerplay, while Prince George was 2/6

The Cougars outshot the Rockets 39-25

The Cougars lead the eight-game season series 2-1, the two will face each other next on November 18 at Prospera Place

UP NEXT

The Central Division's Medicine Hat Tigers will roll in for their first visit to Prospera Pace since the 2018-19 season on Saturday, October 14 at 7:05 pm. The Tiger's roster features 2021 WHL first-overall pick Gavin McKenna.

Saturday's game is also the Rockets annual Paint The Rink Pink Game in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. It marks the 12th season that the Rockets have donned pink jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game with the proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. Fans can find the silent auction behind section 114/115 outside of Select Your Tickets.

Single Game 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.

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 battle the Prince George Cougars
Kelowna Rockets battle the Prince George Cougars
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2023


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