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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets' Streak Reaches Five

March 10, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets' Tij Iginla versus Wenatchee Wild's Daniel Hauser
Kelowna Rockets' Tij Iginla versus Wenatchee Wild's Daniel Hauser
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: John Hill/Kamloops Blazers)

The Kelowna Rockets pushed their win streak to five games with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday night at the Sandman Centre.

With the win, the Rockets jumped the Victoria Royals for sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference and are two points back of the Wenatchee Wild for fourth. The Vancouver Giants who have a game in hand on the Rockets and two on Victoria sit in seventh place with 62 points. The Rockets, who have gone 7-0-1-0 over their eight games, will wrap up their final two games of the regular season against the Giants later this month.

GAME SUMMARY

After dropping the Blazers 9-1 last night in Kelowna, the Blazers jumped out to a two-goal lead before the midway point of the first period. Ashton Ferster picked off a Rocket defenceman's clearing attempt at the top of the left faceoff circle, putting the puck in front of the net Detroit Red Wings prospect Emmitt Finnie (17) was able to jam it past Jari Kykkanen to give the Blazers the lead 3:53 into the game. Just over four minutes later Andrew Thomson (10) struck, after Ryan Michael poked the puck past a Rocket defender where Thomson picked it up, letting go of a shot in the slot. Tij Iginla (44) shot from the left faceoff circle while on the power play pulled the Rockets back within one at the midway point of the first period.

Nathan Behm (12) made a move around a falling Kayden Sadhra-Kang and drove to the net to restore the Blazers two-goal lead 6:43 into the second period. While on the power play, Gabriel Szturc picked up the puck along the left half-wall sending it back up to Andrew Cristall (38) who then worked his way to the right faceoff circle and let a shot fly that beat 2007-born goaltender Logan Edmonstone, who was making his first WHL start.

At the midway point of the third period, the Rockets power play struck for the third time, this time Hiroki Gojsic (20) ripped a one-timer past Edmonstone from the left faceoff circle to tie the game. With 5:18 to go in regulation, the Blazers power play went to work for the first time on the night after Kayden Sadhra-Kang took a penalty for checking from behind. While down a man, Szturc was able to chase the puck deep into the Blazers zone and pressured Edmonstone's pass to a defenceman Logan Bairos. Barios then made a pass to the middle of the point that was mishandled by Matteo Koci where Iginla (45) picked it off and beat Edmonstone with the game-winner on the breakaway.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 31-28-3-1

Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen stopped 30 of 33 shots fired his way to pick up his 26th win of the season

Kelowna was 3/4 with the man advantage, while the Kamloops power play went 0/1

The Rockets outshot the Blazers 40-33

This was the final meeting between the two this season, the Rockets record was 4-3-1-0 against the Blazers this season.

UP NEXT

The Rockets next game is Wednesday, March 13 when the Prince George Cougars, the winners of the 2023-24 BC Division title, wrap up the season series at Prospera Place. It's a Fan First Menu game with hot dogs on for $2 and Lucky Lager for $5.

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.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets' Tij Iginla versus Wenatchee Wild's Daniel Hauser
Kelowna Rockets' Tij Iginla versus Wenatchee Wild's Daniel Hauser
(John Hill/Kamloops Blazers)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2024


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