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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets' Win Streak Ends

February 11, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets' Hiroki Gojsic and Kamloops Blazers' Dylan Sydor and Ryan Michael in action
Kelowna Rockets' Hiroki Gojsic and Kamloops Blazers' Dylan Sydor and Ryan Michael in action
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

The Kamloops Blazers snapped the Kelowna Rockets two-game win streak on Saturday at Prospera Place.

It was the second meeting between the two in as many days, with the Rockets downing the Blazers 6-3 on Friday in Kamloops.

After falling behind early, the Rockets scored two unanswered goals to take the lead heading into the intermission before the Blazers battled back to take back the lead in the second frame.

"We took our foot off the gas in the second and that's what set us up for failure throughout that game," said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his postgame interview. "First period, their second shot we broke down on the breakaway and battled back to get the lead going into the second. Guys were feeling it in the room and I had a weird feeling, you know a little overconfident and then obviously Kamloops woke up. They [Kamloops] didn't do anything spectacular, they were just a more urgent team, and then their top line outplayed our top line."

It was the seventh time this season that the Rockets had held the lead through 20 minutes of play where they either fell in regulation or overtime.

"It's what the challenge with our group is, being able to separate ourselves from just being mediocre and just doing enough at times, and tonight it came back to bite us."

GAME SUMMARY

Zach Pantelakis sprung Kai Matthew (6) on a breakaway at centre ice, beating Jari Kykkanen 6:37 into the game. Three minutes later Hiroki Gojsic from beside the net teed up Andrew Cristall (30) with a one-timer at the left faceoff dot. Caden Price's (9) drive from the point beat Jesse Sanche to give the Rockets the lead heading into the first intermission.

Emmitt Finnie's (13) sharp-angled shot from the left half wall pinballed its way into the Rockets net tying the game early into the second period. Harrison Brunicke's (10) blast from the power play restored the Blazers lead at 12:30. Kamloops then padded their lead by two after Finnie (14) skated out from behind the net and lifted a backhander past Kykkanen.

Luke Schelter's (10) shot from above the right faceoff circle pulled Kelowna back within one 7:34 into the third period. Skating along the left side, Finnie (15) again beat Kykkanen with another sharp-angled shot to complete the hat trick. Just over a minute later Kai Matthew (7) fired a one-timer past Kykkanen before Finnie (16) added his fourth of the night into the Rockets empty net.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 24-25-3-0

Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen stopped 34 of 40 shots fired his way

Both teams were 1/2

The Blazers outshot the Rockets 41-29

This was the sixth of eight meetings between the Blazers and Rockets, with Kamloops leading 3-2-1-0

Veteran forward Dylan Wightman appeared in his 200th WHL contest

UP NEXT

Kelowna will host the Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday, February 13 at Prospera Place at 7:05 pm.

It will 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' Hiroki Gojsic and Kamloops Blazers' Dylan Sydor and Ryan Michael in action
Kelowna Rockets' Hiroki Gojsic and Kamloops Blazers' Dylan Sydor and Ryan Michael in action
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 11, 2024


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