Rockets’ Rally Falls Short
October 15, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Kelowna Rockets News Release
Kelowna Rockets battle the Everett Silvertips
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)
The Kelowna Rockets fell 5-4 to the Everett Silvertips on Friday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.
Everett jumped out to a 3-0 lead 6:59 into the game, chasing Rockets starter Jari Kykkanen for the remainder of the period.
Kelowna battled with goals in the first, second and third periods to tie the game. The Silvertips responded with two quick goals just past the midway point of the final frame. Kelowna Captain Colton Dach left the game after suffering a check to the head, Kelowna pulled back within one on the ensuing five-minute power play.
“It was nothing on Jari, it was a wake-up call to the other 19 players that were on our team,” said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his post-game interview about pulling Kykkaken for the remainder of the first and putting him back in to start the second.
“You know what, you did him a disservice, granted he probably wanted a few of them back. But he came in after the fact, and Nicholas came in and was able to shut the door. But for our guys to respond and put the onus on themselves and be like ‘Hey I need to be better’ as quickly as they did was great. I felt that our team responded well after I made that move and good on Jari to come back in the second and third and play the way he did.”
Mallette had an update on Dach following the game.
“It was a high hit that resulted in an upper-body injury. We’ll see, the doctors are looking at him right now, we’ll have an assessment as we go.”
GAME SUMMARY
The Silvertips took an early lead 2:13 into the game with a goal from former Rocket Steel Quiring (1) on the power play. With the Silvertips in on a two-on-one, Rockets netminder Jari Kykkanen got a piece of Jesse Heslop’s shot but Austin Roest (6) was right there. Exactly one minute later Roest set up Anaheim Ducks prospect Olen Zellweger (4) at the backdoor. Nicholas Cristiano replaced Kykkanen in net for the remained of the period. Colton Dach set up Andrew Cristall (6) thirty-six seconds after the goal and goaltender change.
Kykkanen returned to the Rockets net for the start of the second period. With Colton Dach and Andrew Cristall screening Silvertips goaltender Brandon Holt, Elias Carmichael (1) fired a long-distance shot from the blue line through traffic that found the back of the net.
Roest (7) broke the tie 12:04 into the final frame, unleashing a backhand while rounding the back of the Rockets net.
ADDITIONAL STATS
Kelowna outshot Everett 31 to 26
The Rockets were 2/9 on the power play while Everett was 1/4
Austin Roest was the game’s first star, Elias Carmichael was the second and Colton Dach was the third
It was Andrew Cristall’s tenth career multi-goal game
The Rockets record moves to 3-4-1-0
Kelowna and Everett’s next matchup is set for November 25 in Everett
UP NEXT
The Rockets will be back in action on Wednesday when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
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.
Season tickets are still available at a prorated rate, don’t miss a minute of the Rockets action and secure yours today.
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