Rockets Down Giants 7-3 In Final Home Preseason Game
September 16, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Kelowna Rockets News Release
Kelowna Rockets’ Sal Collora
(Kelowna Rockets)
The Kelowna Rockets picked up their third win of the preseason with a 7-3 victory over the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.
The Rockets dominated from start to finish, jumping out to a two-goal lead in the first. The Rockets doubled up in the first half of the second period before the Giants cut into the lead with a pair of goals, Adam Kydd scored in the final seconds to make it 5-2 heading into the third period. Kelowna added another just after the midway point of the third, Vancouver and Kelowna then traded goals in the final minute of the game.
With Colton Dach away at the Chicago Blackhawks camp and Turner McMillen, Ethan Neutens, Jake Poole, Dylan Wightman and Andrew Cristall all scratched, the Rockets dressed just ten forwards for the game.
Five different Rockets posted multi-point nights, Marcus Pacheco and Elias Carmichael led the way with three assists each.
Nicholas Cristiano made his second straight start of the preseason stopping 19 of the 22 shots he faced.
GAME SUMMARY
Adam Kydd fed a streaking Gabriel Szturc (1) the puck to give the Rockets the first lead of the game at 8:55. Szturc (2) then fired a power play one-timer past Matthew Hutchison in the final minute of the first.
Grady Lenton (1) found his way past the Vancouver defence on a breakaway, just under four minutes later Max Graham (1) added a power play goal for Kelowna. Kyle Bochek (1) and Ty Halaburda (1) responded, cutting Kelowna’s lead in half. Adam Kydd (2) restored the three-goal lead before the end of the period.
Will Munro (1) pushed Kelowna out to a four-goal lead once again in the third. Ethan McEneany (1) and Scott Cousins (3) then traded goals in the final 60 seconds of the game.
ADDITIONAL STATS
In addition to his two goals on the night, Poole led Rockets in +/- with a +4 rating.
Kelowna outshot Victoria 38 to 22
Eleven different Rockets found the scoresheet
Gabriel Szturc posted two goals on the night, he had a team-high seven shots
Nolan Flamand went 11/15 in the faceoff dot
The Rockets were 3/5 on the power play while the Giants were 1/7
UP NEXT
Vancouver and Kelowna will close out their preseason schedules tomorrow in Maple Ridge, BC at 7:00 pm.
The Rockets will then be off until the 2022-23 regular-season home opener on September 24 against the Portland Winterhawks at 7:05 pm.
Single game tickets for the home opener on September 24th are now available 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.
Tickets for the remaining Rockets regular-season home games will go on sale on September 29th at Select Your Tickets.
Season tickets are still available, don’t miss a minute of the Rockets action and secure yours today.
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