Rebels fall 5-3 in Kelowna

KELOWNA, BC – The Rebels continued their BC road trip with a stop in the Central Okanagan, as they had a Tuesday night affair with the Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets.

The Rockets started early with an opening minute goal, but the Rebels played a strong first period but found themselves down 2-1.

Three goals in the second period from Kelowna eventually sunk the Rebels by a final score of 5-3.

Stats Story:

Vojtech Cihar (KEL) – 1 goal, 3 assists

Patrick Sopiarz (RD) – 2 goals

Tij Iginla (KEL) – 1 goal, 1 assist

How it Happened:

Kelowna opened the scoring 28 seconds in as a Rebel turnover ended up on the stick of Hiroki Gojsic, who beat Matthew Kondro on the shortside.

Seven minutes later, Patrick Sopiarz tied it for the Rebels, as he found a lose puck in the slot, and beat Rockets goaltender Harrison Boettiger for his first goal with the club.

The Rockets ended the opening period just as they started it as Vojtech Cihar tipped home a pass from Mazden Leslie on a 2-on-1 with just 44 seconds left in the first for a shorthanded goal and a 2-1 lead..

Kelowna kept the momentum into the second period, as they capitalized twice on a high-sticking double-minor, as Hayden Paupanekis and Tij Iginla scored just 34 seconds apart to open up a 4-1 Rockets lead.

Eli Barrett’s first goal in the WHL came ten minutes later to make it 5-1.

It was late in the third period when Nate Yellowaga cut through the ice, going end-to-end and beating four Rockets defenders, on his way to his fifth goal of the season at the 14:17 mark.

NATE YELLOWAGA!!! TAKES IT ALL THE WAY AND SCORES A BEAUTY!! 🫨@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/TkpRwKEs6A

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 28, 2026

Patrick Sopiarz scored his second of the night just 1:40 later, as he jammed home a point shot after a rebound off the end boards came to his stick at the side of the net. That’s where the Rebels late rally ended as the Rocket closed out the win.

Red Deer went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Rockets scored on 2 of their 4 opportunities. Matthew Kondro made 23 saves before being relieved in the third period, and Peyton Shore made 10 saves. Boettiger made 23 saves in the Kelowna crease.

Brandt Three Stars:

1. Vojtech Cihar (KEL)

2. Eli Barrett (KEL)

3. Tij Iginla (KEL)

Notes:

Beckett Hamiton on Red Deer’s first goal of the game to extend his point streak to nine games … Kalder Varga had an assist for the Rebels in his first game in Kelowna since being acquired from the Rockets. Varga now has 11 points in 11 games with the Rebels … Kelowna defeated the Rebels for the first time since Nov. 11, 2017 to end Red Deer’s run of seven-straight wins over the Rockets.

Next up:

The Rebels continue their BC trip, as they head up the road for a mid-week battle with the Kamloops Blazers; that one has an 8pm MT puck drop, and can be heard on 106.7 Rewind Radio, or Victory+.

(Xander Holcomb)