RECAP: Cougars down injury-riddled Rockets 9-2
The Kelowna Rockets were defeated for the third consecutive game by the Prince George Cougars, falling 9-2 to Cougs at Prospera Place on Friday night at Prospera Place.
The Cougars jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the opening period, with Rockets starter Talyn Boyko replaced in net following the third goal. Not letting off the gas Prince George added three more goals in the second period before the Rockets could answer with their second goal of the game. Cole Dubinsky completed his hat trick in the third period.
Kelowna was once again without injured players John Babcock (upper-body/day-to-day), Marek Rocak (upper-body/day-to-day), Max Graham (upper-body/2-3 weeks), Ty Hurley (lower-body/week-to-week) and Andrew Cristall (lower-body/week-to-week). Cristall and Hurley have resumed skating this week.
GAME SUMMARY
Prince George overage defenceman Chase Wheatcroft (33) extended his point streak to twelve games with the opening goal of the night. The Rockets then called a timeout after Cole Dubinsky (12) added another Cougar goal 2:36 after Dubinsky’s. Rockets starter Talyn Boyko was replaced in net after Hudson Thornton (14) pushed the Cougs out to 3-0 lead on the power play 7:59 into the game. Carson Golder (22) got the Rockets on the board in the final minutes of the frame with a floater that went up and over Tyler Brennan and into the Cougars net.
Prince George had a goal waived off a minute into the second period because it didn’t cross the goal line. Caden Brown (14) reestablished the Cougars lead early into the second period. Cole Dubinsky (13) and Jaxsen Wiebe (11) added goals before Trae Johnson (3) found the back of the net in the final minute of the period with his first as Rocket.
Wheatcroft (34), Dubinsky (14) and Blake Eastman (6) all scored in the third for Prince George.
ADDITIONAL STATS
- Prince George outshot Kelowna 45-23
- Talyn Boyko made four saves on seven shots, while Kykkanen turned aside 32 of the 38 shots fired at him
- Cole Dubinsky was the game’s first star, Chase Wheatcroft was the second and Caden Brown was the third star
- Kelowna was 0/3 on the power play, while the Cougars were 2/4 on the man advantage
- The Rockets record is now 17-29-3-0
- Landon Cowper made his WHL debut
UP NEXT
Kelowna will continue their homestand tomorrow night when they host the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday for their first visit to Kelowna since 2018.
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.
