Rockets downed in Red Deer
The Kelowna Rockets were defeated by the Red Deer Rebels 7-0 at the ENMAX Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta Friday night.
Both teams came out evenly matched exchanging scoring chances early on in the first period. The Rockets were awarded the first power play of the game 10:52 into the period when Oleg Zaytsev was called for holding. The faceoff was inside the Rebels zone, but Brandon Hagel(14) charged past the Rockets defence and scored on the breakaway 11 seconds into the Rockets man advantage. Dallon Melin(1) extended the Rebels lead to two just minutes after the opening goal. He was waiting sitting in front of the net when Chris Douglas slid him a pass to put behind Rockets starter, James Porter 15:35 into the first. The Rebels had a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
The Rebels were able to extend their lead to three when Rockets goaltender, James Porter came out of his net to play the puck. The puck popped over Porter, and Chris Douglas(5) batted it into the empty net 9:51 into the second stanza. Red Deer’s captain, Reese Johnson scored the Rebels second short-handed goal of the night 12:54 into the period. Kelowna’s Head Coach, Adam Foote elected to make a goaltending change after the fourth goal replacing Porter with Roman Basran. Red Deer headed into the second intermission with a 4-0 lead.
Red Deer came out with a bang to start the third, they capitalised on a power play that carried over from the previous period. Jeff de Wit(13) scored on a quick wrist shot from the high slot just 49 seconds into the final frame. Morozoff(3) increased the lead on the power play to 6-0, 5:45 into the third. With a little over five minutes left to play in the third, the Rebels scored their seventh of the game when Carson Sass’s(2) shot ricocheted off of a Rockets defender into the net.
Kelowna’s record is now 8-13-1-0.
James Porter was charged with the loss, his record moves to 2-4-0-0. Porter stopped 14 of the 18 shots he faced, while Roman Basran turned aside 13 of the 16 shots he saw. The Rockets were outshot by the Rebels 34-28.
The Rockets will return to the ice tomorrow in Edmonton when they face the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rogers Place to wrap up their six-game road trip.
Kelowna will be at home again this Wednesday when they host the Regina Pats for Hat Trick Wednesday at Prospera Place.
Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
Season tickets are on sale now. Season ticket holders will have first right of refusal on 2020 Memorial Cup presented by KIA ticket packages.
For season ticket info contact us by email – Gavin Hamilton – [email protected] or Andrew Deans – [email protected], or by phone at 250-860-7825.
Stay tuned to kelownarockets.com, follow us on Twitter @Kelowna_Rockets, Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram @kelownarocketswhl for all of your Rockets info.
