iSight Optometry Game Recap: Rockets Suffer First Regulation Loss of the Season in Penticton
The Kelowna Rockets fell 4-2 to the Penticton Vees on Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre in the opening game of their weekend home-and-home series.
Kelowna received first career WHL goals from Madden Daneault and Cole Braunshausen, but a pair of third-period goals from Penticton proved to be the difference.
GAME RECAP
Penticton opened the scoring at 15:43 of the first period on the power lay. Gavin Katz took advantage of the man advantage and fired a shot into the top corner to give the Vees a 1-0 lead.
The Rockets answered in the second period.
At 12:42, Madden Daneault scored the first WHL goal of his career after Ryan Oothoudt moved the puck into the slot. Daneault made no mistake, lifting the puck over the glove to tie the game at 1-1. Owen Folstrom also picked up an assist on the goal.
Just under three minutes later, another Rocket recorded his first WHL goal.
Cole Braunshausen finished a transition opportunity at 15:27, roofing a shot over the blocker to give Kelowna its first lead of the night. Jaxon Kehrig and Daneault drew the assists.
Penticton responded before the end of the period, as Roberts Naudins converted on a scramble around the Kelowna crease at 17:57 to send the game into the third period tied 2-2.
The Vees regained the lead on the powerplay midway through the third. Noel Pakarinen scored on a one-timer at 12:54, with the goal standing as the eventual game-winner.
Penticton added an insurance marker at 16:47 when Katz capitalized following a Kelowna turnover, scoring his second goal of the night to make it 4-2.
The Rockets were unable to close the gap in the final minutes.
Josh Banini made 26 saves on 30 shots in the Kelowna net, while Penticton goaltender Andrew Reyelts stopped 21 of 23.
Daneault finished the night with a goal and an assist and was named the game’s second star.
ADDITIONAL STATS
Shots on Goal
Kelowna: 23 | Penticton: 30
Powerplay
Kelowna: 0/4 | Penticton: 2/4
Faceoffs
Kelowna: 31 | Penticton: 32
UP NEXT
The Rockets and Vees will meet again Saturday night as the home-and-home series shifts to Kelowna for the 2026-27 Home Opener at Prospera Place. Puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m. as the Battle of the Okanagan returns to Kelowna. Tickets are still available at selectyourtickets.com.
