Hawks Take out Rockets in 5 Games
Photos: Marissa Baecker
The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Kelowna Rockets 7-3 on Friday night in Kelowna, winning the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference Championship in five games over the Rockets.
Portland jumped out quickly again in game 5 and led 3-0 early in the second period before the Rockets got going and picked up their game. Tyson Baillie and Jesse Lees ignited a sold out Prospera Place crowd and cut into the Portland lead in the second period as Kelowna trailed 3-2 after two periods.
But Portland took over the game in the third, scoring four straight goals to extend its lead before Justin Kirkland scored a late marker, making the final 7-3 and ending the series and the Rockets season.
Kelowna coach Ryan Huska said his team didn’t compete hard enough to win.
“Portland is a real good hockey club with a lot of skill,” said Huska on the AM1150 post game show. “We can’t out-skill that team but the dissappointing part is we got out-competed in the series. They won the battles. Part of that is experience and part of it is us not doing a good enough job.”
The loss marked the end of the best regular season in Kelowna Rockets history as the team won a club record 57 games and claimed the WHL regular season championship.
Twenty-year-olds Myles Bell, Marek Tvrdon and goalie Jordon Cooke will graduate from junior hockey. Cooke said his time with the Rockets was life-changing.
“Its been unbelievable in Kelowna,” said Cooke on the AM1150 post game show. “It’s been a pleasure. The fans, the city, Bruce Hamilton, Ryan Huska, every coach I’ve ever had here, I have so many memories. It’s been an ubelievable experience. These years have blown by and I’ve cherished all these memories. It’s tough letting go. It’s unfortuante we had to lose”
