Underway: Rockets and Cougars in Kelowna
The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Prince George Cougars 4-1 Friday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, winning its sixth straight Western Hockey League game.
The Rockets scored twice in each of the second and third periods to even its record at 10-10 and continue a hot streak that has seen the team rip off six straight victories.
The Rockets opened the scoring on a second period power play. After a couple of nice saves by Prince George goalie James Priestner, Shane McColgan was able to bury his seventh of the season. Priestner stopped Mitchell Callahan twice in close before McColgan jumped on a rebound, pulled the puck around a crowd and shelved it high into the top corner for a 1-0 Rockets lead.
Kelowna made it 2-0 when Jessey Astles ripped a hard snap shot into the top corner, finishing a nice passing play. Defenceman Tyson Barrie moved the puck ahead to Cody Chikie. Chikie threaded a nice pass to Astles who finished it off for his second of the season.
Brett Bulmer put the Rockets up 3-0 at 13:21 of the third period. With under seven minutes to play in the third period, Bulmer sniped his sixth goal of the season, ripping a shot into the top corner on a 2-on-1. Mitchell Callahan added an empty net goal after Prince George had made it 3-1 with a late third period goal.
Goalie Adam Brown made 27 saves in his 10th straight start, earning first star honours for the second straight game.
Both teams had their chances in a scoreless first period. One of the best for Kelowna came off the stick of Andreas Stene. The Oslo native grabbed a rebound and took a hard low shot that Prince George goalie James Priestner snared with his glove hand, robbing the European import of his first WHL goal.
Notes:
Attendance:
6,074
Starting Goalies:
Kelowna – Adam Brown
Prince George – James Priestner
Scratches:
Kelowna – Colton Jobke, Jason Siebert, Max Adolph, Colton Heffley, Antoine Corbin
Prince George – Joshua Smith, Jaroslav Vlach, Taylor Makin
Monthly Rockets Awards:
Campbell’s Soup Chunky Academic Achievement Winner: MacKenzie Johnston
Andre’s Audiotronics Hardest Working Rocket – Colton Sissons
