Royals Earn Comeback Shootout Win Over Kelowna
Sept. 8, 2012
The Victoria Royals defeated the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 in a shootout in Western Hockey League preseason play at Prospera Place in Kelowna on Saturday night.
Kelowna jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Royals with two goals in the first period. Zach Franko scored his first goal of the preseason, then added an assist on Tyson Baillie’s goal, his second in exhibition play.
Austin Ferguson had an assist on each marker and Kelowna led 2-0 after one period of play.
After a fairly even second period, the Royals got on the board in the period’s final minute as Jordon Fransoo blasted a slap-shot that was deflected past newly acquired netminder Jackson Whistle.
The goal gave the Royals some momentum heading to the third period and they tied the game at 2-2 when Luke Harrison scored at 5:17 of the period.
Overtime was scoreless and in the shootout, Victoria’s Logan Nelson and Brandon Magee scored while Myles Bell and Tyson Baillie both missed on their chances for Kelowna.
The overtime loss drops Kelowna’s WHL preseason record to 1-1-0-2 heading into the team’s final two games of the exhibition season. Kelowna will play in Spokane next Thursday before closing out the preseason Saturday night at Prospera Place.
The Rockets open the WHL regular season Sept. 21 and 22 with a home and home against Kamloops. playing in Kamloops on the 21st before hosting the Blazers in the team’s home opener Sept. 22.
