Recap: Royals (2) vs Rockets (4) – December 7th, 2024
Victoria, B.C. – Tonight, the Victoria Royals hosted the Kelowna Rockets for the first game of a back-to-back weekend set. The Royals fell 4-2 to the divisional rival. The match saw 85 shots on goal, with Cosmo Wilson and Escalus Burlock each scoring for the Royals.
The first period saw four powerplays, and each goal in the period was scored during one. A short-handed goal from Rockets’ forward Andrew Cristall opened the scoring at 10:24. Soon after, Hiroki Gojsic created a two-goal lead with a marker at 17:24. In the dying minute of the period, Cosmo Wilson got the Royals onto the scoreboard with a powerplay goal of his own, bringing a score of 2-1 into the second period.
During a four-minute man advantage, the Rockets brought their lead back to two. Coming out of a faceoff, Jakub Stancl slid the puck past netminder Jayden Kraus at 15:54 to bring the score to 3-1.
In the final 20 minutes, the Royals outshot the Rockets 21-7, but neither team scored until the final minute. At 19:07, Andrew Cristall recorded his second goal of the night on an empty net goal. 20 seconds later, Escalus Burlock scored a goal to bring the score to 4-2.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
10:24 Kelowna Rockets Goal
Andrew Cristall (19) assisted by Kayden Longley (11)
17:24 Kelowna Rockets Goal
Hiroki Gojsic (8) assisted by Marek Rocak (15) and Michael Cicek (14)
19:59 Victoria Royals Goal
Cosmo Wilson (3) assisted by Nate Misskey (14) and Markus Loponen (12)
2nd Period
15:54 Kelowna Rockets Goal
Jakub Stancl (11) unassisted
3rd Period
19:07 Kelowna Rockets Goal
Andrew Cristall (20) assisted by Kayden Longley (12) and Nate Corbet (8)
19:27 Victoria Royals Goal
Escalus Burlock (4) assisted by Landon Young (2)
Shots on Goal
Royals — 51
Rockets — 34
Powerplay
Royals — 2/4
Rockets — 1/7
Goalie Stats
Royals
Jayden Kraus — 30/33
Rockets
Rhett Stoesser — 49/51
What’s Next
The Royals will be back at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre tomorrow night on Sunday, Dec. 8, as they close out their weekend series against the Kelowna Rockets with puck drop scheduled for 3:05 pm. Make sure to bring your teddy bears as Sunday’s game will be the Royals’ annual Teddy Bear Toss Night.
