WEDNESDAY’S WHL PLAYOFF ROUND-UP
ROCKETS COMPLETE COMBACK TO KNOCK OUT THUNDERBIRDS – Tyson Baillie scored a hat trick, including the winner 5:10 into overtime, to lift the Kelowna Rockets to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 7 of their Kal Tire WHL Western Conference quarter final series on Wednesday.
The win gives the Rockets the series victory, four games to three, and allows them to advance to the second round. With the victory, the Rockets become just the second team in WHL history to rebound from an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series, joining the 1996 Spokane Chiefs.
Jordon Cooke stopped 24 of 26 shots he faced to post his fourth consecutive victory for the Rockets, who held a 2-1 lead until the T-Birds tied the game with just seven seconds left in the third period but claimed victory in overtime. The Rockets will now face B.C. Division rival the Kamloops Blazers in round two.
Evan Wardley and Luke Lockhart – with the late game-tying goal – scored for the Thunderbirds, who finished the series 0-for-27 on the power play as they see their season come to an end. Brandon Glover turned in a 32-save performance in a losing cause in his final WHL game.
Kelowna wins best-of-seven series 4-3
