Kelowna Rockets advance to Second Round of 2024 WHL Playoffs
The Kelowna Rockets put on a tremendous performance in front of a hometown crowd, eliminating the Wenatchee Wild on Sunday, April 7.
It took six games for Kelowna to earn four wins (6-8, 3-1, 5-1, 3-1, 4-5 OT, 4-2).
Alternate captain Andrew Cristall, a Washington Capitals prospect, scored twice, while top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Tij Iginla had a goal and two assists- including the series-winner.
Iginla tied the Rockets franchise record for most goals in a single playoff series with eight.
TIJ IGINLA IS PLAYING HIS WAY INTO THE ROCKETS RECORD BOOK 🔥🔥🔥
The top 2024 NHL draft prospect has Kelowna up 2-0 with a chance to advance to Round Two with a win tonight#NHLDraft | #FeedtheFuture | @Kelowna_Rockets pic.twitter.com/fhK3FM18xX
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 7, 2024
The Lake Country, B.C. product also finished the series with three assists and a +5 rating and tied Wenatchee forward Briley Wood for most points in the 2024 WHL postseason with 11.
Kelowna also managed to hold Wenatchee to a single goal in three of the six contests.
Veteran netminder Jari Kykkanen went 4-1-0-1 in his third postseason appearance, posting a 2.88 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in the matchup.
Kykkanen was named first star of the night in two of the games.
This marks the first time Kelowna has moved past the First Round since 2017, when the Rockets made it to the Western Conference Final.