Kelowna Rockets put nine on the board in drubbing of Victoria

Rockets Deliver Dominant Performance

The Kelowna Rockets quickly erased the memory of Friday’s disappointing loss to the Western Conference’s last-place Vancouver Giants.

All their pent-up frustrations from the previous night’s performance were unleashed upon the visiting Victoria Royals.

The Rockets wasted no time, scoring early and frequently, ultimately dominating the Royals in a resounding 9-2 victory.

Tig Iginla spearheaded the offensive onslaught with his second career five-point outing, contributing a goal and four assists.

Shane Smith contributed a pair of goals, while Hayden Paupanekis, Keith McInnis, Ty Halaburda, Mazden Leslie, Owen Folstrom, and Rowan Guest (scoring his first of the season) each added singles.

Parker Alcos and Carson Wetsch both chipped in with two assists apiece, highlighting a widespread effort that saw 13 out of 18 skaters earn at least one point.

Leslie’s goal marked his 250th career point, a significant achievement that places him as the 13th defenceman in WHL history and the first ever wearing a Rockets jersey to reach this milestone.

Kelowna established a dominant 4-1 lead after the first period, extending it to 7-2 by the end of the second.

Former Rockets goaltender Jake Pilon, despite facing a barrage of 46 shots, conceded all nine goals.

On the other end, Josh Banini stopped 28 shots to secure the victory for Kelowna.

Kelowna capitalized on their power-play opportunities, converting two of three, and demonstrated impressive discipline, only granting the Royals a single power play throughout the entire game.

This crucial victory ensures the Rockets remain tied with Prince George for third place in the Western Conference, with both teams accumulating 78 points.

Prince George holds the tie-breaker for third, however, due to possessing three more victories.

Kelowna wraps up their demanding weekend schedule in Langley with an afternoon contest against the Vancouver Giants on Sunday.