Rockets Fend off Victoria in 4-3 Shootout Win
March 6, 2013 – Kelowna, BC
The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Victoria Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, coming from behind in the game’s final minute to force overtime before winning the game in a shootout.
After a scoreless overtime and five shooters that couldn’t score in the shootout, Rockets rookie Rourke Chartier beat Victoria netminder Coleman Vollrath for the only goal of the shootout.
Jordon Cooke earned the win in net, stopping all six Victoria shooters to earn his 33rd win of the season.
“I thought Victoria did a really good job tonight, they were short some bodies and I thought they competed hard,” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska on the AM 1150 post game show. “But we didn’t have a lot of jump in our game tonight. We have to re-focus and get ready for a big weekend against Kamloops.”
The Rockets held 1-0 and 2-1 leads on a game Victoria club, playing without several regulars as well as its head coach. With the game tied 2-2, Victoria took a 3-2 lead with only 1:15 to play in the third. But the Rockets struck quickly to tie it as Madison Bowey tied the game at 3-3 when his point shot deflected in, with Cooke on the bench for an extra attacker.
The win improves the Rockets record to 47-16-3-1 on the season, three points ahead of the Blazers in the race for the WHL BC Division crown.
Kelowna will meet the Blazers in Kamloops on Friday night before the two teams return to Kelowna on Saturday night.
Buy Kelowna Rockets Tickets Here, call 250-762-5050 or purchase them at the Prospera Place box office.
