iSight Optometry Recap: Rocak picks up four assists in Rockets victory over Blazers
The Kelowna Rockets extended their win streak to two games by downing the Kamloops Blazers 6-3 at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops on Friday.
With the win, the Rockets snapped an 11-game winless streak at the Sandman Centre. Their last victory in Kamloops came on December 28, 2021.
Marek Rocak recorded a career-high four assists in the game to earn the game’s first star, while Jari Kykkanen was named the second star after facing a season-high 48 shots allowed on net.
GAME SUMMARY
Hiroki Gojsic (15) stayed hot with his fifth goal in his last three games after the rebound from Ethan Mittelsteadt’s drive on the power play popped out to an awaiting Gojsic in the left faceoff circle 3:44 into regulation. Max Graham (10) was then able to take off while short-handed, letting a shot fly that beat Blazers goaltender Dylan Ernst just past the six-minute mark. Defenceman Marek Rocak then drove to the net through the slot, dishing off the puck for fellow countryman Gabriel Szturc (26) to one time from the left faceoff circle. In the final seconds of the opening frame Luke Schelter (9) was able to jam in the Rockets fourth goal of the game.
Andrew Cristall took off on a short-handed two-on-one, passing the puck off to Caden Price (8), who picked up his 100th career WHL point on the goal. Rocak then fed the puck down low to Cristall (29) to push out to a 6-0 lead just past the midway point. Emmitt Finnie (11) broke Jari Kykkanen’s shutout bid with a power play marker before the end of the second frame.
Finnie (12) found the back of the net again 3:08 into the third period, while Zach Pantelakis (1) scored his first WHL goal with a minute left in the game,
ADDITIONAL STATS
- The Rockets record is now 24-24-3-0
- Kelowna was 1/1 on the power play, while Kamloops was 1/6
- The Blazers outshot the Rockets 48-29
- This was the fifth of eight meetings between the Blazers and Rockets, with Kamloops leading 2-2-1-0 after the Rockets fell in overtime on January 26
UP NEXT
Kelowna will take on the Kamloops Blazers again tomorrow at Propsera Place at 7:05 on Saturday, February 10.
Saturday’s home game will also be the Rockets Hockey Gives Blood/Canadian Blood Services game.
Single Game Tickets for all Rockets games can be purchased:
- Online at selectyourtickets.com
- By calling Select Your Tickets at 250-762-5050
- Or by visiting the Select Your Tickets box office at the Prospera Place box office. The box office is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday home game days.
Six and twelve game Mini Packs for the Kelowna Rockets season are now on sale through Select Your Tickets. To learn how to save on walk-up tickets and use the flexibility of a Mini Pack click here.
