Recap: Andrew Cristall records hat-trick in Rockets preseason opener
Please note there are no highlights for this preseason game
The Kelowna Rockets opened their 2022-23 preseason schedule with a 5-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Friday night at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, BC.
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Rockets forward Andrew Cristall netted a hat-trick, while Turner McMillen and Scott Cousins were the other Kelowna skaters to find the back of the net.
Netminder Jari Kykkanen played the entire game for Kelowna, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced.
A total of six Rockets rookies suited up in the contest including Ismail Abougouche, Grady Lenton, Will Munro, Ethan Neutens, Logan Dochuk and Logan Peskett. Abougouche and Peskett are the two lone 16-year-olds on the roster, the duo signed Standard Player Agreements earlier in the day.
GAME SUMMARY
Andrew Cristall (1) put the Rockets up 1-0 just 1:58 into the game, putting away a rebound that came to him off the post. Before the end of the period Cristall (2) added another from behind the goal line to give Kelowna a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes of action.
Connor Levis (1) pulled the Blazers back within one with a short-handed tally, but Turner McMillen (1) responded for Kelowna just over a minute later while back at even strength on a play that Scott Cousins picked off.
Cristall (3) skated around a Blazers defender and tucked the puck past starter Dylan Ernst to complete the hat-trick 1:30 into the third period. Luke Korte (1) fired a shot past Kykkanen from the slot on the power play. Scott Cousins (1) added an empty netter for Kelowna in the final seconds of the game.
ADDITIONAL STATS
- Andrew Cristall and Gabriel Szturc both had a team-best plus/minus rating of +4
- Andrew Crsitall led the Rockets in shot attempts with six
- Kelowna was 0/2 on the power play while the Blazers were 1/4
UP NEXT
The Rockets will be back in action tomorrow night when they host the Blazers at Prospera Place at 7:05 pm.
Single game tickets for Saturday’s game as well as the other two home preseason games and the Rockets home opener on September 24th are now available at Select Your Tickets.
Tickets can be purchased online through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office, or by phone at 250-762-5050.
Two dollars from each preseason ticket sold will be donated to Cops For Kids.
Interested in season tickets? The Rockets will be hosting an open house Sunday, Sept. 11 from 12 pm to 3 pm at Prospera Place. Click here for more details.
