Borejko Chips In

r Aaron Borejko could probably have picked a better time to score his first career WHL goal.

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r But, who’s complaining. After all, the kid made it a game winner.

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r Borejko’s point shot hit something and sailed into the net at 9:39 of the third period, to set off a string of three unanswered third period goals in Kelowna’s 5-2 win over the Chilliwack Bruins.

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r Coming into the game, the Bruins had been shut out by the Rockets in each of their 3 previous meetings on the year. Yet, they battled hard for 60 minutes and held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before relinquishing control to a more experienced Kelowna squad.

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r Following a 3-2 win over Regina on Friday night, the Rockets were looking for a perfect weekend and they got it. It didn’t come easy, but nobody said it had to. The guys stuck to the game plan and waited patiently for their chance to strike. That chance coming in the final 20 minutes.

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r Borejko’s goal was followed by a pretty Mitch Callahan marker and a lucky one from a sharp angle off the stick of Brandon McMillan. Adam Brown played steadily and stopped 17 shots for the win.

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r Chilliwack, who endured a tough defeat at home on Friday after leading Saskatoon for much of the game, opened the scoring when Kevin Sundher beat Brown at 4:45 of the opening period. The Rockets shook that off and generated ample offense for the remainder of the period.

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r Jamie Benn tied the game with 5.7 seconds left on the first period clock. Benn pounced on a rebound off to the left of Lucas Gore’s crease and back handed under the fallen Chilliwack goalie. The goal was Benn’s CHL-leading 24^th of the year and will be his last for a while. He, along with Tyler Myers, is off to Team Canada’s World Junior camp next Thursday.

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r Kelowna out-shot the Bruins 14-5 in the first period but the visitors came out hard for the second period and had much the better of the play. They took the lead when Brett Ward’s drive from the point went in off the left post.

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r After that, Ryan Howse nearly made it 3-1 when he beat Adam Brown with a laser-guided wrist shot from the right wing circle. But, this time, the post saved the day by turning aside the shot with a loud clang for good effect.

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r Later, Kevin Sundher came close to his second goal of the game. He weaved through the slot with some deft stick-handling and waited for Brown to fall. Unfortunately for him, his shot hit something and sailed harmlessly wide.

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r At that point, the Rockets had to deal with more heat in the form of two successive penalty calls on them. Luckily, they killed them off and on the heels of the second kill, Kelowna tied the game.

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r Evan Bloodoff escaped from the box and won a race for the puck down the right wing. After a scramble, he got the puck again and fed his brother, Lucas, stationed at the top of the right wing dot. Lucas, whipped a hard drive home from there for his 8^th of the year.

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r That goal started the tide in Kelowna’s favor and set the stage for the decisive final period. Knowing they had to win, the Rockets pounded away and wore the Bruins down.

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r The Rockets will have a week of practice before closing out their current 5-game home stand with a game vs. Swift Current next Friday. After that, it’s off on their annual, 3-game prairie road trip before the holiday break.

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