Rockets and Giants Underway
By Kevin Parnell – Kelownarockets.com
The Vancouver Giants defeated the Kelowna Rockets 7-5 in a wild Western Hockey League game at Prospera Place in Kelowna Wednesday night where lead changes and quick goals were the order of business.
Kelowna led 5-4 after two hectic periods of play but surrendered two quick goals to start the third period to give the Giants a 6-5 lead. The lead would hold up the rest of the way as the Giants added an empty net goal to put the game away.
It was a game that had everything save for overtime. Both coaches called their time-outs before the midway point of the game. Both coaches also replaced their starting goalies. There were three spirited scraps. And goals were coming in bunches: The Rockets scored five goals in less than five minutes; the Giants twice scored goals less than two minutes apart.
Kelowna also had a goal called back on a goalie interference call that resulted in a Vancouver power play marker.
“We’re finding ways to shoot ourselves in the foot right now,” Rockets head coach Ryan Huska told the AM 1150 post game show. “We’re not making the simple plays. We’re trying to overhandle pucks and make something out of nothing.”
Kelowna found itself down quickly at Prospera Place as Vancouver jumped out to a 2-0 lead before three minutes had elapsed in the first period.
Trailing 2-0 after one the Rockets came out flying in the second period, exploding for five goals in less than five minutes to open the period.
Mitchell Callahan got Kelowna on the board when he skated through the slot and deflected a point shot into the net at 3:53 of the second. Spencer Main followed just 33 seconds later, taking the puck to the right faceoff circle and beating Vancouver goalie Mark Segal with a low wrist shot.
Kevin Smith, Shane McColgan and Main, with his second of the game, all scored within the next three minutes, giving Kelowna a 5-2 lead, the goals coming in a span of just 4:43.
Vancouver would wrestle momentum back from the Rockets with two straight goals before the period was over with Brendan Gallagher and Matt MacKay responding for the Giants, making the score 5-4 for Kelowna after two. But Vancouver would get two quick goals in the third period as well as the empty netter to earn the win.
“We need all of our players focusing on playing the game the way we want them to, that’s what it really comes down to,” said Huska. “I thought we worked hard but we have to limit our mistakes.”
Kelowna is back in action on Friday night at Prospera Place when they take on the Everett Silvertips. Get tickets here.
