Rockets Beat Blazers 5-2
The Kelowna Rockets struck for three power play goals and goalie Adam Brown turned in a first-star performance leading the Rockets to a 5-2 win Wednesday night in Kamloops.
Brown made 37 saves, including key saves to preserve the lead in the third period, while Mitchell Callahan had his second straight four point night as the Rockets followed up Tuesday’s win over Prince George with a road victory against the Blazers.
Trailing 2-1 after two periods the Rockets took over the game with an inspired third period. Rookie Damon Severson started the comeback, tying the game at 2-2 with an early power play goal.
The Rockets took the lead at 10:44 of the third when Mitchell Callahan scored on a Rockets power play. Callahan found the puck on the doorstep and put it home for a 3-2 Rockets lead. A few minutes later he fed Shane McColgan a beautiful cross-ice pass that McColgan buried for a 4-2 lead.
“We worked hard again and it was another gritty road effort for us,” assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert told the AM 1150 post game show. “Maybe last night got the ball rolling for us. We got some ugly goals and it filtered into the confidence tonight.”
It was an entertaining game with plenty of drama. Brown made a couple of key saves with the score 4-2 including stopping Brendan Ranford on a clear cut breakaway. Minutes later Rockets forward Evan Bloodoff missed after being awarded a penalty shot.
Special teams played a key role. The Rockets power play was 3 for 5 while the penalty kill kept Kamloops to 0 for 5.
“The power play was the difference and that was probably the difference when we were struggling,” said Cuthbert. “I liked our game a lot more tonight. I thought we had a lot more guys involved. When you have success more guys start feeling good about themselves and good things start happening.”
A pair of 16-year-old Rockets scored their first Western Hockey League goals for Kelowna. Colton Heffley scored his first to tie the game 1-1 in the second period while Severson’s power play marker was also his first. Brett Bulmer added the empty-netter
The game was scoreless after the first period despite a hard push by the Blazers coming out of the gates. Kamloops outshot Kelowna 10-2 in the first half of the period but Brown was solid to keep the game scoreless.
“I think Adam Brown and Tyson Barrie really kept us in the game for the first 10 minutes,” said Cuthbert.
The Rockets are on the road again on Friday when they take on the Vancouver Giants in Vancouver. They return home to play Chilliwack on Saturday.(tickets here)
