Rockets Win Game 1 in Thrilling fashion
(Photos: Marissa Baecker)
The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Portland Winterhawks 5-4 in a thrilling opening game of the WHL Western Conference final, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to earn the win in front of a sold-out crowd at Prospera Place
Tyson Baillie scored a goal and added two assists for the Rockets, who got better as the game went on including a third period that saw Kelowna outshoot the Winterhawks 14-4 and score twice to complete the comeback victory.
“Our team has had belief all year,” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska on the AM 1150 post game show. “I thought it was important that we continued to have patience. Our older players did a good job of staying positive tonight and guys found a way to chip away and score some timely goals.”
After falling behind 3-0 midway through the first period, Baillie opened the scoring on a quick wrist shot, before captain Madison Bowey made it 3-2 with a short-handed marker, with under a minute to play in the first period.
The team’s exchanged goals in the second period as Portland jumped ahead 4-2 before Rourke Chartier cut the lead to 4-3.
In the third the Rockets took over, taking the game to Portland and scoring twice to earn the win. Justin Kirkland tied the game with a tip-in of a Bowey shot, setting the stage for Jesse Lees to score the game-winning-goal, banging home a rebound six minutes into the third.
Attendance at Prospera Place was 6,218 and Huska creditted the crowd for its energy.
“That was the best crowd since ’09 probably,” he said. “Even when we were down, they had a lot to do with us getting back into the game. They were very loud which was nice.”
The series continues on Saturday night with game two at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
Tickets are available through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the box office or by phone at 250-762-5050
250-762-5050.
