Rockets-Royals
Sept. 28, 2013 – Kelowna, BC
The Victoria Royals defeated the Kelowna Rockets 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, handing the Rockets its first loss of the Western Hockey League season.
The Royals got third period goals from Trent Lofthouse and Brandon Fushimi and erased a 3-1 Rockets lead before all three Royals beat Kelowna starter Jordon Cooke in the shootout.
“I thought they played hard and we didn’t,” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska on the AM1150 post game show. “The second period was a good period of hockey for us but other than that they were the team that wanted the game more.”
The game was tied 1-1 after the first period before Kelowna jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second, scoring twice and outshooting Victoria 21-8.
Zach Franko opened the scoring for Kelowna while Rourke Chartier and Myles Bell also scored. Bell and Damon Severson both played in their first game with the Rockets since being returned to Kelowna from the New Jersey Devils.
Rockets goalie Jordon Cooke was solid for the Rockets in net, especially in the third period.
“I thought we had a good start but as the third period went on we let off and thought it was going to be easy,” said Cooke, who surrendered three in the shoot-out. “I think they made three good moves but at that time of the game I have to make the save.”
The Rockets record fell to 2-0-0-1 while Victoria improved to 2-3-0-0 on the season.
Kelowna returns to action mid-week as it plays in Everett on Wednesday before hosting the Portland Winterhawks for a pair of games at Prospera Place next Friday and Saturday night.
