Rookie Basran backstops Rockets

The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers 4-0 on Saturday night to extend its unbeaten streak on home ice to eight games.

Rookie Roman Basran was given the start in goal and delivered a milestone performance. The 16-year-old made 38 saves and stole the show, posting a shutout in front of 5,221 fans at Prospera Place.

Roman Basran, 38 saves

“I’ll remember all of them”, Basran said after the game when asked by Larry Fisher of the Kelowna Daily Courier if there were any particular saves he would remember.

Basran, who checks in at 6’1 and 165 pounds, is from Delta, B.C.. He will celebrate his 17th birthday next July. Selected by the Rockets in the third round, 64th overall at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, Basran has moved into the backup role behind 17-year-old James Porter after 19-year-old Brodan Salmond was shelved for six weeks due to an MCL injury.

Earlier this month, Basran played at the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge for Team Canada Black.

After a scoreless first frame, Kelowna did most of its damage in the second stanza.

Kaedan Korczak, 2 assists

Liam Kindree opened the scoring at 1:17 after defenceman Kaedan Korczak drifted a shot from the point and Tigers goalie Michael Bullion made the save. Kindree pounced on the rebound and beat Bullion for his fourth of the season. The 16-year-old Korczak, who joined Basran on Team Canada Black at the U-17, would chip in with two assists on the night.

Dillon Dube made it 2-0 when he collected a  loose puck at the Tigers blueline, skated in on Bullion and beat the keeper glove side for his 14th of the season at 14:41.

Dillon Dube, 100th assist

The Rockets extended the lead at 19:06 when Carsen Twarynski walked around a Tigers defenceman and deked Bullion stick side for a shorthanded tally, the 20-year-old’s 15th of the season.

The Rockets put the game out of reach at 1:16 of the third period when James Hilsendager took a feed from Dube and beat Bullion from the top of the circle for his fourth of the season. It was Dube’s 100th career regular season assist. The goal made it 4-0 and would signal the end of the night for Bullion, who was replaced by Jordan Hollett.

 

Post Game Interview – Roman Basran (click here)

Post Game Interview – Jason Smith (click here)

Rockets Fuel…The Rockets record improves to 14-8-2-1, good for second place in the B.C. Division. Kelowna is six points behind the Victoria Royals and seven ahead of the Vancouver Giants…Kelowna has won two games in a row, eight straight at home, and is 7-3 in its last ten games…Kole Lind sat out his fourth straight game with strep throat. Erik Gardiner, Nolan Foote and Brodan Salmond did not dress…The Rockets have beaten four of five Central Division teams this season at Prospera Place, with only the Calgary Hitmen earning a victory (4-3) back on Oct. 13. Since then, Kelowna has knocked off the visitors from Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat…Next home game for the Rockets is Wednesday night when the Prince George Cougars come calling.

(DUBNetwork thanks Kevin Bain and the Kelowna Rockets for game day video/audio.)