The Kelowna Rockets clinched first place in the B.C. Division with a 6-3 win at Prospera Place over the Prince George Cougars.
The Cougars, who will miss the post-season, led 2-1 heading into the third period, but a monumental implosion enabled the Rockets to score five straight goals for the victory. While Kelowna was able to even the contest 2-2 just 23 seconds into the final frame, the manner in which Prince George allowed this game to slip away was simply deplorable. More on that later.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” said team captain Cal Foote when asked about clinching the division title. “It’s my first one in the three years I’ve been here, so it’s a great feeling. It was one of our goals this season.”
“I felt good, getting some shifts and being back with the boys,” Nolan Foote said. “I feel like I’m in shape, so I’m excited to be back and get into the playoffs.”
The Foote brothers combined for five points on the night in a game that marked Nolan’s return to the lineup after a 17-game absence with what was presumably a hand injury suffered in Everett against the Silvertips on Feb. 3.
The brother act created excitement in the building where an announced crowd of 4,561 arrived in anticipation of a championship clinching affair.
The Cougars opened the scoring at 13:30 from a faceoff deep in the Rockets zone. Cole Moberg was steered a shot from the point through traffic where goaltender James Porter was able to make the initial save but could not corral the rebound. Aaron Boyd pounced on the loose puck and deposited his 14th of the season.
Kelowna squared the match at 17:07. Kyle Topping and Kole Lind were aggressive on the forecheck and created a loose puck behind the Cougars net and Lind fed Cal Foote at the point. The captain slapped a pass directly to Nolan Foote, who applied a nifty deflection with his back to the goal and the puck eluded Cougars goaltender Taylor Gauthier. It was Nolan’s 13th of the season.
“We were definitely happy for him,” Cal said of Nolan’s first period goal. “He missed quite a few games this year. He looked pretty strong there.”
Late in the second period, Brogan O’Brien picked up an errant clearing pass up the middle by Lind just outside the Rockets blueline, waltzed into the attacking zone and beat Porter high stick side from well out to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. Porter had lost his lumber earlier on the play and faced the shot without his paddle.
Kelowna tied the game at 2-2 just 23 seconds into the third when Kaedan Korczak’s point shot appeared to deflect past Gauthier off the hand of a Cats defender.
Inexplicably, the Cougars began a curious parade to the penalty box that eliminated any of the momentum it had established.
At 4:06, Jackson Leppard served notice to Erik Gardiner that he did not appreciate the location of a stick jab to his mid-section and proceeded to deliver a hack and whack that produced a man advantage for the Rockets. While both players were penalized, it was the additional bench minor assessed following an interaction with officials at the Cougars bench that perhaps started the downward spiral.
Of note was the towel waving of head coach Richard Matvichuk – never a good sign – especially during a game that was well within reach of the visitors.
Four minutes later, Joel Lakusta (check to the head) and Cameron McPhee (intent to injure) were ejected after being assessed five-minute majors. The melee began as Dillon Dube entered the Cougars zone and was welcomed by a high cross check under his chin. Carsen Twarynski and Gordie Ballhorn came to Dube’s aid and were also tossed.
For Lakusta and McPhee, with only two regular season games remaining, it is likely their respective campaigns are finished as one would assume supplemental discipline will ensue.
Cal Foote with two goals, Dube and Bradyn Chizen staked the Rockets to a 6-2 lead before Ryan Schoettler tallied late for Prince George to complete the scoring.
With win, Kelowna improves to 41-22-5-2 for 89 points. The finish atop the B.C. Division standings ensure the Rockets will have home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It is the Rockets seventh B.C. Division title.
Post Game Interview: Jason Smith (click here)
Post Game Interview: Cal Foote (click here)
Post Game Interview: Nolan Foote (click here)
Rockets Fuel…Kelowna outshot Prince George, 50-18…The Rockets were 0-for-8 on the power play. The Cougars went 1-for-4…Three stars were Cal Foote, Nolan Foote and Gauthier…Scratches were James Hilsendager, Wil Kushniryk, Kyle Pow, Colum McGauley, Roman Basran and affiliate players Cayde Augustine and Dallon Wilton …The Rockets are now 25-7-1-2 at home and 21-7-2 against the B.C. Division…Kelowna was 6-2 in eight games against Prince George this season…Prince George and the Kamloops Blazers will not make the playoffs. All told, Kelowna compiled a 14-2 record against these two division rivals…Next home game is Saturday night, the regular season finale against the Vancouver Giants.
(DUBNetwork thanks Kevin Bain and the Kelowna Rockets for the audio/video)
