In the Rockets’ first game at Prospera Place in over 600 days, the crowd welcomed their team back with an electric atmosphere.
.@RocketsRocky is baaaaaaaaaack!! pic.twitter.com/KRPXWsQLpX
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) October 16, 2021
Due to current restrictions, Prospera Place could only sell half of its capacity. That means 3,400 fans were cheering on the Kelowna Rockets to a 4-2 win over their arch-rival Kamloops Blazers.
Shout it out loud. The @Kelowna_Rockets win their home opener.
STATS 📰 | https://t.co/DbRXJVmOye pic.twitter.com/KcjbAFctfY
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 16, 2021
The Blazers got two goals from newly acquired Colton Dach and Max Graham to lead the way. Dach and Graham staked the Rockets to a 2-0 lead 36 seconds into the second period. The Blazers came back to tie it when Josh Pillar got his third, and Victor Persson scored his first shorthanded at the 5:33 mark of the third period. Dach, who was electric all night, scored his second own the power play at the 12:13 mark to put the Rockets ahead. Elias Carmichael scored an empty rocket goal to seal the victory.
Pavel Novak added two assists. Dach had six shots on goal. And Colby Knight had 29 saves for the victory. The Rockets are now 2-1. Last weekend, they split their two games on the road against the Victoria Royals. They lost 6-3 on Friday, October 8, but rebounded on Saturday with a 6-4 victory.
For the Blazers, this was their first loss of the year as they fell to 4-1. Dylan Garand made 23 saves on 26 shots to take the loss. You can find the full game report here.
The Rockets are off to Vancouver next Friday to take on the Giants in Langley. They will return to the great fans of Prospera Place on Saturday, October 30, against the Victoria Royals.
