The Rockets got to their tenth win of the season.
A great goaltending duel between Rockets Talyn Boyko and Spokane’s Mason Beaupit led to a shootout on Friday. Turner McMillan scored the winning shootout goal as the Rockets won their ninth game of the season 2-1.
Bear Hughes opened the scoring on the powerboat for the Chiefs at 13:29 in the first. Jake Lee tied the game at 2:42 in the second, but there was no scoring until the shootout.
In perhaps a precursor of the evening proceedings, the Rockets had two penalty shots in the game—Colton Dach in the second and Jake Lee in overtime.
Carter Streek opened the shootout, scoring for the Chiefs. Pavel Novak kept the Rockets alive before McMillen got the win in the eighth round for the Rockets.
Ice in his veins, @mcmillen_turner lifts the Rockets to their ninth win of the season pic.twitter.com/FITtmuWFci
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) November 27, 2021
Beaupit made 38 saves for Spokane. Talyn Boyko made 38 saves for the win for the Rockets.
On Saturday, the Rockets got three goals in the first 5:57 of the game and cruised to a 4-1 win over the Prince George Cougars.
A quick start for the @Kelowna_Rockets!
Gabriel Szturc's goal at 0:06 of the first period is tied for the second-fastest goal to start a game in WHL history.
The WHL record is five seconds, set January 30, 1987 by Dean Sexsmith of the Seattle Thunderbirds. pic.twitter.com/zR6MNatC8Y
— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 28, 2021
Gabriel Szturc scored six seconds into the game. It was the second-fastest goal in WHL history. The fastest is five seconds by Dean Sexsmith of the Seattle Thunderbirds on January 30, 1987.
Nolan Flamand and Colton Dach scored 19 seconds apart at the 5:38 mark in the first. Tyson Feist added a power-play goal in the third. Connor Bowie scored the lone goal for the Cougars.
Talyn Boyko continued his strong weekend of goaltending for the Rockets. Boyko made 33 saves for the win; Boyko stopped 71 of 73 shots this weekend. Boyko was 2-0 with 1.00 GAA. It’s also the third straight game Boyko has allowed two or fewer goals.
Tyler Brennan made 25 saves for the loss. The Cougars fall to 7-11 on the season.
The Rockets climb to 10-5-2. They are one point ahead of the Vancouver Giants. The two teams are scheduled to face each other Wednesday. According to Steve Ewen, the Western Conference executives are talking about how to handle travel this week as floods continue to wreak havoc in B.C.
.@TheWHL Western Conference team execs talking today about how to handle travel this week. Right now, @WHLGiants leaving tomorrow morning and going through U.S. for Wednesday's game at @Kelowna_Rockets. Giants home to @blazerhockey Friday and Blazers home to Rockets Saturday.
— Steve Ewen (@SteveEwen) November 29, 2021
The Rockets also announced that forward Grady Lenton and Logan Dochuk have been returned to their respective teams, Lenton, to the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BCEHL. Dochuk to OHA Edmonton U18 Prep of CSSHL U18. Lenton made his debut on Friday against Spokane.
A pair of Rockets roster moves to announce:
– Grady Lenton returned to @GVCanadians
– Logan Dochuk returned to @OHAEdmonton pic.twitter.com/lQuoMLtDWo— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) November 29, 2021
The Rockets will also be without Andrew Cristall and Caden Price on Wednesday. Both are still at the Challenge Cup in Ottawa that wraps up on Wednesday.
