Cranbrook, BC – The Kelowna Rockets jumped out to a 4-0 1st period lead on their way to 6-2 win over the Kootenay ICE in WHL action on Sunday night.
Kelowna opened the scoring on a 2-on-1 break with Cody Almond scoring on a wrist shot that went in off the goalies’ blocker.
Dylan Hood made it 2-0 after receiving a behind the net pass from Stepan Novotny and scored on a high wrist shot.
Rockets made it 3-0 on a 5-on-3 powerplay as Novotny scored on a goal mouth scramble. On the ensuing power-play Kyle St. Denis made it 4-0.
While shorthanded ICE Steele Boomer deflected a Brayden McNabb point shot to make it 4-1.
ICE Tylan Stephens banged in a rebound early in the second period to make it 4-2.
Kelowna’s Jamie Benn scored on a shorthanded breakaway to make the score 5-2.
Rockets’ added to their lead with a pretty 3-way passing play completed by Almond with his 2nd of the game.
ICE rookie Drew Czerwonka scored his 1st WHL goal batting in waist high pass in the crease.
The game was the 1st and only meeting of the year between the clubs.
The last time Kelowna played in Cranbrook was October 7th 2006, the ICE won 5-1.
The ICE will start a 4 game road trip Wednesday in Regina.
Game Summary
Kelowna 4-4-0-0 Kootenay 2-4-0-3
1st Period
1. Kelowna, Almond 2 (McMillan, Borejko) :32
2. Kelowna, Hood 1 (Novotny) 7:49
3. Kelowna, Novotny 3 (Benn, Long) 13:47 pp
4. Kelowna, St. Denis 3 (Callahan, Verdino) 14:10 pp
5. Kootenay, Boomer 1 (McNabb, Rintoul) 16:20 sh
Penalties – Reinhart Ktn (hooking) 1:54, St. Denis Kel (elbowing) 2:52, Myers Kel (double roughing) Bailey Ktn (roughing) 4:55, L. Bloodoff (roughing) Stephens (check from behind, roughing) 12:11, Barrie Kel (fighting) Frere Ktn (check from behind, fighting) 12:22, Main Kel (check from behind) Paradis Kel (roughing) 14:17, Bailey Ktn (hooking) 14:22, Callahan Kel (fighting) Czerwonka Ktn (fighting) 16:29.
2nd Period
6. Kootenay, Stephens 3 (Frere, King) 2:22
7. Kelowna, Benn 3 (Barrie) 5:19 sh
Penalties – E.Bloodoff Kel (roughing) 3:28, Myers Kel (roughing) 7:29, McMillan Kel (slashing) 12:20, Myers Kel (delay of game puck over glass) 15:14, King Ktn (check from behind) 19:22.
3rd Period
8. Kelowna, Almond (2) (McMillan, St. Denis) 1:37
9. Kootenay, Czerwonka 1 (Boomer, Reinhart) 15:36 pp
Penalties – Vancscourt Ktn (slashing) 6:09, Myers Kel (holding) 9:25, Hood Kel (charging) 14:28,
Shots on goal by
Kelowna - 13 - 6 – 7 = 26
Kootenay - 5 – 19 – 6 = 30
Goal (shots-saves) – Kelowna: Kris Lazaruk (W 4-4-0-0) Kootenay: Thomas Heemskerk 13/9 (L 2-2-0-2) Nathan Lieuwen 11/13 (start 2nd)
Power plays (goals-chances) - Kelowna: Kootenay:
Referees – Jon Stephenson, Nathan Wieler
Linesmen – Tyler Adair, Steve Cochrane
Attendance – 2,649