Blazers beaten by Rockets in Kelowna

KELOWNA – The Kelowna Rockets got goals from six different players as the Kamloops Blazers were beaten 6-1 Saturday night in Kelowna.

The Rockets got off to a quick start in the game as they scored three goals in the first 10:56 of the game to chase goaltender Bolton Pouliot from the net. Colten Heffley, Riley Stadel and Austin Glover all scored to give the Rockets a 3-0 first period lead.

Pouliot stopped six of nine shots and 17-year-old Connor Ingram made his WHL debut stopping all six shots he faced in the second half of the first period.

The Blazers were ready to go in the second period and scored nine seconds in. Patrik Maier flipped a puck forward to Matt Needham. Needham fed Deven Sideroff for a goal as the Blazers had life, despite trailing 3-1.

The next goal was pivotal, and the Rockets got it as Tyson Baillie was left alone in front and scored 2:30 into the second period to restore the Rockets three-goal lead.

The Blazers had their chances in the period, but goaltender Jackson Whistle was rock solid for the Rockets. He robbed Cole Ully point blank and stopped a great chance by Jesse Zaharichuk late in the period.

The Rockets built on their lead with 4:20 to play in the period. Tyson Baillie made a great pass to a streaking Kris Schmidli as he batted it past Ingram to give the Rockets a 5-1 lead through two periods.

Again, the Blazers created chances in the third period, but were stonewalled by Whistle. Carter Rigby rounded out the scoring by one-timing a shot past Ingram on a power play to make it a 6-1 final.

The Blazers finished the night 0-for-6 on the power play, while the Rockets were 2-for-7. The Rockets outshot the Blazers 39-33.

Connor Ingram played the last 49:04 minutes and stopped 27 of 30 shots. Jackson Whistle was the game's first start in turning aside 32 of 33 shots he faced.

The Blazers return home for a week of practice in preparation for two games next weekend in Victoria against the Royals.