Kelowna Rockets come back to edge Tigers in Medicine Hat

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 5-4 on Saturday night in Medicine Hat, erasing a 3-0 deficit to win its second game in a row.

Rourke Chartier scored twice and Jackson Whistle turned aside 36 shots in the win as the Rockets improved to 35-5-0-2 on the season, first overall in the WHL.

The Tigers jumped out quickly in the game, scoring three straight goals in the first period to take a 3-0 lead after twenty minutes.

Kelowna raced back with three straight second period goals to tie the game as Chartier scored his 11th and 12th of the season and rookie Nick Merkley added his 11th to tie the game 3-3 after the second period.

Kris Schmidli and Mitchell Wheaton added third period markers before the Tigers got within one, but Kelowna hung on for the victory.

The Rockets power play was 2-for-3 on the night while holding the Tigers to an 0-for-5 night.

The Rockets are back in action on Sunday as they play in Calgary (3 p.m.) to close out the Alberta portion of its road trip.

Kelowna heads for Victoria next weekend for a double-header before returning to Kelowna on Jan. 22 to host the Everett Silvertips.