Tvrdon scores twice as Rockets take Game 5 to advance to 2nd round

KELOWNA – Marek Tvrdon scored twice and Jordon Cooke made 29 saves as the Kelowna Rockets downed the visiting Tri-City Americans 4-1 on Friday to advance in the Western Hockey League playoffs.

Rourke Chartier and Carter Rigby also scored for the Rockets, who took the first-round series 4-1, and Nick Merkley had two assists.

Parker Bowles scored the lone goal for the Americans while Eric Comrie turned away 34-of-38 shots in a losing cause.

"It definitely was a tough series, we knew coming in they were going to push us and they did," Rockets captain Madison Bowey said. "They had great goaltending on their side. I think it was an exciting series and we're happy that we won."

"They are a real solid team," Rockets assistant coach Dan Lambert said.

"We knew coming in, with the goaltending they have, it was going to be a tight series. I thought our guys pushed through. You have to give Tri-City credit because they played us hard. But we pushed through and got the four wins."

Kelowna must wait for the series between Everett and Seattle to wrap up before knowing who its next opponent is.

WHEAT KINGS 5 PATS 1

BRANDON – John Quenneville scored once and set up two more as the Wheat Kings toppled Regina to sweep their first-round series.

Jayce Hawryluk and Jesse Gabriel each had a goal and an assist for Brandon while Richard Nejezchleb and Ryley Lindgren added the others. Jordan Papirny made 28 saves for the Wheat Kings.

Morgan Klimchuk scored the lone goal for the Pats while Daniel Wapple stopped 37-of-42 shots in defeat.

The Wheat Kings will face the top-seeded Edmonton Oil Kings in Round 2.

SILVERTIPS 6 THUNDERBIRDS 1

EVERETT, Wash. – Jujhar Khaira had three goals and an assist as the Silvertips took Game 4 against Seattle to avoid elimination from their first-round tilt.

Joshua Winquist and Brayden Low each had a goal and an assist for Everett, which trails the series 3-1, and Carson Stadnyk had the other.

Jared Hauf scored the lone goal for the Thunderbirds.

Austin Lotz made 17 saves for the Silvertips. Seattle's Taran Kozun gave up six goals on 29 shots in 47 minutes of action. Danny Mumaugh stopped all five shots his way in relief.