OK Rockets swept by visiting Giants

The Vancouver NW Giants continued their hot start to the season over the weekend, with back-to-back wins over the Okanagan Rockets in B.C. Major Midget League action at CNC.

Saturday afternoon, the Rockets got on the board first thanks to Rayman Bassi, who was playing in his first game with the team since returning from the WHL.

But the Giants would tie it up on the power play three minutes later, off a goal from defenceman Jimmy Darby.

The Giants tacked on another with the man advantage before the period finished, with Matteo Pecchia beating Rockets goalie Cole Schwebius.

In the second, the Rockets tied things up with Jack Finley’s first of the season, then went on the power play two minutes later.

After Nolan Corrado scored on a delayed penalty against the Giants, the Rockets eventually wound up on a two-man advantage.

With a chance to pull ahead, it was the Giants who bounced back, thanks to a shorthanded breakaway goal from Dom Davis.

The teams then traded goals 58 seconds apart, from Bassi and Darby, to tie the game 4-4 after 40 minutes.

In the third, the majority of the period featured solid goaltending — especially from Schwebius, as the Giants sent 27 shots toward his net.

But on a late power play, Christian Buono scored the Giants’ third power-play goal of the day, while rookie Tyler Cristall added an empty-netter for the 6-4 win.

On Sunday morning, the Giants scored first, off a wrister from Ben Landon that beat Rockets’ goalie Roman Basran over the glove.

The Rockets tied it up 2 1/2 minutes later, off a nice solo rush from Will Reimer, making it 1-1 through the opening 20 minutes.

Over the two periods, the Giants pulled away.

Three second-period goals came from Logan Doust, Cristall, and Buono, while Landon added another one late in the third period for a 5-1 victory.

The Giants remain undefeated with a perfect 6-0 record over the first three weeks.

With the losses, the Rockets’ record falls to 2-2.

Up next for Okanagan is another weekend at home against the last-place South Island Royals. Games are at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday at the CNC.