Kelowna Rockets secure spot in WHL playoffs

The Kelowna Rockets snapped their three-game losing streak with a 4-3 comeback shootout victory over the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at Prospera Place.

They then secured their spot in the 2023 WHL Playoffs with a 5-4 overtime victory over the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, W.A.

The Rockets only needed a single point to clinch the final spot in the western conference.

Up 4-0 in the second period, Spokane mounted a comeback that saw them make it a one-goal game heading into the third period.

With 2:02 to go in regulation, the Chiefs tied the game, they then pulled their goaltender for the remained of the third period – to keep their playoff hopes alive they needed to win the game in regulation.

As the horn sounded, Cade Hayes and a cluster of Rockets came together. Hayes was assessed a five-minute major that gave the Rockets a power play for the entirety of overtime. Captain Gabriel Szturc found the back of the net for the second time in the game 2:24 into extra time.

The Rockets picked up their third straight win of the weekend in extra time with a 5-4 shootout win over the Tri-City Americans on Sunday at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, W.A.

Down by one after the first, the Rockets charged back with three straight goals to take lead in the second period.

The Americans pushed back to tie the game, before the two traded goals in the third.

Tied at four, the Rockets game headed into overtime for the third straight game. Tri-City appeared to have won the game, but it was waved off. The two then went to a five-round shootout where Marcus Pacheco scored the lone goal of the skills competition.

Kelowna will head north to Prince George for a Wednesday night matchup before wrapping up their road trip with a Friday night game in Kamloops.

Kelowna’s next home game will be their RE/MAX: Nickelodeon Night for the Children’s Miracle Network on Saturday, March 18 when they take on the Kamloops Blazers at 7:05 p.m.

The Rockets will be wearing a special edition SpongeBob SquarePants themed jersey to celebrate the night that will be up for auction during the game. Proceeds from the silent auction will go to the B.C. Children’s Hospital.

Single-game tickets for all Rockets home games are on sale at Select Your Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online through selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office, or by phone at 250-762-5050.