Third time’s the charm: Shorthanded Cougars blast off against Rockets
SHARE ON: (Photo credit Paige Bednorz, Kelowna Rockets)
Despite being down four forwards, the Prince George Cougars came up with their grittiest effort of the season.
Connor Bowie and Koehn Ziemmer each potted their seventh of the shortened campaign in a 2-1 win against the Kelowna Rockets Tuesday at Prospera Place.
Ziemmer opened the scoring at the 7:08 mark of the opening period coming off the far half wall, backhanding a floating puck past Rockets netminder Cole Schwebius for a 1-0 lead.
In the second, the Cougars continued their patient yet aggressive approach on the forecheck as Bowie cashed in on the penalty kill, taking full advantage of a 2-on-1 rush.
The Kelowna Rockets scored two unanswered goals in the third to beat the Vancouver giants 4-3 Thursday - WHL
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Kelowna Rockets beat Victoria Tuesday, winning for the fifth time in six games since returning 10 days ago - WHL
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The reeling Royals (1-13-1), also in rebuild mode with 12 rookies, dropped their 10th consecutive game while the Rockets moved to 6-2 overall and 3-0 against Victoria.
Surprise Victoria goaltending choice Keegan Maddocks, making his first career WHL start, received a rude welcome as David Kope scored on him just 26 seconds into the game. Maddocks settled into the game to make 30 saves. Cristiano Nicholas, also making his first career WHL start, blocked 31 shots for Kelowna. There is clearly a lot of feeling out for the future going on during this pandemic-abbreviated campaign.
With 20-year-old Victoria goaltender Adam Evanoff graduating from junior into a pro contract in the American Hockey League with Stockton, Connor Martin, 18, and Langley-native Maddocks, who turned 18 this month, are the Royals’ tandem of tomorrow in the crease. Martin has been one of the few bright spots on a struggling Victoria rookie corps and has faced an avalanche of rubber in his six appearances this s