In the Kelowna Rockets' fifth annual Teddy Bear Toss in support of Kelowna General Hospital, Connor Bruggen-Cate netted the first goal, sending teddy bears flying. The Rockets carried that momentum on to defeat the Kootenay Ice 5-2.
Bruggen-Cate's goal came about just over halfway into the first period, and truck loads of teddy bears were carried off the ice and taken to Kelowna General Hospital, where the Rockets' team will deliver them to deserving children.
After that first goal, the two teams played a lot of back and forth before Brayden Chizen pushed the Rockets' lead to 2-0 late in the second period.
The third period was far more exciting. First, Kole Lind scored a beauty in his first game back in front of the home crowd after dealing with mono for a couple of weeks.
Guess who's back!? @klind13 made it 3-0, now 3-1 Rockets, midway through 3 #KELvsKTN #WHLRockets #TeddyBearToss 🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/9ClqRYTMJ2
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) December 3, 2017
The Ice got on the board on a power play at 9:42 of the final frame. Later in the period, Ice forward Alec Baer took an unnecessary penalty and Nolan Foote capitalized on it, helping the Rockets to regain a two goal lead.
A few minutes later, James Hilsendager netted his fifth goal of the season.
In the final minute of the period, Baer gave the Ice their second goal of the game, but the Rockets had already locked up the W.
Roman Basran played well in his second WHL game, stopping 24 of 26 shots. For the Ice, Bailey Brkin stopped 24 Rockets' shots.
The Rockets now head on the road until Christmas, first stopping in Regina on Friday, December 8th. They will return to Prospera Place on Wednesday, December 27th to take on the Kamloops Blazers.
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