Whistle Makes the Stops, Special Teams Pound the Nails

Jackson Whistle may well have played his best game yet in a Rockets jersey, and if memory serves correct, this is not the first time I can recall saying that.

photo credit KelownaNow - Jackson Whistle makes the stop on the penalty shot not even a minute in.

In the clash of the two top teams, Brandon was quick to put pressure on the Rockets with Jesse Gabrielle getting away on Madison Bowey resulting in a penalty shot for the Wheat Kings 58 seconds in.

Whistle stood tall at the top of his crease to stop Gabrielle and rode that adrenaline rush throughout the first period stopping all eleven shots thrown his way. The Rockets only managed five shots in the first and were thankful for Whistle's heroics and the scoreless tie after one period of play.

photo credit KelownaNow - No shortage of big stops for Whistle in his first star performance.

Brandon would strike first in the second on the goal by Quintin Lisoway and that would be the only goal that they would get past Whistle.

Cue the special teams, Madison Bowey with a big blast from the point on the powerplay to tie the game. Rourke Chartier scored a beauty on a pretty passing play from Nick Merkley and Justin Kirkland. The Chartier goal, his ninth, would end up being the winning goal of the game and the only Rocket goal at even strength.

photo credit KelownaNow - Rourke Chartier putting away the winning goal.

The Rockets started the third up 2-1 and in trouble with a penalty not even a minute in. While on the kill, Chartier returned the favour to Merkley pushing the puck up the wall to send Merkley in on his own against the Brandon goaltender. Merkley would bag his 4th of the season on the play and claim 3rd star on the night with a goal and 3 assists and finished a plus 2.

photo credit KelownaNow - Madison Bowey scores two on the powerplay and was named the second star of the game.

Bowey again with a blast from the point on a two man advantage to get his second of the game and 6th of the season. Austin Glover made the Wheaties think they should decline penalties scoring the second shorty in the game at the 15:45 mark.

By this point the Wheat Kings had lost all composure and took another bad penalty that Cole Martin made them pay for.

Photo credit - KelownaNow - The trips to the penalty box were painful indeed with a 50% success ratio for the Rockets.

By the time it was all said and done, the Wheat Kings would lose 6-1 to the Rockets, miss on the penalty shot, allow two short handed goals, give up three power play goals and go 0 for 5 on their man advantage opportunities.

The Rockets were outshot in every period, 11-5, 10-8 and 11-9 for a total of 32 to 22.

photo credit KelownaNow - The Rockets taking in the standing ovation from the biggest crowd of the year so far.

Kelowna improved to a WHL best 12-1-0-0 with the win.

The Rockets begin a stretch of three straight games on the road beginning next weekend with a pair of games in Portland next weekend as the Rockets will play Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 in Portland before playing in Vancouver Nov. 2.

Kelowna returns to Prospera Place Wednesday Nov. 5 to host the Victoria Royals

Scoring Summary

Brandon Wheat Kings 1 at Kelowna Rockets 6 - Status: Final
Saturday, October 25, 2014 - Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC

Brandon 0 1 0 - 1
Kelowna 0 2 4 - 6

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Duke Bdn (slashing), 15:08; Baillie Kel (slashing), 15:08; Yorke Kel (holding), 15:08.

2nd Period-1, Brandon, Lisoway 2 (Duke, Patrick), 6:39. 2, Kelowna, Bowey 5 (Merkley, Lees), 9:02 (PP). 3, Kelowna, Chartier 9 (Merkley, Kirkland), 18:05. Penalties-Provorov Bdn (delay of game), 3:42; Quenneville Bdn (delay of game), 7:39.

3rd Period-4, Kelowna, Merkley 4 (Chartier), 0:59 (SH). 5, Kelowna, Bowey 6 (Baillie, Merkley), 10:27 (PP). 6, Kelowna, Glover 6 (Martin), 15:45 (SH). 7, Kelowna, Martin 2 (Linaker, Kirkland), 19:13 (PP). Penalties-Gatenby Kel (high sticking), 0:22; served by Johansen Kel (too many men), 7:30; Roy Bdn (roughing), 9:29; Waltz Bdn (roughing), 10:05; Duke Bdn (tripping), 12:37; Stadel Kel (holding), 15:35; Bowey Kel (roughing), 16:28; Hawryluk Bdn (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 18:20; Quenneville Bdn (slashing), 18:20; Lees Kel (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 18:20.

Shots on Goal-Brandon 11-10-11-32. Kelowna 5-8-9-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Brandon 0 / 5; Kelowna 3 / 6.
Goalies-Brandon, Papirny 8-3-1-0 (22 shots-16 saves). Kelowna, Whistle 11-1-0-0 (32 shots-31 saves).
A-5,821
Referees-Mike Campbell (89), Jeff Ingram (82).
Linesmen-Dustin Minty (86), Ward Pateman (124).