A fast start didn’t parlay into a strong finish for the Kelowna Rockets at their own tier 3 midget tournament on the past weekend.
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Opening the eight-team Kelowna Minor Hockey Association event with 5-2 and 9-3 victories over Salmon Arm and West Vancouver respectively, the Rockets stumbled at the hands of the two eventual tournament finalists — Whistler (8-3) in their final round-robin game in pool play and Langley (4-1) in a semifinal showdown.
Two first-period goals by Wyatt Kelly sparked the Rockets to the win over Salmon Arm in their opener. Matt Welsh, Mitch Pelletier and Kyle Trerice added a goal apiece for the Rockets, who led 3-0 after the first period and took a 4-1 lead into the third.
A four-goal second period was more than enough for the Rockets to post the win over West Vancouver.
Tyler Worthing tallied twice and assisted on a goal for the winners, while the rest of the scoring was spread among Welsh, Eli Cronquist, Connor Lemieux, Dylan Simpson and Pelletier.
The Rockets gave up four goals in the first period and never recovered against Whistler, who went on to defeat Langley 5-2 in the Sunday’ championship game.
Lemieux, Kelly and Connor Leger were the Kelowna marksmen against Whistler, while Cronquist was the lone Rockets scorer in Sunday’s semifinal loss to Langley, who scored three times in first period.
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