The Kelowna Rockets might want to re-think their trade strategy.
Former Rockets Jake Poole, with a goal and assist, and Nicholas Cristiano, who made 31 saves, had a sweet homecoming in the Victoria Royals’ 3-2 Western Hockey League victory Friday night over the Rockets in the Okanagan.
Both have shown well after being traded to the Royals from Kelowna. Poole leads Victoria with 16 goals, 12 assists and 28 points on the season. Goaltender Cristiano has been a star in the last four Royals games and has started all six games since the trade that brought him to the Island.
“The guys were so happy for them. There was a lot of emotion in the room for them following the game,” said Royals head coach and GM Dan Price.
Alex Thacker on a rebound and Tanner Scott unassisted after forcing a turnover got the Royals off to a fast start with goals in the first five minutes of the game. Poole made it 3-0 on the power play at 14:37 with his team leading 16th goal.
That led to starter Talyn Boyko, who allowed three goals on 10 shots, being replaced by Jari Kykkanen in the Kelowna net to start the season period. Kykkanen stopped all 20 shots he faced.
Rookie Logan Peskett, 16, pulled the Rockets to within two at 14:55 of the second period to trigger the avalanche of stuffed animals from 4,644 fans on Teddy Bear Toss Night at Prospera Place. Max Graham tightened things further for Kelowna at 8:18 of the third period.
“There was a lot of emotion in the building because of the Teddy Bear Toss. But it was a structured, detailed, workmanlike game by our guys with key shot blocks,” said Price.
The Rockets were missing their captain and Chicago Blackhawks-prospect Colton Dach, who’s among the 13 WHL players in Moncton, N.B., for the selection camp for the Canadian team to the 2023 world junior championship tournament beginning Boxing Day in Moncton, and Halifax, N.S.
It could be considered a four-point swing victory for the Royals (5-21-3). Victoria is now nine points adrift of the final playoff berth in the Western Conference, which is held by the Rockets (10-13-2), who retain four games in hand on the Royals. The win was timely because the moment is now if Victoria is to rally and save its season.
The Royals won back-to-back games for the first time this season following the 5-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The Royals are in Kamloops tonight to face the sa国际传媒 Division-leading Blazers.
