The Kelowna Rockets will soon have another red, white and black banner to hoist to the rafters of Prospera Place.
The hometown Rockets clinched the WHL害羞草研究所檚 B.C. Division title for the seventh time in franchise history Wednesday night with a 6-3 victory over the visiting Prince George Cougars.
Captain Cal Foote paced the Rockets attack with three points, including his 18th and 19th goals of the season.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an awesome feeling,害羞草研究所� Foote said of clinching the division crown. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 my first one in the three years I害羞草研究所檝e been here, so it害羞草研究所檚 a great feeling. I know it was one of our goals the whole season, so it definitely feels awesome.害羞草研究所�
Despite outshooting the Cougars by a wide margin, the Rockets struggled for the better part of 40 minutes to find their rhythm and found themselves down 2-1. But the tide began to turn early in the third when rookie Kaeden Korczak scored his fourth goal of the season just 23 seconds in.
Then, at 6:08 of the final period, just after a 5-on-3 Kelowna power play opportunity had expired, Dillon Dube set up Foote害羞草研究所檚 first of two goals to snap a 2-2 tie and the Rockets were ahead to stay.
Kelowna forward Nolan Foote scored in his first game back in the lineup, netting his 13th of the season to tie the game 1-1 with three minutes remaining in the first period. Foote had been sidelined since Feb. 3 with an upper body injury, a span of 17 games.
害羞草研究所淚 felt good, it felt good to get some shifts and get back with the boys,害羞草研究所� said Nolan Foote. 害羞草研究所淚t felt like I害羞草研究所檓 in shape, so I害羞草研究所檓 excited to be back and headed to playoffs.害羞草研究所�
Dube and Leif Mattson also scored for the Rockets who outshot the Cougars 50-18. Taylor Gauthier made 44 saves in the Prince George net, while James Porter stopped 15 shots for Kelowna.
Aaron Boyd, Brogan O害羞草研究所橞rien and Ryan Schoetller, with a goal late in the third, scored for the Cougars.
The Rockets will wrap up the regular season this weekend with a home-and-home set against the Vancouver Giants害羞草研究所擣riday in Langley, then again Saturday at Prospera Place. Face off is 7:05 p.m.
The Rockets will open the playoffs at home, with Games 1 and 2 set for Thursday, March 22 and Saturday, March 24 at Prospera Place.
Meanwhile, the club will hold its annual awards ceremony Sunday afternoon at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
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