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In what was one of the most thrilling games of the entire WHL season, the Kelowna Rockets defeated the Victoria Royals 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday, ending the Royals season and allowing the Rockets to advance to the WHL Western Conference final.
The Rockets struggled throughout the first 40 minutes of play, allowing the Royals two first period goals (Tyler Soy and Alex Forsberg ) and forcing goaltender Michael Herringer to make save after save to give his team a chance.
Herringer, who has been a difference maker for the Rockets in this series, stopped 28 shots on the night against a team that hardly gave him an opportunity to play when he was a member of the Royals just two seasons ago.
After what we can only imagine to be an emotional locker room speech in the second intermission from veteran players like Tyson Baillie, the Rockets found their game and spent much of the third period in control.
Early in the third period Justin Kirkland sent the puck towards the Royals net, and luckily for him, it went off of a Royals player and into the net.
With that classic desperation play that the Rockets seem to thrive on, Cal Foote found Kirkland in a prime position with 0.2 seconds remaining in the game, and Kirkland let the puck rip past Royals' goaltender Coleman Vollrath. It was a moment of pure joy for the Rockets and sheer disappointment and disbelief for the Royals.
The overtime period featured some of the best junior hockey that you can find from both teams, and at 5:56 of the OT frame Calvin Thurkauf fired a shot at the Royals' net and the Rockets secured their spot in the WHL Western Conference final.
The Kelowna Rockets will take on the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Conference final, and the first two games will be played at Prospera Place on Friday, April 22nd and Saturday, April 23rd.
Tickets are available for the games through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
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