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The Kelowna Rockets dethroned the Victoria Royals with a commanding win on the island Friday night. This game had everything, including many goals, a couple of fights and plenty of entertainment. Final score: 9-2 Rockets.
James Hilsendager opened the scoring with an unassisted marker just 2:37 into the first period. The Royals quickly responded, but that was the last time that they would actually see a chance in the game.
GOOOOOALLL DUBBBEE FIRST WHL HAT TRICK!!!!! #GOLDENJET #DUBEES #KELvsVIC
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 14, 2017
Dillon Dube put away his first WHL hat trick, the first two of which came just 21 seconds apart in the first period. All three of Dube's goals were consecutive.
It's pretty rare that you see a goaltender pulled from the game, only to get right back in there and replace a backup goalie later on. Royals' regular starter Griffen Outhouse began the game in net and was replaced with Dean McNabb at 10:20 of the second frame. This was McNabb's first appearance in a WHL game, and the poor kid just wasn't ready for the Rockets' offence. In just over two minutes, Devante Stephens and Tomas Soustal scored back to back goals on the 16-year-old, and Outhouse returned to the crease for the Royals.
Late in the second, Reid Gardiner and Jack Cowell added the Rockets' seventh and eighth goals, and Ethan Price added a second goal for the Royals.
The Rockets refused to let the struggling Royals have the last say, as Erik Gardiner made it 9-2 with just over seven minutes to play.
Michael Herringer had a slow night in net, stopping 19 Royals' shots. The Royals' goaltenders combined for 34 saves on 43 Rockets' shots.
The Rockets hope to continue with this incredible offence on Monday, January 16th in Everett as they take on the Silvertips for an afternoon matchup. The boys will then return home to Prospera Place to face the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday, January 18th.
Tickets are available for Rockets home games through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
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