Kelowna Rockets season concludes with a loss in Vancouver

| March 24, 2025 in Rockets

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The 2024-25 season has come to an end for the Kelowna Rockets after the team lost on Sunday and finished 20th overall among the WHL’s 22 teams. 

Photo Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets

After winning their penultimate match on Saturday, the Rockets were on the road in Vancouver on Sunday to conclude their season.

The Giants set the tone early in the match and Jaden Lipinski scored 17 seconds into the game. 

Vancouver continued to score, adding three more goals before the end of the first period to take a commanding 4-0 lead. 

After neither team scored in the middle frame, Jakub Stancl put the Rockets on the board in the third period with his team-leading 23rd goal of the season. 

That was all Kelowna would get as the Giants added another score to seal the 5-1 win. 

Rhett Stoesser made 29 saves for Kelowna as the Rockets were unable to score on their five power play opportunities. 

The Rockets will now return home and continue preparing for next season as they are set to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. 

Kelowna will also have a new rival next season as the WHL announced on Monday that the Penticton Vees were awarded an expansion franchise. 

For now, the Rockets will turn their attention to the US Priority Draft and the WHL Prospects Draft.

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