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Photo - KelownaNow - Prior to the game the banners the Rockets won last year were raised to the rafters.
photo credit Marissa Baecker. Cole Martin (left) and Tyson Baillie help raise the 2014 WHL Regular Season and BC Division banners
The Kelowna Rockets opened their 2014/15 campaign with a dominating 6-1 win over their division rivals, the Kamloops Blazers. Surprising indeed considering they were missing many of their veterans that are still at NHL camps. Last year's Captain, Madison Bowey, Mitch Wheaton, Tyrell Goulbourne and Justin Kirkland have yet to return to the Rockets.
Photo credit KelownaNow - Colton Heffley celebrates after putting the Rockets first goal of the season in the net at the 2:43 mark
Colton Heffley put the first puck in the net for the Rockets with assists to Tyson Baillie and Kris Schmidli. Baillie and Schmidli would add one more goal each and one more assist each which would earn them 2nd and 3rd star respectfully.
Jackson Whistle earned first star honours in his debut as the new number one goalie turning away 32 of the 33 shots by the Blazers.
Photo credit KelownaNow - The only goal to get by Jackson Whistle was in the middle frame nine seconds in.
Other Rockets goals came from Riley Stadel, Austin Glover and Carter Rigby while Nick Merkley and Joe Gatenby chipped in with a pair of helpers.
It was the first win for new Rockets head coach Dan Lambert since taking over behind the bench for the Rockets.
The home opener was the Rockets only game of the weekend as the team will now get set to head to Prince George for a pair of games next weekend.
The team will return to Kelowna on Wednesday Oct. 1 to host the Vancouver Giants.
Scoring Summary
Kamloops Blazers 1 at Kelowna Rockets 6 - Status: Final
Saturday, September 20, 2014 - Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC
Kamloops 0 1 0 - 1
Kelowna 3 2 1 - 6
1st Period-1, Kelowna, Heffley 1 (Baillie, Schmidli), 2:43. 2, Kelowna, Stadel 1 (Soustal, Gatenby), 7:04. 3, Kelowna, Glover 1 (Merkley, Stadel), 10:56 (PP). Penalties-Gaudet Kam (slashing), 10:29; Rigby Kel (holding), 11:36; Maier Kam (tripping), 16:47.
2nd Period-4, Kamloops, Sideroff 1 (Needham, Maier), 0:09. 5, Kelowna, Baillie 1 (Heffley, Schmidli), 2:30. 6, Kelowna, Schmidli 1 (Baillie, Martin), 15:40. Penalties-Maier Kam (roughing), 5:32; Heffley Kel (roughing), 5:32; Lind Kel (slashing), 9:31; Fora Kam (interference), 17:27; Lees Kel (roughing), 18:12.
3rd Period-7, Kelowna, Rigby 1 (Gatenby, Merkley), 11:00 (PP). Penalties-Rigby Kel (slashing), 4:58; Clouston Kam (slashing), 10:48; Gaudet Kam (roughing), 11:00; Clouston Kam (roughing), 12:21; Soustal Kel (roughing), 12:21; Stadel Kel (roughing), 12:21; Maier Kam (high sticking), 12:48; Gaudet Kam (checking from behind), 14:43; Heffley Kel (holding opp. stick), 17:41.
Shots on Goal-Kamloops 8-14-11-33. Kelowna 15-14-10-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Kamloops 0 / 6; Kelowna 2 / 7.
Goalies-Kamloops, Pouliot 1-1-0-0 (9 shots-6 saves); Ingram 0-0-0-0 (30 shots-27 saves). Kelowna, Whistle 1-0-0-0 (33 shots-32 saves).
A-5,325
Referees-Kevin Bennett (29), Steve Papp (17).
Linesmen-Mike Langin (67), Ward Pateman (124).
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