Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Rockets get taken to the woodshed

Andrew Cristall shines in 10-0 blowout

Jan 16, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Andrew Cristall has delivered a beating to many teams during his four seasons in the Western Hockey League. The Kelowna Rockets are now added to that list. 

Just a week after being traded from the Rockets to the Spokane Chiefs in a high-profile deal, the 19-year-old, likely playing his final game at Prospera Place, scored twice and added two assists in a dominant 10-0 victory over his former team. 

“We had a good start,” Rockets interim head coach Derrick Martin said after the game. “Both teams had a game plan, and they stuck to it. They got the first two goals, and we were chasing the scoreboard all night.” 

Martin’s words ring true. While the Chiefs held a two-goal advantage after the opening period, the Rockets had their chances to score, but goals were hard to come by for the home team, who suffered their 20th loss of the season. 

“We started going individualistic; we stopped doing the hard things,” Martin added. “We started doing silly things, taking bad penalties. It starts with me. I need to be better on the bench.” 

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Cristall, the WHL’s leading scorer, entered the game with 90 career goals at Prospera Place, so finding the back of the net was second nature to him. 

“Unfortunately, when you give him a little time and space, he becomes a real dangerous player, and he’s playing on a real good line. They made us look silly at times tonight,” Martin continued. 

Regan Bartel sat down with Andrew Cristall before the game. Listen here:

Berkley Catton, a first-round NHL pick of the Seattle Kraken, scored three goals in the game, as the Chiefs built commanding leads of 2-0 and 6-0 by the end of each period. Dawson Cowan made 27 saves for the shutout. 

“We’ll wear this one and show up tomorrow ready to go.” 

Things got even worse for the Rockets when captain Max Graham was injured in the first period and did not return. The 20-year-old is a key member of the team’s top line alongside Jakub Stancl and Hayden Paupanekis. Paupanekis, acquired in the Cristall trade, was also unable to play due to illness earlier in the week. 

“We need to learn some lessons from this as a group,” Martin said. “There have been too many games like this where we can sit here and say let’s forget about it.” 

The Rockets have now been shut out twice in their last three home games, including a 7-0 loss to the Vancouver Giants on January 4th. 

“Today’s a hard lesson, but it isn’t something we’re going to shy away from,” Martin added. “Tomorrow provides us with another opportunity to work. It’s not conducive to winning by sitting here licking our wounds and pretending it didn’t happen. 

“We have to remember these lessons and start learning them.”