Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Struggling streak almost averted

Rockets take step in getting back in win column

Feb 18, 2025 | 6:00 AM

A pessimistic hockey fan might say that the Kelowna Rockets once again squandered a third-period lead, while an optimistic fan would look at the same result and point out that the team at least earned a point.

In a season where losses have been more frequent than wins, the Rockets still managed to make some progress in their slim hopes of claiming the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The team deserves credit for holding a 2-0 lead after two periods, even while playing without their top scorer Jakub Stancl, who was sidelined with an illness. WHL sophomore goaltender Jake Pilon played a major role in the strong performance. While the Rockets ultimately allowed two goals in the final frame, and one more in the shootout, the 3-2 home loss to the Tri-City Americans was easier to accept after a gut-wrenching one-goal loss just two nights earlier.

Pilon faced 45 shots, two fewer than his season-high 47 against the Kamloops Blazers on December 28th.

“We’ve got a lot to build on,” said Rockets interim head coach Derrick Martin following the game. “I’m disappointed for the guys. They deserved a better outcome tonight.”

Notes, quotes and anecdotes

Things that make me go hmm...

Feb 20, 2025

GM Bruce Hamilton/AGM Curtis Hamilton

Things that make me go hmm...

Dec 03, 2024

Notes, one quote and anecdotes

Things that make me go hmm...

Oct 08, 2024

Michael Cicek, who’s stepped up as the team’s leader with the injury to captain Max Graham, has shown remarkable maturity as the oldest player on the roster. His commitment to playing hard and staying engaged, even with the team at the bottom of the standings, is impressive. Cicek’s power-play goal to open the scoring also gave him a career-high 40 points, surpassing his total from last season.

“After Saturday’s game [a 4-3 loss to Kamloops], things weren’t super positive, but I was proud of how we responded tonight,” Martin said. “I was proud of how our bench carried themselves. Our group fought to the very end, living up to the promises they made, and that’s how you raise the standard.”

Levi Benson added to the Rockets’ lead with his third goal in six games, showing fans the potential he can bring after joining the team in a trade with the Swift Current Broncos last summer.

“We had some close chances that you’d like to see go in,” Martin said about the 42 shots the Rockets put on the Americans’ net. “Their first goal was a bit of a lucky bounce that went past our forward and trickled through to the net. It caught us off guard.”

The 40+ shots on goal marked the first time since January 4 that the team had directed that many at an opponent’s goaltender. In the Vancouver Giants’ 7-0 victory over the Rockets, Burke Hood made 44 saves in Andrew Cristall and Caden Price’s final games before being traded.

Though the point extended the Rockets’ winless streak to 14 games (0-12-1-1), it brought them within 9 points of Seattle for the eighth spot, after the Thunderbirds lost by a goal to the Portland Winterhawks.

After playing eight games in the past two weeks, including trips to and from Victoria, Seattle, and Kamloops while hosting the Cougars, Blazers, and Americans twice, the team will have a chance to regroup with no games until Friday, when they begin a home-and-home series against the Vancouver Giants.

“We haven’t had a three-week practice period in a long time,” Martin said.

Although the team has yet to win since January 16, they’ve been in tight one-goal games in four of their last six outings.

“We need to push forward [at practice] heading into next weekend,” Martin concluded.