Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Depleted Rockets fall 8-2

Kelowna struggles without key players

Sep 20, 2025 | 2:38 PM

The Spokane Chiefs spoiled opening night at Prospera Place, routing the Kelowna Rockets 8-2 on Friday.

The visitors jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period and never looked back, taking advantage of a series of early Kelowna mistakes.

“Coming out and getting behind like that with the way we did with turning the pucks over, it really took a lot of wind out of our sails early,” said Rockets assistant coach Brandon McMillan on the 104-7 The LIZARD post-game show. “I thought we did fight back at times during the game, but it wasn’t enough. We were down too much early.”

Spokane, which reached the WHL Final last spring, demonstrated why it remains a force despite missing several key players. Every early turnover from Kelowna seemed to end up in the back of the net.

“It was just a few mistakes early in that first period and they capitalized on each, every one of them,” McMillan said. “All of our turnovers ended up in our net, and that just goes to show how important it is to manage the puck.”

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Kelowna did find some momentum in the second period when Connor Pankratz scored his first goal of the season. Kalder Varga added the other Rockets marker later in the game.

“We were barking at them to be simple, get the pucks in deep,” McMillan explained. “They were having a hard time managing our forecheck, and that was how the first goal happened. We took some speed wide, got the puck to the net, won a battle in front, and that’s how we scored. That’s what we’re going to be preaching a lot—simple hockey, get pucks to the net, bang in a rebound, be in front of the goalie’s eyes.”

Despite firing 38 shots compared to Spokane’s 30, the Rockets couldn’t climb back into the game.

“I thought we did a good job once we were in the offensive zone. It was just getting there,” McMillan said. “We did generate a lot of shots tonight, and that’s a positive sign. When you get that many shots, you want to have some more goals. Maybe it’s getting in the goalie’s eyes or just banging away on those scramble plays in front. It’s about that extra effort.”

The Rockets were also short-handed. Of the nine players who attended NHL training camps this fall, only one was able to dress for the home opener.

“It’s in the back of your mind, but the guys here are good players,” McMillan said. “You can’t make that an excuse. We do what we can with what we have.”

Even down big, the Rockets bench tried to stay engaged.

“There’s no quitting in this group,” McMillan said. “You never know what’s going to happen in hockey. You just got to keep going, win your shift, and move forward.”

Kelowna will look to rebound next Friday when they play their first road game of the season in Penticton against the expansion Vees.