Photo credit: Gordon Rufh

By Regan Bartel

Rockets dig deep in 2-1 shootout win

Two points earned in enemy territory

Oct 23, 2025 | 7:00 AM

The Kelowna Rockets finally found the push they had been searching for.

After five straight games without a win, they dug in, played their most complete third period of the season and pulled out a 2-1 shootout victory over the Victoria Royals Wednesday night.

It was layered in resolve and capped by a bench that refused to break.

Assistant coach Brandon McMillan credited his team for cranking up its game when it mattered most.

“A really good team game in the third period, 12 to 3 the shots, just took everything away from them, played on top of them everywhere and really deserve to get that extra point tonight.”

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Kayden Longley scored in regulation before Daniel Pekar buried the shootout winner.

The game swung when Kelowna elevated its play in the third.

“We just played with more urgency,” McMillan added. “We wanted it more and that’s what hockey is about. It’s whoever wants it more is going to win most times.”

Coming into the game, the Royals had scored 16-third period goals, second most in the league.

“We were more urgent in spots and took care of the puck a little bit better,” McMillan continued. “We were able to generate a lot of offense out of it and unlucky we didn’t finish it in 60 minutes. It took the extra five minutes and the shootout, but a win is a win.”

None of it would have mattered without goaltender Josh Banini. McMillan says the 19 year-old was lights-out terrific.

“He was unbelievable. We just said that in the dressing room. He was the reason we were able to stick around in the game and fight back.”

At the other end, Victoria goaltender Ethan Eskit was just as sharp. McMillan, a former forward, explained what his shooters were up against.

“He had a great game. He made some big saves. Just off the top of my head, he made that one, a breakaway on Carson Wetsch in the third. He saved it with his stick.”

Heading into the shootout, McMillan kept his message to the players simple.

“One thing I told our shooters, I said just shoot the puck. A lot of guys come in nowadays and they try and make a move and stick handle and the puck flips. I just said go down and rip the puck. I think it catches goalies off guard now because they think they’re going to come down and deke. We had a couple of shooters come down and rip the puck, and we were lucky to get the extra one here.”

One of the biggest moments came from Rockets forward Kalder Varga. The puck bounced off his stick in the shootout, but he held his composure.

“Kalder Varga, that [puck] was bouncing on him. He just couldn’t get it to settle down, but that’s a lot of composure right there. He settled it down and came in like the Kuznetsov shootout, slowed right down and got the goalie to freeze and then just pulled it off to one side and ripped it. A perfect shot just above the pad and below the glove.”

After a win like that, especially after five straight losses, what does it do inside the room?

“There’s confidence in there and hopefully we can get some from this game,” McMillan added. “If we can play like this, most games we’re going to get some points and we’re going to bottle up some wins more times than not. That’s something we just got to focus on and then try and take that into the weekend.”

For McMillan personally, the night meant even more.

“Really fun. The guys all had a ton of energy and it was my first time running the [defense] bench tonight. It was a lot of fun being a part of it down there. These young men are so receptive with teaching and it’s been a really fun group to work with so far.”

Next up is Medicine Hat.

A win is a win, but this one felt like more than two points.

It felt like belief returning.