By Regan Bartel

Rockets can't hold a 2-0 lead

The one that slipped away

Nov 17, 2025 | 6:00 AM

The Kelowna Rockets walked out of Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington, with a point Sunday night, but it came with the sting of what could have been.

Leading 2-0 after forty minutes and playing some of their most structured hockey of the season, the Rockets watched the Everett Silvertips push back hard in the third. The Tips tied the game with their net empty in the final minute, then won it 35 seconds into overtime on a goal by Landon Dupont, completing a 3-2 comeback.

It spoiled what had been a composed and confident effort through two periods, one that assistant coach Brandon McMillan praised afterward.

“The guys did a really nice job tonight. Quick turnaround, really worked hard tonight throughout, I thought the whole game. Played a really sound game the first 40 minutes,” said McMillan.

But Everett’s surge was inevitable, and Kelowna felt it immediately to begin the third.

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“They really came out strong in the third and we were kind of a little bit on our heels, making a few wrong decisions here and there that cost us a lot of defensive zone time,” McMillan said. “But overall, we worked hard tonight and thought we battled and at least got one point out of it.”

The Silvertips struck just 29 seconds into the final frame, a jolt that could have rattled a team. McMillan didn’t see it that way.

“You know what, I thought we did a really good job after that goal. We could have sat back and be like, oh, here they come. But for the better part of that whole period, we did a good job of defending and making some plays,” he said. “Obviously there’d be some things we want back, but I thought our group handled that situation really well. Coming out up 2-0 and going into the third and they get a goal real quick, I thought we handled it pretty well.”

Everett’s forecheck, fast, layered and difficult to escape, began to take over as the period progressed.

“They have a lot of speed in their lineup. I thought the first two periods we did a really good job of getting some, you know, the little subtle we’re gonna skate in front of you play so we give our d-men a little bit extra time,” said McMillan. “I thought we did a really good job of that the first two periods in managing the puck, and our line changes were very good. And then in the third, they just came in waves a bit and they were able to get the forecheck on us a little bit more, and that was causing some turnovers.”

Kelowna nearly sealed the win before the equalizer. With the Everett net empty, Kalder Varga had a golden look at the gaping cage but was denied by a sprawling block by Tips d-man Landon Dupont, a moment that became painfully significant moments later.

“Yeah, unfortunate,” McMillan said. “It was a nice play by Levi Benson on the icing. ‘Benny’ makes it and what can you say. It happens. It was a great play by their d-man to block that shot in front of the net and yeah, unfortunate.”

The tying goal with 43 seconds left came after a heavy scrum in the right corner and a quick play to the slot. McMillan felt the Rockets were positioned well but needed one small adjustment.

“We did a really good job getting everything in that corner and really solidifying just to protect the house a little bit better,” he said. “Carson Wetsch was right there, but just having him on that strong side post I think would have eliminated that goal.”

Despite the sting of a lost lead, the Rockets still earned four out of a possible six points on the weekend. One came in Friday’s overtime loss to Lethbridge, two in Saturday’s win over Spokane and one more against the Western Conference leading Tips.

“Obviously you want to win every game, but that’s never gonna happen,” McMillan said. “Our group is, I feel, trending in the right direction. I feel you can see it on the ice. They’re really getting in the way that the team wants to play and everyone’s starting to buy in. You can see it in our games and how we’re taking over games. I think we’re on the right track.”

Next up is a major test against the Edmonton Oil Kings, statistically the best team in the WHL.