Photo credit: BLiessePhoto

By Regan Bartel

Vaulting up the BC Division standings

Rockets rally in road win

Dec 6, 2025 | 6:00 AM

The Kelowna Rockets couldn’t have made a bigger statement in opening their seven-game road trip. For two periods in Seattle, nothing felt sharp. Down 3-1 after forty minutes at the Accesso ShoWare Center, it looked like the night might slip away before it ever really got going. But when the third period hit, so did the Rockets.

And once they got rolling, they didn’t stop.

Kelowna exploded for four goals in the final frame, flipping a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 comeback win that felt like one of their most complete pushes of the season. It moved the team into second place in the BC Division with 30 points, eight back of the first-place Prince George Cougars.

Associate coach Don Hay broke down exactly how the switch flipped. For him, the turning point was clear.

“I thought the third period was probably some of the best hockey we’ve played all year,” he told RocketFAN. “What really kick-started us was Owen Folstrom. His penalty kill at the start of the third. He used his speed; he was quick on pucks. That could have been the game right there. If Seattle scores, the game is probably over.”

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Seattle didn’t score. And that was the spark.

“We killed that penalty. I think we had another penalty kill, and killed it, and then the penalty kill at the end of the game,” Hay said. “I’m going to give the guys a lot of credit for killing those penalties and blocking shots. Up to that time, we were just so-so, I thought. We weren’t winning faceoffs on the power play. We weren’t winning faceoffs on the penalty kill.”

The Rockets had been chasing the game, but when they were given a window to climb back in, they didn’t waste it.

“In the third period everything went our way,” Hay said. “The [Levi] Benson goal was a huge goal for us. It was nice to see him get his first of the year. Then the Carson Wetsch goal, and then the one off Dawson Gerwing. I’m not sure where it went off of him?”

The video review confirmed it was good, giving Gerwing his fourth of the year and, more importantly, the game winner.

“That’s the thing. I don’t know if it hit a body part or the stick. And then the empty net [goal]. I love those empty net goals. We just hung in there. Marty [head coach Derrick Martin] shuffled the lines in the third period, and it worked out.”

Hay also didn’t sugarcoat the fact that the Rockets can’t count on a third-period miracle every night.

“We have to play with more bite in our game from start to finish. I know we’re missing guys. I thought Connor Pankratz did a great job for us. He was good. He played forward on the penalty kill. He played defense. He took regular shifts.”

With Nate Corbet, Peyton Kettles and Gabriel Guilbault out, Pankratz chewed up some minutes on the back end.

“I didn’t use him as much later in the game. I thought Owen Hayden played some good shifts for us. The big key was shuffling the deck. Marty did a good job moving guys around, getting energy into the game. The first penalty kill provided us with energy and enthusiasm, and that got the bench going. Then we scored shortly after that.”

Seattle tightened when it was 3-2, but Kelowna kept pushing and finally broke them.

“We had a 1:44 to kill at the start on the third, and Benson’s goal was shortly after that. We killed off the penalty and we scored, and we were back in the hunt. That gave us belief, and we continued battling.”

This was the response the Rockets needed after a tough week where they didn’t like their game against Prince George or Tri-City.

“It was great to see us bounce back, because we needed that type of game after not playing well against Prince George and not playing well against Tri Cities. That was important. We beat a team that’s trying to hunt us down.”

Seattle came in 9-2-2-0 at home and tried to impose their size early. Kelowna didn’t blink, especially Rowan Guest, who keeps raising his profile.

“To me, Rowan is getting noticed by NHL scouts,” Hay said. “Even though he’s a 19 year old player, last year was a tough year to get noticed. He’s doing a lot of good things. He’s playing tough. He’s making plays. He’s killing penalties. Him and Leslie log a lot of ice time for us.”

He also pointed to Will Sharpe and Jacob Henderson for their steadying play, before circling back to the tone his team set in the third.

“Some teams wilt, but we didn’t wilt. It was great to see Jackson Kehrig get involved against a big man in a first period fight. Everybody has to have that mindset that I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team have success.”

In the third period, the Rockets outshot Seattle 19-12, and it felt like the ice actually tilted their way.

“It’s amazing when momentum takes over and the rink tilts a little bit,” Hay concluded.