(Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

By Regan Bartel

Shane Smith scores the hat trick

Rockets rally to beat Wenatchee

Feb 11, 2026 | 10:12 PM

The Kelowna Rockets overcame a rough start to pull away for an 8-4 win over the Wenatchee Wild Wednesday night at Prospera Place.

After building an early lead, the Rockets allowed the Wild to score three straight goals in the first period. Still, Kelowna responded by scoring six of the final seven goals to take control and move within one point of Prince George for third place in the Western Conference.

Shane Smith led the way with three goals and an assist in his return to the lineup. Carson Wetsch added four assists, and rookie Ryan Oothoudt scored the first goal of his WHL career.

Kelowna looked in control early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead inside the first seven minutes. The lead, however, quickly evaporated. Wenatchee scored on two power plays and added a deflection late in the period to take a 3-2 lead.

Associate coach Don Hay said the early lead may have masked some issues.

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“We thought we were in control of the game, and then it turned around real quick,” Hay said. “We gave up two power-play goals and then a deflection. We had chances to stop the play, to clear the puck, to break it up, and we didn’t. It ended up costing us.”

Hay also felt the first period exposed some sloppy play from the Rockets.

“In the first period, we bobbled pucks, we didn’t make good passes, we played a little light,” he said.

The second period became the turning point. Kelowna killed off early penalties and used that momentum to regain control. The Rockets outshot the Wild 16-8 in the middle frame, moving the puck faster and skating harder.

“We gained momentum from our penalty kill,” Hay said. “That got our legs going. Shane Smith scored on a breakaway, a nice addition back in the lineup, and then the young guy, Ryan Oothoudt, scored his first goal of his career. That was just a hard work goal, which gave us a little breathing room.”

Smith’s goal tied the game and signalled a shift in the Rockets’ energy, while Oothoudt’s milestone goal gave Kelowna a lead they would not surrender.

Hay said the team’s play improved as they regained confidence.

“We came out in the second, killed some penalties, and scored,” he said. “We outshot them, we were moving, we were doing a lot better things. In the third, 24 shots on goal. That’s a good period. We got better as the game went on.”

The Rockets continued to pile on goals in the third, with Smith completing his hat trick and Wetsch driving much of the offense. Kelowna finished the night scoring six of the final seven goals, turning an early scare into a decisive win.

Hay praised the team’s effort but said consistency remains an area for improvement.

“Why can’t we be good for 60 minutes?” he said. “We have to take out the lulls in our game and just play a consistent game. I don’t care if we win 2–1, 1–0, or 8–4. We just need to be steady throughout the game.”

Wenatchee showed exactly why they cannot be underestimated.

“They are a hardworking team,” Hay said. “You can show video, but you can’t really show hard work on video. You have to experience it. They come out, work hard, get pucks to the net, give you a lot of trouble on the forecheck. You have to play a real solid team game to have success against them.”

Despite the rough start, Kelowna’s depth and skill allowed the team to regain control.

“We have some pretty dynamic forwards who can break a game open,” Hay said. “But the big thing is getting consistent play from everybody, all 20 players in the lineup.

“When a support player steps up and finds a way, that’s a bonus for us.”