(Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

By Regan Bartel

13 players earn point in lopsided win

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The Kelowna Rockets wasted little time bouncing back from a frustrating loss one night earlier, exploding for a dominant 9–2 victory over the Victoria Royals Saturday night at Prospera Place.

Less than 24 hours after falling 4–3 in overtime to the last-place Vancouver Giants, the Rockets delivered one of their most complete performances of the season. Kelowna controlled the game from start to finish, combining a structured defensive effort with relentless offensive pressure.

Leading the charge was Tij Iginla, who recorded one goal and four assists in a five-point night. The dynamic forward drove the offense while displaying a more unselfish approach that impressed the coaching staff.

“That was one of Iggy’s better games in terms of playing a team game,” said Rockets assistant coach Brandon McMillan. “He was sharing the puck, creating chances for his linemates, and still finding ways to be dangerous. When he plays with that speed through the middle and distributes the puck, he becomes really tough to defend.”

Kelowna set the tone early with a power-play goal just seconds into its first opportunity of the night, a moment McMillan felt helped establish confidence throughout the lineup.

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“It’s huge to get one early like that,” McMillan said. “Special teams are important, especially this time of year, and you could see our power-play units working together and building some chemistry.”

The Rockets’ offensive outburst was fueled by strong puck movement and quick breakouts that allowed them to attack with speed through the neutral zone.

“We didn’t like our effort the night before,” McMillan admitted. “But tonight I thought we did a much better job taking care of our own end first. When we broke the puck out cleanly it gave us speed through the neutral zone, and that led to a lot of our offensive opportunities.”

Kelowna’s depth was on full display throughout the evening.

Rowan Guest scored his first goal of the season in his 61st game, a moment that brought an emotional reaction from both the player and his teammates.

“You could see the relief on his face,” McMillan said. “It’s always nice when a player finally gets that first one. He does a lot of little things well for our team that people might not always notice, so it was great to see him get rewarded.”

Another milestone night belonged to veteran defenceman Mazden Leslie. The overage blueliner recorded a goal and an assist, reaching the 250-point plateau for his WHL career — becoming just the 13th defenceman in league history to reach that mark.

For McMillan, the milestone reflects the dedication Leslie has shown throughout his career.

“That’s an amazing accomplishment,” he said. “Maz is a great young man who’s always trying to get better. He’s at the rink early, watching video, asking questions, trying to learn. It’s great to see all that hard work pay off.”

Leslie’s offensive instincts have made him a key piece of the Rockets’ lineup since arriving in Kelowna.

“He adds a different element to our team,” McMillan said. “He’s highly gifted offensively, he jumps up in the rush, and when we need a goal he’s someone we trust to be out there.”

The Rockets also received a major boost from Shane Smith, who continued his strong season by scoring his 29th and 30th goals of the year, establishing a new career high.

Kelowna’s offense rolled throughout the night, building a commanding 7–2 lead after two periods and effectively putting the game out of reach.

Despite the lopsided score, McMillan was pleased to see his players continue to focus on playing the right way rather than chasing individual statistics.

“I thought our guys stayed committed to the team game,” he said. “Even with the lead, we were still getting pucks deep and taking care of our own end. That’s something we talked about between periods, and I thought the players handled it well.”

The ability to roll all four lines in the third period also allowed the coaching staff to spread out the ice time — a valuable benefit with another game looming on the schedule.

“When you have a lead like that, it gives you the chance to distribute minutes and keep everyone fresh,” McMillan said. “That should help us going into tomorrow.”

The victory served as a strong response for a Rockets team that had been frustrated with its performance the night before. Saturday’s effort reflected the identity Kelowna hopes to carry into the final stretch of the regular season — responsible in its own end, quick in transition, and dangerous offensively.

For McMillan, the key difference between the two games was simple.

“Our effort and attention to detail were a lot better tonight,” he said. “When we take care of our end first and play as a team, we give ourselves a chance to have success.”