Rockets eliminated in overtime heartbreak

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“He was unbelievable for us,” said assistant coach Brandon McMillan. “He made some really big saves. I thought we did a good job protecting our house. They threw a lot of pucks from the outside, which inflated their shot total a bit, but for the most part, we defended hard. In the end, it just came down to a couple of small details — and that’s playoff hockey.”

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Those details proved decisive in a tightly played game where space was limited, and chances were hard to come by.

After a scoreless first two periods, Everett opened the scoring shorthanded midway through the third. Carter Bear capitalized at 11:34 to give the Silvertips a 1-0 lead, putting the Rockets in a familiar position – chasing the game.

Kelowna pushed back late.

With Banini on the bench for an extra attacker, Shane Smith found the equalizer at 18:47, jamming home a loose puck in a scramble to tie the game 1–1 and force overtime.

“That’s kind of what happens six-on-five,” McMillan said. “There’s a lot going on. You just want bodies at the net and pucks going there. Smitty made a really heads-up play, and we had traffic. When the goalie can’t see it, it makes it tough. You couldn’t really draw it up any better.”

The late goal gave the Rockets life – and momentum – heading into overtime.

But it didn’t last long.

Everett needed just one shift in the extra frame. Dupont’s shot from the right point found its way through traffic and into the net, ending Kelowna’s season almost as quickly as overtime began.

“We wanted a good start in overtime, especially after tying it late,” McMillan said. “But we got stalled in the neutral zone and couldn’t get it deep. Good teams take advantage of that, and they did.”

Despite the result, the Rockets showed resilience throughout the night, matching a top-ranked Everett team stride for stride.

Kelowna generated chances – including a third-period opportunity that rang off the post – but couldn’t find the finish they needed.

“We had our looks,” McMillan said. “Even after we tied it, we had a great chance in the slot. It’s a hard one to swallow because the group showed a lot of character and stuck with it.”

That theme carried through the entire series.

While the Silvertips advance, the Rockets proved they could compete with one of the CHL’s top teams.

“You have to give them credit, they’re a really good hockey team,” McMillan said. “But I thought we were right there for most of the series. A bounce here or there earlier on, and maybe things look different. That’s how tight it is.”

For a Kelowna group, the experience carries value, even in defeat.

“These are intense games, and for a lot of our guys, it’s their first taste of it,” McMillan said. “They handled it well. We had good leadership, and the group responded in big moments.”

And while the playoff run is over, the Rockets’ season is not.

As hosts of the Memorial Cup in May, Kelowna now shifts focus to preparing for one more opportunity on a national stage.

“It’s definitely different,” McMillan admitted. “You’re eliminated, but your season isn’t over. We’re fortunate that we still have hockey ahead of us. We’ll take a couple of days, reset, and then get back to work.”

The message now is simple: learn from the heartbreak, sharpen the details, and be ready.

Because, despite Friday’s ending, there is still one more chapter to write.