Rockets drop Memorial Cup opener

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

The Rockets had not played since their Western Hockey League playoff run ended more than a month ago.

Holding the key to the first-overall pick

Rockets searching for their next game-breaker

May 06, 2026

Rockets await start of Memorial Cup

Chances were there. Goals weren't

Apr 20, 2026

Enough talk. Time for action

As they say in Everett, 'Let's play hockey!

Apr 10, 2026

“It’s not easy taking that much time off,” McMillan said. “You’re playing against teams that have been playing at the highest level for a long time. Their games are in great shape, and that showed tonight how crisp the Kitchener Rangers were.”

Kitchener opened the scoring just 4:38 into the first period when a sharp-angle shot found its way past Rockets goaltender Harrison Boettiger. It was not the prettiest goal of the night, but it gave the Rangers an early 1-0 lead and some confidence.

Despite being outshot 14-6 in the opening period, Kelowna battled hard and generated several quality chances of its own. The Rockets nearly tied the game during a scramble around the Kitchener net and remained very much in the contest through the first 20 minutes.

In many ways, it was Kelowna’s strongest period of the game.

The Rockets continued to push in the second period and had opportunities to pull even. One of the best came on a two-on-one rush when Tomas Poletin slid a pass across to Shane Smith. The puck, however, skipped just beyond Smith’s reach before he could direct it into the open side of the net.

Later in the period, Vojtech Cihar came out of the penalty box and found himself with a Grade-A scoring opportunity. He fired from the left faceoff circle but could not beat the Kitchener goalie.

Those missed opportunities proved costly.

“We ended up with 11 shots through two periods,” McMillan said. “We just wouldn’t funnel pucks to the net. We weren’t creating chaos in the offensive zone by just getting pucks to that area.”

Instead of simplifying their game, the Rockets often searched for the extra pass or a better shooting lane.

“For whatever reason, not getting pucks through or just being a little bit too stubborn to make an extra play is what I think cost us tonight in getting that first goal,” McMillan added.

The Rangers eventually made Kelowna pay.

Late in the second period, Jared Woolley scored at 17:33 to double Kitchener’s lead, sending the OHL champions into the dressing room with a 2-0 advantage after 40 minutes.

Even then, the game still felt within reach.

Kitchener spent much of the early third period icing the puck and keeping things simple in its own zone. The Rockets appeared to be building momentum and looking for the goal that could pull them back into the game.

Instead, the contest slipped away.

The Rangers scored three times in a span of just 2:42, turning a competitive hockey game into a runaway victory.

“They definitely were starting to keep it a little bit simpler,” McMillan said. “As they got that third one, then they really started to open it up. They started really using the width of the ice to create offence and speed through the neutral zone.”

The third goal effectively ended any hopes of a comeback.

One player who gave the Rockets a chance throughout the night was Boettiger. The draft-eligible netminder faced 39 shots and made several key saves to keep the game close through two periods.

“He was really good,” McMillan said. “He made some really key saves early to keep it a one-nothing game. He was really steady all night.”

McMillan also praised his goaltender for bouncing back after a difficult ending to Kelowna’s playoff series against Everett.

“He stood tall,” McMillan said. “He did a great job for us tonight, keeping us in the game.”

The Rockets also stayed true to their identity by delivering a physical performance. Several big hits energized the crowd and demonstrated that Kelowna was prepared to compete physically against one of the country’s top teams.

“That’s just kind of the way we’re built,” McMillan said. “We want to play a fast hockey game, but we also want to be physical and in your face. I thought the guys really brought that part of the game really well tonight.”

Now the focus shifts to Sunday.

With the short format of the Memorial Cup, there is little time to dwell on one result. The Rockets will spend Saturday watching Chicoutimi face the WHL champion Everett Silvertips before preparing for a game that suddenly carries added importance.

McMillan believes his team will answer the bell.

“We’re going to be a lot better come Sunday,” he said.