Rockets firepower too much for Kootenay Ice
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Kootenay Ice stayed with the front-running Okanagan Rockets, but when final horn sounded lost both ends of a home-and-home series in BC Hockey Major Midget League action Sunday in Nelson.
Okanagan Rockets skated away a pair of wins — 4-0 Saturday at the NDCC Arena and 3-1 Sunday at the Civic Arena.
“We had a good weekend . . . we played really well,” said Kootenay coach Rob Wright feeling good despite the two losses.
“That team is second-best in the entire league, they were third in Canada last year and to lose 4-0 and 3-1 is good for us.”
“Our thing is we don’t put a lot of goals in the net, but our battle and compete level was fantastic,” Wright added.
Kootenay trailed 1-0 after the first period before Okanagan scored twice in the second period of Saturday’s game to take control.
Levi Johnson, Calvin Rout, Lucas Cullen and Marcus Mitchell scored for the Rockets.
Sunday, Kootenay once again failed to rev up the offence as Okanagan scored just enough offence — one goal in each period — to hold off the hosts.
Aiden Browell scored the lone Kootenay Ice goal in the second.
“We just keep plugging away,” said Wright, not at all disappointed with the second despite a 4-21-4 record.
“Our goals against is plummeting and we’ve got some teams coming in here I think we can compete against, and hopefully beat, and just keep going. We’re playing well and working hard.”
Kootenay is idle for a week before travelling to Prince George to face the Cougars for a pair of games.
Next home action is February 7-8 against South Island Royals of Victoria at the NDCC Arena.
