Achi news desk-
Summary of junior hockey results from the Okanagan and area.
PRINCE GEORGE, 6, KELOWNA 3
The Kelowna Rockets season ended on Friday night.
In Prince George, the Cougars scored five times in the second period and pulled away from Kelowna for a three-goal victory in front of a raucous standing room crowd.
The result not only gave Prince George a 4-1 series win, but also pushed the Cougars into the third round – a sight rarely seen in the city that declares itself as the gateway to the north of BC.
The Cougars, who are celebrating their 30th season in Prince George after relocating from Victoria in 1994, have only advanced to the Western Conference final four times (1997, 2000, 2007, 2024) and have not never played in a league final.
Furthermore, Prince George failed to make the playoffs 12 times since his relocation. The team has also suffered 10 first-round eliminations.
During those same seasons, Kelowna has missed the playoffs twice and won four league titles.
This year may be different, though.
Not only did Prince George’s finish atop the Western Conference standings (49 wins, 102 points), but they also finished the regular season as the nation’s top-ranked team.
But back to Friday’s game, which had an attendance of 6,014, just above its sell-out capacity of 5,900.
Coldstream’s Zac Funk paced Prince George’s offense with three goals. Riley Heidt, with two goals and two assists, and Jett Lajoie also scored for the Cougars, who led 1-0 and 6-2 at the period breaks.
Scoring for the Rockets were Andrew Cristall and Tij Iginla, with back-to-back goals early in the second making it 2-1 for Kelowna, and Gabriel Szturc, who ended the scoring early in the third.
Joshua Ravensbergen stopped 28 of 31 shots for Prince George, with Jari Kykkanen making 33 saves on 39 shots.
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The Cougars were also 2-for-4 on the power play while the Rockets were 0-for-2.
Next up: Conference finals.
In the west, Prince George will play Portland, which swept Everett 4-0. And in the east, Saskatoon will place Moose Jaw.
Friday results
- Moose Jaw 4, Swift Current 2
- (Moose Jaw wins series 4-1)
- Portland 5, Everett 0
- (Portland wins series 4-0)
Saturday games
Sunday games
PENTICTON 4, VERNON 3 (OT)
In Penticton, Anselmo Rego scored the winning goal early in overtime as the Vees defeated the Vipers to take a 1-0 lead in their second round series.
Rego also scored in regulation time for Penticton, as did Billy Renfrew and Callum Arnott.
Owen Kim, Carson McGinley and Noah Dorey answered for Vernon, who led 2-1 after the first period and 3-2 after the second.
Arnott tied the game at 17:58 of the third, with Rego ending the contest at 1:40 with a shorthanded marker.
Will Ingemann stopped 21 of 24 shots for the Vees, with Ethan David saving 31 on 35 shots for the Vipers.
Penticton was 1-for-2 on the power play while Vernon was 0-for-2.
Friday’s attendance at the South Okanagan Events Center was 2,321.
SALMON ARM 6, WEST KELOWNA 1
In West Kelowna, the committee scored for Salmon Arm as the Silverbacks hammered the Warriors on Friday night to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Nathan Mackie, Riley Ashe, Patrick Raftery, Ryan Gillespie, Tanner Walos and Maddux Martin scored for Salmon Arm, which led 2-0 after the second period following a scoreless first game.
Viggo Nordstrom answered for Kelowna at 16:22 in the third to make it 4-1, but the team had a 40-22 lead.
Eli Pulver stopped 21 shots for the Silverbacks, with Matthew DellaRusso (28 saves, 31 shots) and Kaden Clegg (6 saves, 8 shots) sharing net guard duties for the Warriors.
Both teams were scoreless on the power play, with Salmon Arm going 0-for-4 and West Kelowna going 0-for-2.
Friday results
- Alberni Valley 3, Chilliwack 1
- Victoria 2, Surrey 1 (OT)
Saturday games
- Alberni Valley in Chilliwack
- (Alberni Valley leads series 1-0)
- Vernon in Penticton
- (Penticton leads series 1-0)
- Salmon Arm in West Kelowna
- (Salmon Arm leads series 1-0)
- Victoria in Surrey
- (Victoria leads series 1-0)
Sunday games
THE MOWAT CUP
(Provincial Championship)
- Kimberley Dynamiters (host team)
- Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL champions)
- Ridge Meadow Flames (PJHL champions)
- Saanich Predators (VIJHL champions)
Thursday’s results
- Revelstoke 7, Saanich 4
- Ridge Meadows 7, Kimberley 0
Friday results
- Revelstoke 2, Ridge Meadows 1
- Kimberley 4, Saanich 0
Saturday games
- Saanich at Ridge Meadows
- Kimberley in Revelstoke
Sunday games
- Consolation game: Third vs. Fourth
- Championship game: First vs. Second
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
