Lind explodes, Rockets win

Photo: Allen Douglas

Kole Lind's quick start to the Western Hockey League season continued Saturday.

Lind had a hand in all five Rockets goals in a 5-1 thumping of the Kamloops Blazers.

It gave the Rockets a sweep of the season opening weekend, after a dominating 6-2 win over the Blazers Friday night at Prospera Place.

Lind scored twice and assisted on the other three goals in Saturday's win, giving him three goals and five assists in just two games.

Jack Cowell also scored twice while Cal Foote had a goal and two assists.

The Rockets took a 1-0 lead in the first when Lind scored his first of the night.

Former Rocket Joe Gatenby evened the sore in the final minute of the second, the only Blazers to beat Brodan Salmond, who was sharp again for the Rockets.

Kelowna exploded with four unanswered goals in the third. Cowell scored back-to-back goals early in the third, the first at even strength, the second with the Rockets a man up.

Lind and Foote on a last minute power play closed out the scoring.

The Rockets were again two for five with the man advantage while holding the Blazers off the board on their three opportunities.

Kelowna outshot Kamloops 32-29.

The Rockets made just one lineup change for Saturday's game with rookie Kyle Pow drawing in for Leif Mattson.

Both Dillon Dube and Carsen Twarynski remain with their NHL clubs. Twarynski has been assigned to their AHL affiliates training camp while Dube remains in Calgary.

The Rockets are now off until Friday when the Everett Silvertips come to town.