Sports

The Kelowna Rockets erased a trio of two goal deficits only to fall in overtime Friday in their season opener in Kamloops.

Tim Bozon scored his third goal of the game 2:49 into overtime giving the Blazers a thrilling 6-5 victory over the visiting Rockets.

Bozon's game winner came on the only shot either team was able to muster during the four-on-four extra session and just 23 seconds after the Rockets were forced to kill a delay of game penalty to Ryan Olsen.

Dylen McKinlay forced overtime when he scored 15:13 into the final period. The game came less than two minutes after Myles Bell cut the deficit to one.

Olsen, Tyson Baillie and Swedish rookie Henrik Nyberg also scored for the Rockets who trailed 3-1, 4-2 and 5-3 during the contest.

Zach Franko added a pair of assists.

Matt Needham, Colin Smith and Landon Cross also scored goals for the Blazers.

Jordan Cooke went the distance for the Rockets allowing all six goals on 35 shots.

Tim Cheveldave allowed three goals on 26 shots before giving way to Taran Kozun to start the third period.

The Rockets scored once on five power-play opportunities while Kamloops found the net on three of its 11 opportunities with the man advantage.

Nyberg, playing his first game in the Western Hockey League, also showed a feisty side as he tangled with Dylan Willick in a first period fight.

Defenceman Mitchell Wheaton also made his WHL debut Friday picking up an assist on McKinlay's game tying goal and finishing the night a plus one.

Kelowna gets a chance for redemption Saturday when the two teams hook up again in the Rockets regular season home opener at Prospera Place.