Rockets roll through Central Division

Make it four-for-four on the Kelowna Rockets current five road Central Division road swing.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Rookie Mitchell Wheaton scored his first WHL goal in the Rockets 6-1 win in Red Deer

The Rockets spotted the host Red Deer Rebels an early 1-0 lead then roared back with six unanswered goals in a 6-1 victory Saturday.

Myles Bell and Madison Bowey scored 17 seconds apart late in the opening period to snap a 1-1 tie and send the Rockets onto their sixth win in a row and 11th in 12 games.

Mitchell Wheaton's first Western Hockey League goal two-and-a-half minutes into the first tied the game a 1-1.

Damon Severson, JT Barnett and Tyson Baillie with his sixth goal in five games also scored for the Rockets.

Dylen McKinlay chipped in with three assists while Zach Franko, Ryan Olsen and Cody Fowlie each had a pair of assists.

Jackson Whistle, making his first start since December 1 turned aside 28 shots for his seventh win of the season.

Saturday's win was the third straight for the Rockets over the Rebels this season after 3-1 and 8-1 victories.

The Rockets, who outshot Red Deer 34-29, scored twice on the power-play while holding the Rebels without a goal in seven chances.

Saturday's victory moves the Rockets into third spot in the Western Conference a point up on the Spokane Chiefs who lost 2-1 to Tri-City.

They also climbed to within six points of the struggling Kamloops Blazers atop the BC Division. Kamloops fell 7-6 in overtime in Medicine Hat Saturday.

The Rockets also have four games in hand on the Blazers.

They make up one of those games Sunday when they face the Hitmen in Calgary to close out the road trip and the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule.

The Rockets won't play again until December 27 when the Blazers invade Prospera Place.