Sports

The Kelowna Rockets are starting to get into some heady company.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Carter Rigby scored three times leading the Rockets to a record 19th straight win at home

The Rockets established a Kelowna team record with their 19th straight win on home ice Saturday beating the visiting Vancouver Giants 5-3.

Carter Rigby led the way with three goals his second career Western Hockey League hat-trick.

Linemates Colton Heffley (2 assists) and Austin Glover (1 assist) were also strong contributors in the record setting victory.

MacKenzie Johnston with his career best third of the season and second in as many nights and Jesse Lees with his sixth of the campaign and second in as many nights also scored for the Rockets (34-10-2-1).

The Rockets took a 3-1 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes on goals from Rigby (two) and Johnston.

The Giants, who own a league worst 12-35 record continued to hang around cutting the deficit to one one two occasions before Lees' goal midway through the third put an end to any Giants comeback.

Jordon Cooke turned aside 22 shots to earn his 18th straight decision and league leading 25th overall.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

MacKenzie Johnston scored his second goal in as many nights in Saturday's win

Saturday's win also came on a night when teams around them lost.

The Portland Winterhawks dropped their second in a row losing 4-3 in Seattle as the T-Birds snapped a 15 game losing streak while Kamloops were 5-4 losers at home to Victoria.

The Rockets moved six points up on Kamloops in the BC Division and within five of league leading Portland.

Kelowna meantime looks for win number 20 in a row on home ice Thursday when they host Seattle, kicking off a stretch of four games in five days.

The Rockets will play in Seattle Friday, return home to host East Division leading Prince Albert Saturday and travel to Kamloops Monday.

Kelowna has a chance this week to tie the fourth longest home winning streak in league history at 21 this week.

That record is jointly held by the Estevan Bruins, Flon Flon Bombers and Kamloops Blazers.