Sports

The Kelowna Rockets fell one win short of a club record earlier this season - they were not going to allow that to happen again.

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

Austin Glover, manhandled here in front of the net Thursday, wasn't denied 24 hours later scoring his first WHL goal in a Rockets 6-2 win in Vancouver

The Rockets equalled a club record with their 51st win of the season Friday with a convincing 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants at the Pacific Coliseum.

And, what better way to celebrate a team milestone with an individual one.

Austin Glover finally got the monkey off his back scoring his first goal of the season and his first career Western Hockey League goal.

His first period tally snapped a 1-1 tie and opened the flood gates as the Rockets would score five unanswered goals to take a 6-1 lead before the game was 26 minutes old.

They cruised from there, managing only six shots over the final 34:51.

Glover nearly got his first the night before when he one-timed a perfect feed from Rourke Charter, however, the goaltender on that night was able to get a piece of the shot.

He wouldn't be denied during the 71st game of the season.

Colton Sissons, Damon Severson, Tyson Baillie, Charier and Zach Franko also scored for the Rockets.

Baillie, Sissons and Severson also added an assist for two point nights.

With his goal Friday, Severson became the 14th Rocket to hit the 10 goal plateau.

It's the first time the Rockets have had 14 players reach double digits in goals in a single season.

The Rockets led Friday's tilt 3-1 after one and increase the lead to 6-1 early in the second.

Franko's sixth goal spelled the end of the night for Giants starter Payton Lee.

He allowed six goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Jared Rathjen.

More than 14,000 people attended Friday night's game as the Giants said farewell to the home portion of a forgettable season which will see them finish dead last in the Western Hockey League with just 21 wins and 44 points.

It's their worst season since their expansion season of 2001-2002 in which the Giants won 17 times and finished with 36 points.

They will get one final chance at win number 22 Saturday when they pay a return visit to Prospera Place in the Rockets final home date before the playoffs open up next Friday.

A win by the Rockets Saturday would not only give them a club record 52 wins but would also assure them of a second place finish in the overall WHL standings.