Rockets complete perfect eastern trip

Defenceman Mitchell Wheaton had a career best four point night and the Kelowna Rockets won a record 13th straight on the road in a 7-1 thumping of the Saskatoon Blades.

Photo: Wayne Moore - File Photo

Mitchell Wheaton had a goal and three assists in the Rockets 7-1 thumping of Saskatoon Tuesday.

Wheaton scored once and added three assists pacing the Rockets to a perfect 6-0 East Division road swing - their first perfect eastern trip since the 2005-2006 season.

The 13 straight road wins establishes a new club record, bettering the mark of 12 set between Nov 30, 2003 and Jan 18, 2004.

The Rockets have also won 12 straight overall.

Rourke Chartier, who has struggled offensively during his sophomore season had a goal and a pair of helpers.

Carter Rigby with two, Zach Franko, Tyson Baillie and Myles Bell also scored for the Rockets.

Baillie finished the road trip with three goals and nine assists, Bell had seven goals and three assists including three game winning goals while Ryan Olsen, who had an assist Tuesday, and Franko each picked up four goals and five assists.

The Rockets blew open a tight 1-1 tie with a pair of goals 17 seconds apart in the final minute of the first.

They stretched the lead to 5-1 after 40 minutes and scored the only two goals of the third.

Jackson Whistle faced just 28 shots to earn his eighth win of the season while his teammates peppered Saskatoon netminder Alex Moodie with 51 shots.

The Rockets, 28-3-0-2, have opened an eight point bulge over Portland in the battle for top spot in the Western Hockey League. Kelowna also hold two games in hand.

The players will now disperse for the Christmas break before returning to the ice Dec 27 when they host the Kamloops Blazers.