Rockets raise banner, expectations

Photo: Contributed - Marissa Baecker

Cole Martin (left) and Tyson Baillie help raise the 2014 WHL Regular Season and BC Division banners prior to Saturday's home opener against the Kamloops Blazers. The Rockets were 6-1 winners.

Dan Lambert has his first win out of the way.

The new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets did what his predecessor was unable to do - he won his first game behind the bench.

It was one of the only  things Ryan Huska was not able to accomplish during his time with the Rocket s.

Lambert, named head coach in the summer after Huska accepted a job in the American Hockey League, guided his undermanned Rockets to a convincing 6-1 win over the visiting Kamloops Blazers on a night when the team raised a pair of banner to the Prospera Place rafters.

Tyson Baillie and Kris Schmidli each had a goal and two assists for the Rockets who dressed just 19 players Saturday with five skaters still off at NHL training camps.

Riley Stadel, Colton Heffley, Austin Glover and Carter Rigby also scored while Nick Merkley and Joe Gatenby chipped in with a pair of helpers.

Jackson Whistle stopped 32 of 33 Kamloops shots to earn the win in net.

Prior to the game the Rockets held a ceremony to raise the 2014 WHL BC Division and Regular Season Championship banners at Prospera Place.

The team was energized after the ceremony, scoring three times in the opening period and outshooting the Blazers 15-8 in the opening period. Shots in the game were 39-33 for Kelowna.

The home opener was the Rockets only game of the weekend as the team will now get set to head to Prince George for a pair of games next weekend.

The team will return to Kelowna on Wednesday Oct. 1 to host the Vancouver Giants.