Rockets hit break on winning note

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

The Christmas break and the midway point in the WHL season come at the same time for the Kelowna Rockets.

Game 36 for the Rockets ended the way most have during the first half of the season - with a Kelowna victory.

Justin Kirkland scored twice and added an assist to extend his point streak to four games leading Kelowna past the Red Reed Rebels 6-3 Wednesday.

Tyrell Goulbourne, Rodney Southam, Dillon Dube and Tyson Baillie into an empty net also scored for the Rockets.

League scoring leader Nick Merkley added a pair of assists.

The win put an end to the Rockets five game Central Division road trip.

They come home from the trip 4-1-0-0.

Kirkland, Goulbourne and Southam staked the Rockets to a 3-0 lead by the eight minute mark of the second period.

Red Deer battled back to tie it with a power-play goal early in the third.

Dube's sixth of the year and sixth in 10 games a minute after the tying goal stood up as the winner.

Kirkland's second and Baillie into the empty net sealed the win.

Neither power-play had a chance to be a factor as the teams combined for just three minor penalties. Kelowna scored on one of two chances with the man advantage while Red Deer scored on their lone chance.

The Rockets hit the 10 day Christmas break with a league best 28-5-3-0 record. A year ago at this time the Rockets sat at 31-3-2-0.

Kelowna returns to the ice Dec. 27 when they host the Kamloops Blazers.