Tigers spoil Rockets party

Photo: Contributed - Marissa Baecker

Jackson Whistle makes one of his 27 saves during a 5-3 loss to Medicine Hat

Not every Broadway play is a hit on opening night and not every hockey trade - no matter how big - bears fruit the first time out.

Sometimes, the party gets spoiled.

The Medicine Hat Tigers played the role of spoiler Saturday beating the new look Kelowna Rockets 5-3 before more than 6,300 curious fans at Prospera Place.

Saturday's game was the first which featured the entire Rockets roster, including defencemen Josh Morrissey and Madison Bowey and forward Leon Draisaitl.

What should, with some practice time together, be a potent power-play, became somewhat of a liability when it surrendered a pair of shorthanded goals 61 seconds apart midway through the second period.

The goals gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead, one they would never relinquish.

Justin Kirkland and Draisaitl, both on the power-play and Bowey at even strength scored for the Rockets.

The Tigers led 1-0 after one and 3-2 after two.

Draisaitl evened it at 3-3 before Markus Eisenschmid restored the one goal lead on a Tigers power-play five minutes later.

Cole Sanford sealed it in the final minute with Jackson Whistle on the bench for an extra attacker.

The Rockets were 2-6 on the power-play while also surrendering those two shorthanded goals. The Tigers were 1-3 with the man advantage.

The loss was the first for the Rockets in 2015 and snapped a four game winning streak.

Prior to the game Rockets players Madison Bowey and Josh Morrissey were honoured alongside Bruce Hamilton as the trio returned with gold medals as part of Team Canada's entry at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championships.

The Rockets continue their current five game homestand Wednesday when they host the Tri-City Americans.