Sports

The Kamloops Blazers defeated the Kelowna Rockets 5-4 in overtime on Friday night in the first of two Western Hockey League games between the teams this weekend.

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Chase Schaber celebrates his game winner with Austin Madaisky (23) Friday in Kamloops.

The Rockets led 4-1 after the first period, but Kamloops scored the next three goals to tie the game and send it to overtime where they would eventually win it.

Chase Schaber's screened shot with just 28 seconds to play in overtime was the game winner after a wild overtime that saw the teams each penalized once.

Brett Bulmer scored twice for Kelowna, his 22nd and 23rd goals of the season while Carter Rigby scored his 15th and Tanner Moar added his 4th to stake the Rockets to the lead after 20 minutes.

JC Lipon cut the Rockets lead to 4-2 in the second period before the Blazers tied the game at 4-4 with two third period goals. Colin Smith scored twice for the Blazers while Brendan Ranford also scored.

Adam Brown faced 44 shots in the Kelowna net as the Rockets were out shot 44-20.

The Rockets and Blazers meet again Saturday night in Kelowna.

--By Kevin Parnell