Rockets fall to T-Birds

Photo: Marissa Baecker

For the second night in a row, the Kelowna Rockets were lit up while short handed.

The Seattle Thunderbirds scored three power play goals Saturday in a 4-1 victory over the Rockets.

The night before, Kelowna surrendered three more power play goals in a 4-3 loss to Victoria.

Seattle jumped on the Rockets early, as Andrej Kukuca scored his first of the season, beating Roman Basran just 46 seconds into the game. It's the six time in eight games the Rockets have surrendered a goal in the game's first five minutes.

Dillon Hamaliuk scored what would prove to be the game winner early in the second with the first of Seattle's three power play markers.

The Rockets got one of those back with a man advantage of their own.

Kyle Topping buried his second of the season just before a five-minute major was set to expire to cut the deficit in half.

The Rockets were handed the lengthy power play after Nolan Volcan was penalized for running Basran.

Kelowna peppered Seattle netminder Liam Hughes with 18 shots in the final period, but were unable to find the equalizer.

Seattle put it away with a pair of power play markers.

The Rockets have now lost three in a row, falling to 1-7 on the season.

They'll return home to host the same Thunderbirds Wednesday at Prospera Place.

Meantime, on Sunday afternoon, the Rockets will host a season ticket open house from noon to 3 p.m.

Fans who would like to pick up season tickets for this season and ensure their seats for next year's Memorial Cup are invited to stop by and pick out their seats.

900 pairs of season tickets will be available before sales are capped.