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Kelowna Rockets stay perfect on road trip, win in shootout

Rockets late game heroics

Two of the Kelowna Rockets lesser lights shone bright at the right time Saturday.

Trevor Wong and Ethan Ernst provided the late-game heroics, allowing the Rockets to skate out of Saskatoon with a 4-3 shootout victory.

It was the second straight to open up the Rockets six-game East Division road trip.

Trailing 3-2 with under three minutes to go in regulation, Nolan Foote, in the slot, found Wong open in the left faceoff circle. His one-timer beat Nolan Maier for his third of the season, sending the game to overtime.

The extra period was scoreless, necessitating a shootout to decide it.

Ernst, the Rockets first shooter, circled from the right wing, slowed as he got close to the net, and deked to the backhand for the only goal either team would score in the skills competition.

As they did the night before in Prince Albert, the Rockets opened the scoring after a scoreless opening 20.

Michael Farren circled the Saskatoon net, turned to his forehand, and beat Maier from the bottom on the right circle.

The Blades bounced back with two to grab a 2-1 lead before Foote tied it with five minutes to go in the second.

The Blades again retook the lead late in the period, setting up the Rockets late game heroics.

Cole Schwebius turned away 25 shots to earn the victory with friends and family in attendance.

The Rockets get a few days off before resuming their road trip Tuesday in Brandon.

Rockets captain Nolan Foote will leave the team in the next few days for Canada's world junior evaluation camp. If he secures a spot on the roster, it means Foote won't return to the team until early in the new year.

While Foote departs the team, the Rockets will welcome back rookie Pavel Novak Tuesday.

Novak has completed his league imposed eight game suspension.



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