Rockets drop heartbreaker to Royals

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

Cole Linaker scored one of the Rockets two goals Tuesday in a 3-2 loss to the visiting Victoria Royals Tuesday

The Victoria Royals defeated the Kelowna Rockets 3-2 at Prospera Place in Kelowna on Tuesday in a fast-paced and physical game between the two WHL BC Division rivals.

Axel Blomqvist scored with just over three minutes to play in the third period, snapping a 2-2 tie and giving the Royals the win.

Kelowna led 2-1 heading into the third period before the Royals tied the game early on a goal by Ryan Gagnon, before winning it late.

Rockets forward Cole Linaker scored a short-handed marker to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead in the second period, energizing a crowd of just over 4,900 in Kelowna.

The Rockets had opened the scoring early in the first with the first WHL goal by affiliate player Tanner Wishnowski on his first shift in the league, after being called up from the Okanagan Rockets of the BCMML.

The loss dropped the Rockets record to 54-11-0-4 with just three games remaining in the WHL regular season.

Kelowna will head to Kamloops on Wednesday to meet the Blazers before a home and home with Vancouver on the weekend to close out the regular season.

The Rockets and Giants will play in Vancouver on Friday before playing in Kelowna on Saturday.

The Rockets can clinch the overall Western Hockey League regular season title with one more win over the three remaining games.