Rockets home streak at 10

Photo: Cindy Rogers

The good news for the Kelowna Rockets - their home ice winning streak has now hit double digits.

Unfortunately, they don't see the ice at Prospera Place now until after Christmas.

The Rockets made it 10-in-a-row on home ice and five straight overall Saturday with a 5-2 victory over the Kootenay Ice.

Saturday's game also marked the club's fifth annual Teddy Bear toss night, with all teddy bears collected donated to Kelowna General Hospital.

It didn't take long for fans to litter the ice with their stuffed toys. Connor Bruggen-Cate scored the game's first goal 12 minutes in. After a brief delay, four truck loads of bears were taken to KGH.

It was the lone goal of the opening period.

Bradyn Chizen doubled the lead with his second of the season late in the second.

Kole Lind, who missed seven games with the affects of Mono, was cleared to play Saturday and hit the scoresheet with his 12th to make it 3-0. The goal stood up as the game winner.

After the Ice got one back, Nolan Foote and James Hilsendager scored 31 seconds apart to build the lead to four. A Kootenay goal in the final minute ended the scoring.

Roman Basran turned away 24 shots to earn his second win in his second career start, as Kelowna outshot the Ice 29-26.

Both teams managed to score once on five power play chances.

Saturday's win, coupled with Victoris'a defeat in Lethbridge leaves the Rockets just two points in back of the Royals with three games in hand.

The Rockets are off until Friday when they begin their pre-Christmas tour of the tough Eastern Division.

They begin the trip with games Friday in Regina and Saturday in Brandon. Three players, Lind, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote may leave the team following the Brandon game if they are named to the world junior selection camp.

The announcement will be made Monday.