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Rockets snap four game skid with important win over Vancouver Giants

Rockets earn key victory

The Kelowna Rockets snapped a four game losing streak and, in the process kept the surging Victoria Royals at bay.

Carson Golder scored twice in his return to the lineup after missing four games with an upper body injury, leading the Rockets to a 4-1 thumping of the Vancouver Giants.

Grady Lenton with his third of the season and Gabriel Szturc in his first game since being named captain also scored for the Rockets.

Talyn Boyko turned away 29 shots to earn the victory.

Golder got the Rockets on the board just 69 seconds into the game, banging home his own rebound for his 15th of the campaign

Lenton doubled with the only goal of the middle frame when he tipped home Jackson DeSouza's shot from the left point.

Ty Thorpe cut the lead to one four minutes into the third, but captain Gabby restored the two goal lead with a great individual effort four minutes later.

With the Rockets shorthanded, Szturc intercepted a pass inside his own blueline and raced down the left wing before beating Jesper Vikman low to the blocker side.

Golder sealed the win with a late goal on the power play.

The win, which also snapped a six game road losing streak, moved the Rockets two points up on the Royals in the fight for eighth in the Western Conference

The penalty-filled contest took an uglier tone in the final minute when a couple of fight's broke out. Vancouver's Kyle Bochek squared off with Rocket newcomer Ethan Mittesteadt and Giants Damien Palmieri squared off with Kelowna rookie Ethan Neuten.

The skirmish resulted in 44 minutes in penalties being handed out.

All told, 86 minutes in penalties were handed out during the course of the game.

The same two teams will hook up Saturday night at Prospera Place. In fact, the two teams meet four more times over the next two weeks.



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