Rockets Feast On Wheaties

The Kelowna Rockets have drawn first blood in their Western Hockey League championship series with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Rockets won their fifth straight on home ice, shutting out the Wheat Kings 3-0 at Prospera Place.

Derek Yeomans kicked out 28 shots, including 13 in the final period in recording his record tying 4th playoff shutout.

After a slow, methodical opening 10 minutes by both teams, the Rockets began asserting their tenacious forechecking. They were finally rewarded late in the period, when rookie Lauris Darzins converted Brent Howarth's shot for his 4th goal of the post season.

Shea Weber made it 2-0 with a power-play goal 36 seconds into the second period on a wrist shot from the high slot, reminiscent to his overtime goal Sunday against Kootenay. Justin Keller scored his team leading 11th goal late in the 2nd.

Howarth and Chris Ray each had two assists.

Despite the fact the two teams had not faced each other in over six months, it didn't take long for the feeling to creep in. The game got more physical and more intense as the time marched on.

Yeomans was shaken up late in the final period when Wheat Kings defenseman Steven Later ran over the Rockets goaltender in the final two and a half minutes. Yeomans was slow to get up after the hit, and again after making a save in the final 30 seconds. He received treatment after the game.

Yeomans shares the playoff record for shutouts in a single playoff with former Rockets goaltender Kelly Guard and Shane Bendera of Red Deer.

Game two in this series will be played Saturday night at Prospera Place, before the team’s head to Brandon for the next three games Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday if necessary.