A disciplined, high-action weekend of play for the Golden Rockets, as they recorded three out of a possible four points on the road, in a pair of key games against divisional rivals.
Last Friday night in Fernie, Golden met the Ghostriders for the first time this season and, after a thrilling sixty minutes, came away with an impressive 3-2 win. The high-powered Riders are currently one of the highest-scoring teams in the league. Despite being outshot, the Rockets rode on the outstanding netminding of Saskatoon native Riley Deck to take the win.
The clubs were tied at 1-1 after the opening period, with Golden’s goal coming off the stick of Rocket veteran Draeden Bear, with assists to Deegan Bert and Cooper Thompson.
The Rockets hit for the only goal of the second period. Deegan Bert once again showed his play-making abilities, this time combining with Stefan Bodtker to setup Kanye Huang for his seventh tally of the year.
Golden would extend the margin to 3-1 late in the third period, as rookie Seth Flett (just back from injury) notched his first KIJHL goal, with linemates Dominic Fiorentino and Evan Tsadilas pitching in with assists. Fernie’s leading scorer Taylor Haggerty narrowed the gap in the final minute, but that was as close as the opposition would get. Rocket’s defense held until the final buzzer, for a 3-2 win. Fernie outshot Golden 51-23.
Saturday evening saw the club return to the confines of the Johnny Bucyk Arena in Creston. This contest proved to be a virtual replica of the October 22nd game against the ThunderCats in the same building, which the southerners eventually prevailed by a score of 2-1 in a player-shootout. Both goaltenders, Rocket’s Riley Deck and Creston’s Brendan Smith were again on top of their game.
Golden’s offensive attack was in full gear right from the opening face-off. However, as in late October, they ran into a very hot Smith in the TCat goal. Rockets moved into a 1-0 first period lead with a Brayden Bissell marker, a lead which held until the 4:08 mark of the final period, when Creston’s top goal scorer Liam Munro tied things up on a powerplay.
And, as it unfolded in late October, the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 as regulation time ended, and the contest moved into the 5-minute overtime session. Play was wide open in the extra time, and it wasn’t until 4:23 that the ThunderCats Brendan Calahasen struck for the winning goal. Rockets outshot Creston 49-27.
This upcoming weekend the Rockets are back home for a Friday night matchup with the visiting Beaver Valley NiteHawks, before heading back down the valley Saturday evening to match skills with the Eddie Mountain Division leading Kimberley Dynamiters.
