Friday, September 23rd, 2022: Fernie 6 Rockets 2
Both of these clubs play each other tough every season. This game was no exception. Before a good hometown crowd, there was a good pace to the game for the entire three periods of play.
The Rockets came out of the gate with some good pressure deep in the Fernie end for the opening minute of the first period, with some great scoring chances. However, it was the visitors who hit the scoreboard first (at the 1:13 mark) when Dayton Nelson’s hard snapshot from the top of the left circle hit the back of the net.
The Rockets managed to find the equalizer at 7:26 in a goalmouth scramble, as Ethan Aebly and Zac Siudy combined to get the puck to the net, where newcomer Nick Morin neatly tucked the puck over the goal line. But by the end of the frame the visitors had moved in front 2-1 when Ethan MacDuff’s quick wristshot from the right side found the top corner over Rocket netminder Levi Hall’s shoulder.
In the middle stanza the Rockets had an early powerplay opportunity to tie things up, but were stymied by several outstanding saves by Dylan Lacroix in the Ghostrider cage. As the penalty ended, a quick up-ice pass from deep in the Fernie end sent Sean Jacobs in on a partial breakaway on the right wing, and he made no mistake with a quick shot, moving the visitors into a 3-1 lead. That margin was extended to 4-1 at the end of forty minutes, when Aiden Kalin found the mark with just four seconds left in the period.
Golden cut the lead to 4-2 just 1:21 into the final frame, when Rocket rookie forward Kylow Monkman’s low snapshot from high in the slot fooled the Fernie netminder. Tanner Watson and Nick Morin collected helpers on the tally. That goal however, was countered with a Kort Kisinger marker at 8:35.
Play got a bit rough over the next ten minutes, with a steady stream to the penalty box. Midway through the period, the Rockets had a 3-minute man-advantage, but couldn’t solve Lacroix in the the Ghostrider net.
Fernie would later add a final goal on Ethan MacDuff’s second of the game, enroute to the 6-2 win. Shots were even at 31-31.
Rockets Action Summary – Home Opener 2022-23
