Hawks Ground Rockets Season

The high flying Hawks, too much and ground the Rockets season.

The Kelowna Rockets season came to a close on Thursday night after a 5-3 series clinching win by the Portland Winterhawks.  The Hawks sweep the Rockets 4-0 and win all eight meeting during the year.

During the regular season the Rockets would finish sixth in the Western Conference with a 31-31-4-6 record, good for 72 points and a match up with the Hawks who compiled 102 points on the year, finishing third in the Conference.

Ty Rattie would open the scoring at 4:06 of the first for Portland to take the lead 1-0, it was Rattie’s seventh of the playoffs.  The Rockets would tie the game at 17:34 as Madison Bowey lit the lamp for the first time this series, from Brett Bulmer and Carter Rigby.

The Hawks would regain the lead before the period ended as Rattie scored for the second time on the night at 19:08.  The Rockets would actually lead the shot clock 12-11, but trail on the scoreboard 2-1 after 20 minutes.

In the second the Rockets would tie it again on the lone goal of the middle stanza, as Bulmer scored his first of the post season at 2:27 on the power play.  Brett Lyon and Myles Bell would pick up assists.

Early in the third the Hawks would take their third lead of the game as Rattie would complete the hat trick beating Adam Brown at the 1:28 mark.  The goal was unassisted.

The Rockets would tie it again six minutes later as Bell would get his first of the playoffs from Bulmer and MacKenzie Johnston at 7:33.

The Hawks however would prove to be too much again as Taylor Leier would get his third of the playoffs at 13:05, then Rattie would ice it with an empty net goal at 19:25, his fourth of the night and 10th of the series.

Following the game Head Coach Ryan Huska would say, “I’m happy with how they completed and didn’t role over here at home against a very good Portland team.  We’ll speak to them a little more tomorrow, when we have some more time.”

Rattie (4 goals) would be named first star, Bulmer (3 points) was the second star and Portland’s Sven Bartschi (2 points) was named the third star.

The loss also puts a cap on the terrific junior career of goalie Adam Brown who spent four seasons in Kelowna.  After the game he would say, “It was a heck of a ride…the best 4 years of my life.” The junior careers of forwards Cody Chikie and Brett Lyon also come to a close.  Brett Bulmer’s future with the Rockets is in question as members of the Minnesota Wild were in attendance and Bulmer will join the AHL affiliate the Houston Aeros and finish the season down south.

As the Rockets season comes to a close, the Hawks will move on to face the Kamloops Blazers in round two.

Congratulations to the Rockets on a good season.