Kelowna Rockets eliminated from playoffs

The Kelowna Rockets 2021-22 season came to an end 1:20 minutes into overtime with a 4-3 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds last night in Kent, Was.

The Thunderbirds took the best of seven series four games to one.

Down by two goals with under eight minutes to play in regulation, Jake Lee and Gabriel Szturc scored back to back goals 10 seconds apart to tie the game at three. In overtime, the Rockets gave up the puck resulting in a two-on-one opportunity for Seattle, New York Rangers prospect Matthew Rempe secured the series win by beating fellow Rangers prospect Talyn Boyko with his second of the night, according to a press release issued by the Kelowna Rockets.

The Thunderbirds outshot the Rockets 44-21, with Boyko stopping 40 of the shots he faced through 61:20 of action. Seattle goaltender Thomas Milic turned aside 18 of the 21 shots fired on him.

Kelowna's power play was one-for-three on the night, while the penalty kill shut down both Seattle opportunities.

The Rockets were without Mark Liwiski, who was serving the second game of his two-game suspension, and Pavel Novak.

Next up for Kelowna is the US Priority Draft and WHL Prospects Drafts. The 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18, and will be conducted online at WHL.ca. The 2022 WHL Prospects Draft will take place Thursday, May 19.

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