With the exception of surrendering a couple of late goals, the couldn91裸聊视频檛 have asked for much more in their Western Hockey League season opener.
The Rockets scored the game91裸聊视频檚 first six goals, then cruised to a over the Kamloops Blazers Friday night at Prospera Place.
Kyle Topping scored twice and added and assist, while Kole Lind, who just returned Thursday from the NHL91裸聊视频檚 Vancouver Canucks, scored a goal and added a pair of assists in the Rockets91裸聊视频� home opener in front of 5,238 fans.
91裸聊视频淲e had a really good start to the game, I thought we were moving our feet well, getting pucks deep and really wearing down their D-men and it started to show in the second, they were getting pretty tired,91裸聊视频� said Lind. 91裸聊视频淎ll around it was a good game, I thought we could have had a better ending to it, but we91裸聊视频檙e just hoping to carry the momentum into tomorrow.91裸聊视频�
Tomas Soustal, Jack Cowell and rookie Liam Kindree, with his first WHL goal, also scored for the Rockets.
With the loss of the likes of high-scoring forwards Nick Merkley, Reid Gardiner and Calvin Thurkauf from last year91裸聊视频檚 team, the Rockets will need scoring to come from up and down the lineup this season.
The Rockets got just that on opening night, with four of six goals coming from either first or second-year players.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 what you want from your group, you want your players that have maybe moved up in the lineup and are getting more opportunity this year to create offense and kind of fulfill the role of some of the players that we91裸聊视频檝e lost and that91裸聊视频檚 junior hockey,91裸聊视频� said Rockets head coach Jason Smith.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about developing players, moving them on and players stepping up when they get the opportunity, grow their game and be a big part of your group.91裸聊视频�
Brodan Salmond, the Rockets newly-appointed No. 1 goaltender stopped 33 shots and had his shutout broken by a pair of Kamloops goals three minutes apart late in the third period.
Defenceman Cal Foote celebrated his first game as Rockets91裸聊视频� captain with three assists and was named the game91裸聊视频檚 first star.
Foote, 19, was announced as the 23rd captain in club history earlier in the day.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a huge honour, you look at the wall here and a lot of them have captaincies, very honoured and it91裸聊视频檚 a dream to be a captain of an organization like the Kelowna Rockets,91裸聊视频� said Foote, a draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Serving as alternate captains to Foote will be forward Dillon Dube and 20-year-old defencemen Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsendager.
Dube remains with the NHL91裸聊视频檚 Calgary Flames and didn91裸聊视频檛 play with Kelowna Friday.
The Rockets and Blazers will meet again tomorrow night in Kamloops.
