A well deserved point

(photo of Myles Bell by Marissa Baecker)

• No Sissons, no Chikie, no quit. The Kelowna Rockets were without leading goal scorer Colton Sissons and 20 year-old Cody Chikie last night in Seattle/Kent. But despite being short staffed, with seven regulars out of the line up, the Rockets erased a 3-1 first period deficit and managed to earn a point in a 4-3 shootout loss. This was a gutsy effort for a team that had six 16 year-old's in the line up and two of their top four point producers sidelined with injury or suspension.

• The Rockets opened the scoring just a minute and 34 seconds into the game on Carter Rigby's 17th goal of the season. The 17 year-old now has four goals in his last five games and is making a strong push for consideration as the rookie of the year. Despite the solid start, several miscues allowed the T-Birds to score three unanswered goals and the Rockets found themselves down 3-1 after one period.

• Zach Franko scored his first goal in 14 games with a second period marker. Franko gathered up the garbage after teammate Tyson Baillie was denied by T-Birds goaltender Calvin Pickard when driving towards the net. Baillie earned the assist despite playing regularly Tuesday night with Brett Bulmer and Carter Rigby.

• The game went into overtime and eventually the shootout when Myles Bell scored on a penalty shot with 53 seconds left in regulation time. The penalty shot was awarded after the T-Birds knocked the net off it's supports while the Rockets were on the power play.

• It was the T-Birds first home ice win of 2012. Seattle had lost eight straight home games prior to Tuesday's shootout. The T-Birds were a 2-0 winner against Moose Jaw on December 30th.

• The best save for Calvin Pickard came in the second period against Rockets rookie defenceman Madison Bowey. Zach Franko located Bowey on a pretty back door pass, but the 19 year-old goaltender slid across to make a terrific stop.

• It marked the 30th time this season the Rockets have been involved in a one goal game.