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| Jon Howe Photo |
I have seen many things in my 21 years in the Western Hockey League. This will go down as one of the most memorable comebacks in Kelowna Rockets franchise history.
It may trump 'Tyson Time, Tyson Baillie's game winning goal in the 2013 playoffs when the Rockets lost the first three games to Seattle only to win the next four in advancing to the second round. As dramatic of a comeback bid that it was against the T-Birds, you could prepare yourself emotionally as the momentum appeared to change hands.
In the Rockets second round series against Victoria, and in game seven the way it went down, no one could prepare you for that end result.
With only four Kelowna Rockets scoring chances through the first-two periods, the Royals looked like they were on their way to a game clinching playoff win. With a 2-1 lead and a capacity crowd of 7 thousand on their feet in the dying seconds, goaltender Michael Herringer was pulled in an effort to find the equalizing goal. But it was too late right? The 'Hockey God's' don't reward a team for lacklustre play through 2/3's of the game?
Hold the phone!!
It was painful to see the puck tied up in the corner in the Royals zone as the clock quickly wound down. Then, out of nowhere, the puck popped loose and landed on 20 year-old Logan Fisher's stick. The Royals forward was unable to clear it past rookie defenceman Cal Foote, who was situated at the right point. Foote, with ice in his veins wouldn't shoot it, but passed it to team-mate Justin Kirkland who wired a shot past Royals goaltender Coleman Vollrath with .2 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Game tied 2-2.
We were off to overtime.
Then in extra time, Calvin Thaurkauf, who had not scored in 13 previous playoff games, would fire a puck, on a broken play at the right face-off circle, through the legs of Vollrath and the improbable comeback was realized.
Again, it will go down, single handily, as the greatest comeback in a single game in Kelowna Rockets franchise history.
I'm just glad I was in the building to witness it and behind the mic to call it.
1 comment:
I couldn't listen to replays of your goal call enough times, Regan. Every time, when you have that dejected "we lost, but may as well listen through to the bitter end" feeling, the anticipated loss occurs. EVERY time, but not this time.
A win like this does more than provide momentum in the playoffs, or even simply a pass to the next round. This sort of win adds to that bit of magic that other teams find very difficult to overcome in future years - an uncomfortable sense that the Rockets are never beaten. It can live on years after such an epic win, and bring victories that really should have been defeats.
Looking forward to another series of epic game calls!
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