Zach Pantelakis in action against the Kelowna Rockets on Feb. 9, 2024. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Zach Pantelakis’ first career WHL goal was nothing more than a consolation as the Kamloops Blazers fell 6-3 to the Kelowna Rockets Friday night.
The Rockets picked up their second win in five meetings against the Blazers, to improve to 24-24-3-0 on the season. They sit in third place in the B.C. Division and sixth in the Western Conference.
Kelowna scored six unanswered goals on the night, with four of those – from Hiroki Gojsic, Max Graham, Gabriel Szturc, and Luke Schelter – coming in the first period at Sandman Centre.
Caden Price and Andrew Cristall added to the Rockets lead in the second before Emmitt Finnie extended his point streak to ten games with a power play goal at 16:15.
King Emmitt 👑 pic.twitter.com/kSR1MrLsPi
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 10, 2024
Finnie – who was named third star on the night – scored his second early in the third period, before Pantelakis’ rounded out the scoring with a minute left to play, giving the rookie something to cheer about.
Double trouble ✌️ pic.twitter.com/JUCS8rdhFQ
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 10, 2024
Congrats Zach on your first WHL goal! 🎉🚨 pic.twitter.com/ktPPaeeLAC
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 10, 2024
Jari Kykkanen stopped 45 of 47 Kamloops shots to pick up the win Friday night. The Blazers’ Dylan Ernst made 22 saves on 28 shots in a losing effort.
Kelowna’s Marek Rocak, who picked up four assists was named first star on the night. Kamloops native Jordan Keller was credited with a pair of assists on Finnie’s goals.
The Blazers, who have won six of their last nine games, drop to 15-30-3-2 on the season, and remain in last place in the WHL.
The two B.C. Division rivals will rematch in Kelowna on Saturday night, in what will be the sixth of eight meetings this season.
