The Kelowna Rockets were at home Friday night and playing in their first game since trading several key players and firing their head coach.
The Rockets faced the Prince George Cougars and got off to a rough start after giving up a pair of early goals, but the team fought back to take the 6-3 win.
"I was really proud of our group tonight. They found the reason they love this game and we saw that passion,” said interim head coach Derrick Martin.
“It was as close to a 60-minute performance that we've seen from this group in a while. It feels really good."
Down 2-0 late in the first period, captain Max Graham put the Rockets on the board to cut the lead in half.
The Rockets continued their push in the middle frame and Jakub Stancl got past Cooper Michaluk to tie the game.
After Prince George regained control a few minutes later, Stancl once again tied the game with his second goal of the night.
With the game tied 3-3, the Rockets wasted no time in the final frame and Will Sharpe, who recently joined the team after being acquired from Lethbridge, put Kelowna ahead 37 seconds into the period.
As the fans were still celebrating Sharpe’s first score as a Rocket, Dawson Gerwing scored his first goal as a Rocket nine seconds later.
Stancl then completed the hat trick halfway through the period to finish the night with five points as Kelowna took the win.
Jake Pilon made 32 saves on 35 shots against a strong Prince George team and Martin got his first win as the team’s newest head coach.
The Rockets will face the Vancouver Giants on the road tonight to end their weekend schedule.
Kelowna’s next home game is on Wednesday and it will be a special one as Andrew Cristall, the Rockets' second all-time leading scorer, plays his first game at Prospera Place since being traded to Spokane.
