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4-goal second period lifts Kelowna Rockets over Swift Current

Andrew Cristall collected four assists in the win
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Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla (left) celebrates his second period goal with Andrew Cristall (middle) and Gabriel Szturc (right) in the teamÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s 6-3 win against Swift Current on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Prospera Place. (@Kelowna_Rockets/X)

A four-goal second period propelled the Kelowna Rockets to a 6-3 win over the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday night at Prospera Place.

After finding themselves down 2-0 after the first period, the Rockets exploded for four unanswered goals in a span of 10:52.

Max Graham got the offense started when he scored this first of the season at the 5:53 mark of the period.

Special teams were huge for the Rockets once again as they got two powerplay goals in 2:05 from Tij Iginla and captain Gabriel Szturc. IginlaÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s goal was his team-leading ninth of the season while SzturcÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s was his second in three games.

And the 20-year forward wasnÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t done there as he scored the eventually game-winning goal under two minutes later to make it 4-2 after two periods.

Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall assisted on all four second-period goals. He is now fourth in WHL scoring with 18 points in eight games this season.

After the Broncos made it 4-3, the Rockets took a penalty late, giving Swift Current an opportunity 6-on-4 opportunity as they also pulled the goaltender. But on the opportunity, a pass from one Bronco to another was out of reach and ran down the length of the ice into their own empty net, making it 5-3 for the Rockets. Dylan Wightman was credited with the goal, his fifth on the campaign.

Graham would add an empty-net goal, his second goal of the game, making it a 6-3 final. Szturc assisted on the goal, giving him a three-point night.

Goaltender Jari Kykkanen made 28 saves en route to the win.

With the win, the Rockets are back to .500 with a 4-4-1 record, sitting second in the B.C. Division and fourth in the Western Conference.

The Rockets now head to Kennewick, Washington to take on the Tri-City Americans on Friday night, Oct. 20. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.

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Jordy Cunningham

About the Author: Jordy Cunningham

Hailing from Ladner, B.C., I have been passionate about sports, especially baseball, since I was young. In 2018, I graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree
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