The Golden Rockets are only one win away from reaching the third round of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoffs after a 6-3 victory over the Fernie Ghostriders on Saturday (March 9) night.
Both teams came out playing tight in all zones in the first period of game four after a high scoring affair the night before. Neither team could get on the scoreboard until Ian Desrosier flicked a wrist shot on net from the centre ice area that somehow found its way past Fernie goalie Chris Solecki, a little over 12 minutes into the first period.
Things would stay that way until Michael Anderson gave the Rockets a two-goal lead midway through the second period.
Just when it seemed the Rockets were taking control of the game, Rockets blue liner Brad Orr gave the puck away in his own zone that led to a 2 on 0 rush for the Ghostriders. Fernie got their first goal of the game on the giveaway from Derek Chudyk.
The Rockets were outshooting Fernie heavily going into the third period, but only held a 2-1 lead.
Early in the third period Rockets forward Keith Wake scored his fifth goal of the playoffs which was followed up a little over three minutes later when Connor Beauchemin netted his 10th goal of the post season.
Fernie struck back 26 seconds after the Beauchemin goal with a power play goal from Tyler Gonzales.
However the comeback was cut short as the Rockets scored two more goals from Bobby Kashuba and Jacob Bergeron.
After the Rockets got into late penalty trouble, Fernie scored once more but the game would end with the Rokcets going up 3-1 in the series.
Afterwards, head coach of the Rockets, Ty Davidson, said he was very happy with the performance of the team.
“We are a step closer but it is not a done deal yet. We are going to keep our heads about this thing We have to figure out a way to be a little more effective offensively in their arena. We are going to address that in practice,” he said. “We want to finish this in Fernie.”
