The Okanagan Rockets handed the Vancouver Northwest Giants their first loss of the season, then settled for a weekend split with their longtime rivals in B.C. Major Midget League action.
On Saturday afternoon at CNC, the Rockets ended the Giants’ four-game win streak to start the season with a 5-2 victory.
Chase Stevenson led the Rockets with a pair of goals in his BCMML debut, while Alec Zawatsky, Hayden Dick and Spencer Hora also tallied in the win.
Cole Demers was again solid in goal for the home side, stopping 38 of 40 shots.
On Sunday, the Rockets (3-2-1) couldn’t duplicate their offensive effort of a day earlier and fell 2-0 to the Giants.
Beck Warm made 15 of his 33 saves in the third period to earn the shutout for Vancouver.
Overall, Rockets GM Braeden Pistawka was pleased with his team’s effort against the first-place Giants, now 5-1-0.
“Obviously we would have liked to have swept and moved into first, but on Saturday we played a full 60 minutes for the first time this year and that was good to see,” Pistawka said. “On Sunday, the puck luck didn’t our way and that’s very good hockey team over there.
“I’m happy overall with the way the guys worked.”
Next weekend, the Rockets will be in Victoria for two games against the South Island Royals.
Guison named captain…
First-year defenceman Shawn Guison will head up the Rockets’ leadership group for the 2015-16 BCCML season.
Guison, who was part of two B.C. tier 1 championships with the Kelowna midget Rockets, was named the team’s captain prior to their weekend series with the Giants.
“Shawn is not only a mature young man who is well respected by our group, but he knows what it takes to win,” said Rockets GM Braeden Pistawka, “He has been a part of two provincial championship teams and understands the buy-in it must take from all of our players to succeed.”
The Rockets also named second-year forward Zach Erhardt as an assistant captain. Ehhardt, 17, had 30 points in 40 games with Okanagan last season.
Pistawka said other assistant captains will be named as the season progresses.
