Morning Star Staff
Winnipeg Jets’ draft pick Eric Comrie did all that was humanly possible, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday night.
Gage Quinney scored at 18:32 of overtime in Kennewick, Wash as the Rockets clipped the Tri-City Americans 5-4 to sweep the Western Hockey League first-round playoff series.
Rourke Chartier and Madison Bowey scored twice each for the Rockets who fired 71 shots at Comrie and overcame a 4-1 second-period deficit before 2,819 fans.
Michael Herringer made 11 saves on as many shots in the Rockets’ goal after replacing Jackson Whistle late in the second period.
The Rockets will await the the results of the first round and will meet either Victoria, Prince George or Spokane in the Western Conference semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Red Deer Rebels shaded the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 2-1 Wednesday night before 5,371 fans at the Enmax Centrium.
Vernon’s Cole Sanford, who had 50 goals on the season, scored for the Tigers, who lead the series 2-1. Game 4 went Thursday night in Red Deer.
“We just need guys to step up and find a way,” Sanford told the Medicine Hat News. “We’ve got to bear down. Our power play was good today, but we had that five-on-three there in the second and had a ton of chances. It’s just about finding a way to score I guess. It’s a tough series. If anyone thought this was going to be a walk in the park for us, they’re wrong.”
Ex-Vernon Viper Adam Tambellini had 1+3 as the Calgary Hitmen shelled the Kootenay Ice 7-2 Wednesday. Tambellini scored at 1:12 of overtime for his hat trick in an 8-7 overtime win Tuesday night.
