Rockets drop 5th straight

The Kelowna Rockets slow start to the 2024-2025 Western Hockey League season continue in Spokane Friday night.

The Rockets dropped their fifth straight to open the season, falling 5-3 to the Chiefs.

Kelowna trailed 3-0 after one and fell behind 5-1 midway through the third before Jakub Stancl completed his first career WHL hat trick - his first three goals in a Rockets uniform.

Shea Van Olm and Mathis Preston each scored twice for the Chiefs in the victory while Barkley Catton, in his third game back after his first NHL training camp scored his first of the campaign.

Trailing 3-0 in the third, Stancl potted his first as a Rocket on a power play just 62 seconds into the final frame, but goals from Van Olm and Preston all but put the game out of reach.

Stancl completed his hat trick with a shorthanded goal 90 seconds after the Chiefs made it 5-1 then completed the hat trick at even strength late in the contest.

Jari Kykkanen turned aside 30 shots in the defeat.

The game marked the return of Max Graham to the lineup after he was sent back to the Rockets from the New Jersey Devils earlier in the day.

The Rockets are off to their worst start since the team moved to Kelowna.

They will try and find the win column Saturday when they conclude their two-game road trip in Tri-City.