Rockets hit win column

The Kelowna Rockets are finally off the schneid.

The Rockets earned their first win of the Western Hockey League season Saturday night, a 2-1 victory in Tri-City.

The win ends the Rockets franchise worst 0-5 start to a season.

Goaltender Jake Pilon, seeing his first action of the season, stopped 31 shots to get the Rockets their first victory.

He was named the game’s first star.

Michael Cicek helped provide all the offence Pilon would need, scoring once and setting up Caden Ptrice’s game winner.

After a scoreless first period, the Rockets again gave up the game’s first goal when Austin Zemlak fired a wrist shot from the high slot that beat a screened Pilon high over the blocker.

But Cicek extended his point streak to six games, banging home a rebound on a Rockets power play midway through the second.

Four minutes later Kayden Longley stripped a Tri-City defender of the puck, got it to Cicek who found Price in the left circle.

Price’s shot from a sharp angle hit an Americans defender and beat Lukas Matecha for what proved to be the game winner.

Cicek leads the Rockets with four goals and seven points on the season.

Longley assisted on both Kelowna goals.

The Rockets shut down the Ams in the third, limiting them to just five shots.

Max Graham, playing his second game since returning from the New Jersey Devils camp made his presence felt, dropping the gloves with Brandon Whynott in the second period.

The Rockets will try to keep things rolling when they ghost the Portland Winterhawks Friday night.