Rockets blow out T-Birds 7-3

By Andrew Eide

The Thunderbirds were in Kelowna Monday afternoon for a rare weekday matinee with the Rockets on Family Day in British Columbia. Kelowna were not generous hosts as they beat Seattle 7-3.

Kelowna got two goals from Tryell Goulbourne and built a five-goal lead that Seattle was not able to recover from. Seattle goalie Taran Kozun got the start but was pulled after allowing four goals in the first two periods. It was the most goals Kozun has allowed since joining the Thunderbirds.

The Rockets scored twice in the first period as Gouldbourne and Ryan Olsen both found the back of the Seattle net. Down two goals, the T-Birds were unable to get back into the game as they surrendered three more goals in the second period.

Trailing by five goals the T-Birds managed to pick up goals from Jerret Smith, Ethan Bear and Alex Delnov in the third period but the tallies were too little too late.

Seattle came into the game playing stout on defense. The seven goals allowed was the most since they beat Prince George 9-7 on January 7th. Since then they had not allowed more than three goals in any game. The loss was only Kozun’s second as a member of the T-Birds as his record falls to 9-2.

The T-Birds have the remainder of the week to lick their wounds and get ready for a big three-in-three weekend. They kick it off with a home game against Tri City on Friday, then travel to Everett on Saturday before returning home to take on Prince George Sunday afternoon.

Follow Andrew on Twitter @andyeide