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Rockets stop Chiefs for fourth straight win

Kelowna gets redemption for 6-2 loss two weeks ago in Spokane
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Dillon Dube fires a shot at Chiefs’ netminder Donovan Busky in WHL action Friday in Spokane. -Image: Larry Brunt

Carsen Twarynski and Dillon Dube each had a goal and an assist to lead the Kelowna Rockets to a 4-2 WHL victory Friday over the hometown Spokane Chiefs.

The Rockets (16-8-2-1), who have won four straight games, avenged a 6-2 loss to Dan Lambert’s Chiefs two weeks ago in Spokane.

Spokane’s Zach Fischer opened the scoring with 1:04 to go in the first and the Chiefs held a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.

The Rockets scored three unanswered second period goals. Carsen Twarynski, with his 19th, got Kelowna on the board 41 seconds into the middle period. Nolan Foote pulled the Rockets ahead by one at 6:08. Rookie Liam Kindreegave Kelowna a two goal cushion at 10:58 and they held onto a 3-1 lead through 40 minutes.

At 14:49 of the final frame, Dillon Dube continued the Rockets recent trend of shorthanded goals scoring Kelowna’s fourth man-short marker in as many games as well as his second in as many games to pull Kelowna ahead by three.

Luke Toporowski drew Spokane within two at 18:44.

Kelowna enjoyed multi-point evenings from Dillon Dube(1G, 1A), and Carsen Twarynski(1G, 1A).

James Porter’s record improves to 12-4-2-0 after stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced. The Chiefs outshot the Rockets 33-25.

Kelowna heads back home for a meeting Saturday with the Kootenay Ice for the fifth annual Teddy Bear Toss.

The Teddy Bear Toss is an annual event in which fans bring new teddy bears to the game and when the Rockets score their first goal of the night, the fans let the bears rain. The Rockets donate the bears collected to the patients of the Kelowna General Hospital over the holidays. Last season Rockets fans contributed to three full truck-loads of teddy bears that were all delivered to K.G.H.

Saturday night is the final home game before the Christmas break as the Rockets embark on a six-game prairie road trip through Saskatchewan starting on Dec. 8 in Regina.