Nick Merkley scored twice to lead the Kelowna Rockets past the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-1 in WHL action Saturday night at Prospera Place.
On the Rockets 4th Annual Teddy Bear Toss night in support of KGH, Merkley snapped a scoreless tie with a power play goal 6:54 into the middle frame, as bears rained down from the stands.
Merkley added another before the period was over to put the Rockets ahead 2-0 heading into the final 20 minutes, catapulting the Rockets onto the victory.
With the Rockets on a five-minute power play to begin the third, Jake Kryski capitalized to put the Rockets up 3-0.
The Wheat Kings were able to get on the board with just under seven minutes remaining but it wasn’t enough as the Rockets improved to 16-11-1-0 with the win.
Brodan Salmond earned the win in net, stopping 18 shots including a penalty shot in the third period.
Kelowna is back in action on Wednesday in its final game before the Christmas break, hosting Seattle before heading out on its pre-Christmas road trip.