If the Cariboo Cougars are the measuring stick for the rest of the B.C. Major Midget League, then the Okanagan Rockets are, at minimum, a very close second.
The Rockets stayed well within striking distance of top spot, earning a split of two games with the front-running Cougars over the weekend at the Capital News Centre.
The second-place Rockets (15-4-0-1) remain four points back of the first-place Cougars, now 17-2-1-0.
On Saturday afternoon, Cariboo scored with just 36 seconds remaining in the third period to scratch out a 4-3 win over the Rockets.
Jeff Karpowich, Coleton Bilodeau and Mitchell Gove scored the goals for the home side.
On Sunday, Max Kryski and Wyatt Head’s matching two-goal efforts paced the Rockets to a 4-2 win.
Owen Partrick was solid in the Okanagan net making 36 saves for his ninth win of the campaign.
Rockets bounce back and hand the top ranked Cougars their 2nd loss of the year!! pic.twitter.com/W54MRXAsXH
— Okanagan Rockets (@OkanaganRockets) December 5, 2016
The Rockets will be on the road to Abbotsford this weekend for games Saturday and Sunday against the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.