The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Calgary Hitmen 8-2 on Wednesday night in Prospera Place in Kelowna.
Calgary opened the scoring halfway through the first period but when Mark Kastelic of the Hitmen was assessed a major for charging after he ran over Kole Lind, the Rockets were awarded a five minute power play.
Dillon Dube scored first on the man advantage for the Rockets. Just under two minutes after that Calvin Thurkauf scored to pull the Rockets ahead. Nick Merkley scored for Kelowna before the period was out and the Rockets carried a 3-1 lead into the first break.
The Hitmen scored 20 seconds into the middle frame to draw within one before momentum shifted and the Rockets took over. First Nolan Foote scored his 11th of the year. A minute and a half later Merkley scored his second of the night. Seventeen seconds after that Thurkauf scored his second of the night and just three minutes following Thurkauf's goal, Dube scored his second of the night. The Rockets took a commanding 7-2 lead into the final stanza.
Devante Stephens scored his ninth of the season early in the third and that would be the final strike of the evening as the Rockets cruised home with an 8-2 win.
Dube, Thurkauf, and Merkley each had two goals and two assists in the contest.
The Rockets improve to 28-19-4-0 on the season.
Michael Herringer collected the win with a save effort advancing him to 21-12-3-0 on the year.
The Rockets are back in action on Friday when they visit the Prince George Cougars for the first of two back-to-back games.
Kelowna’s next home game is Feb. 10, when they host the Vancouver Giants at Prospera Place.