Rockets top Chiefs for 18th straight home win

KELOWNA, British Columbia – The Kelowna Rockets tied a club record with their 18th consecutive home win on Wednesday by holding off the Spokane Chiefs 5-3 in Western Hockey League play at Prospera Place. Colton Sissons and Rourke Chartier had one goal and one assists apiece as the Rockets (32-10-2-1) won for the ninth time in their last 10 games and the 24th time in their last 29. The Rockets led 4-0 when Spokane scored three times in a span of 7 minutes, 37 seconds of the final period. Todd Fiddler has his team-high 29th goal at 10:16 and Alessio Bertaggia, acquired in a trade last week with Brandon, scored his first two goals with Spokane, shorthanded at 16:36 and on a power play at 17:53. Zach Franko’s empty-net goal with 1:02 left gave the Rockets some breathing room. Kelowna is 19-2 at home this year. Their last home loss came against Spokane, 6-4 on Oct. 10 in the teams’ first matchup of the season. Kelowna has outscored rivals 54-26 during its last 10 games. The Rockets have surpassed by one their win total of last year. Spokane (28-15-1-0, 57 points) had won four of its last five. Ryan Olsen’s backhander on a power play 3:03 into the game started the scoring. Kelowna outshot the Chiefs 7-3 in the period. Rockets captain Sissons, Chartier and Tyrell Goulbourne added goals during the second period. The 16-year-old Chartier scored after batting the puck out of midair. The Chiefs replaced goaltender Eric Williams midway through the second period, after he had allowed four goals on 19 shots. Backup Garret Hughson stopped all 13 shots he faced. The Chiefs are 13-10-1-0 on the road this season.