STRATHROY—
A pair of big wins over the weekend has pushed Strathroy back up to 4th in the Western Conference, 21 games into the season.
Saturday, the Rockets welcomed Lasalle to the WMMC for the first time this year. Coming off a 3-1 loss to those same Vipers just 3 nights earlier, it was another tightly contested game from the start. The first goal didn’t come until late in the 2nd, when a shot to the net bounced off the knee of Owen Doherty and into the back of the net with 4:27 to go in the period. In the third, the Vipers came out flying, pressing for the game tying goal. With just over 3 minutes to go Strathroy would be nailed with a pair of penalties, putting them down two men for 2 full minutes. The PK stayed strong, killing off the penalties and getting the game to its final minute with the Rockets leading by a goal. With the net empty and extra attacker on, Lasalle would score on a point shot with 9 seconds left in the game, sending us to overtime. In the extra period, with chances go between the two clubs, it was Dylan Richter, scoring his 14th of the season to give the Rockets a big 2-1 win at home! Dylan Grover would make 31 saves for the win in net for Strathroy. He improves to 3-0 in net for the Rockets.
After a big win Saturday night, it was a quick turnaround for the Rockets, heading to Komoka on Sunday to face the Kings. This time, they didn’t wait to get on the scoreboard, when Andrew Jaques found the back of the net 50 seconds in. A lengthy Powerplay halfway through the period would allow Will Hull and Brennan Faulkner to each score, and it was 3-0 before the first intermission! And early 2nd period goal by Caden Faulkner made it 4-0 for Strathroy, before the Kings got a couple back midway through to make it 4-2 heading to the third. In the final frame, the Kings scored early to get back in to a single goal deficit. Dylan Richter would score at the 8:35 mark of the period, regaining the 2 goal lead for Strathroy. A kings goal with the net empty would make it close again, but the Rockets would hold on to win 5-4! Five different rockets found the back of the net, while Liam Reid made 35 saves in net for the win.
Strathroy hosts Komoka on Tuesday night at the WMMC, puck drop is at 7:30pm.
