The Victoria Royals had their four-game Western Hockey League winning streak snapped Wednesday night in a 6-3 loss to the Rockets at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
The Rockets (7-4-1), meanwhile, improved their winning roll to four consecutive victories.
The score was tied 3-3 midway through the second period before the Rockets record three unanswered goals. Kelowna outshot Victoria 45-28 on a busy night for Royals goaltender Jayden Kraus.
Andrew Cristall, selected by the Washington Capitals as the 40th overall pick in the second round of this year’s NHL draft and named WHL player of the week for his nine points in three games, continued on his tear with seek with a goal and two assists against the Royals. Scoring for Kelowna and adding an assist was Tij Iginla, the son of former Calgary Flames NHL great Jarome Iginla, and ranked for the second or third rounds of the 2024 NHL draft.
Tanner Scott led Victoria with a goal and assist. Also scoring was Teydon Trembecky and rookie Cole Reschny.
The Royals (6-6-0) are at the Langley Events Centre to meet the Vancouver Giants (3-5-1) on Friday night before the second leg of the cross-strait derby on Saturday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
