Rockets roll through Victoria Royals in 9-2 victory

Published 10:46 am Sunday, March 8, 2026

The Kelowna Rockets could not be stopped on Saturday night, as the team completed a 9-2 victory against the Victoria Royals.

The game on March 7 was perhaps most memorable for the WHL veteran Mazden Leslie. With one goal and an assist this game, the Rockets defenceman has surpassed the 250-point milestone in his career.

This season, Mazden held has put up 61 points in his first year for the Rockets, making this statistically his second best season on his WHL record, only surpassed by his performance last year with the Vancouver Giants, putting up 72 points.

Elsewhere during the March 7 game against the Royals, Tij Iginla can say he had a hand in five of the nine goals scored by Kelowna.

The 6th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Iginla continued his hot streak on Saturday night as the centre-man put up four assists and collected one goal.

For the team overall, Kelowna was able to out-shoot and outscore the Royals throughout all 60-minutes of play.

Four goals from Shane Smith, Keith McInnis, Hayden Paupanekis and Rowan Guest in the first period allowed Kelowna to establish a solid lead.

The Royals were able to get a pair of goals from Health Nelson and Eli McKamey in the first and second periods gave Victoria something to walk home with.

But after the second goal from the Royals, Kelowna would score another five unanswered goals to dominate the rest of the second period, as well as the third.

With the win, Kelowna remains in fourth place in the WHL Western Conference with a record of 35-19-6-2.

As the Rockets are currently tied in points with the Prince George Cougars, they will have the chance to jump in the third place tonight on March 8, as they play the Vancouver Giants in Langley.