Played on Oct 8, 2025
Game Played in CN Center
General Game Notes: One of the more exciting games of the year this year with a late comeback from the Rockets and a third period that produced five of the nine goals scored in the game. The Rockets stunned their opponents with two goals in the final minute, the first to tie it and the second to win it, capping off an incredible finish.
Mazden Leslie (D, R, 6’1″, 201, Kelowna Rockets, 04/15/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Leslie’s skill set is highlighted by his ability to pick and choose when to engage in play, showcasing excellent spatial awareness. He demonstrated this by scoring a goal, using a late wave to create space and beat the goalie with a well-placed snap shot. His willingness to wait for openings in the neutral zone allowed him to maintain possession and extend plays through the ice. Leslie also showed impressive agility, able to navigate through forechecking pressure and evade multiple opponents.
1 Viewing
Comments: Leslie moves really well for his size. He is not the biggest player but his size suggests that he at least would be a little more sluggish on the puck and this is not the case. He does a good job at distributing from the blue line, able to draw opponents in with his deception and find feeds that have small targets. Because of his mobility, he is able to keep tighter gaps on the rush with helps his overall defensive game and transition. He created turnovers in the neutral zone, found this right up plays and then joined the rush entering as the late man in.
Connor Pankratz (RW, R, 5’10”, 174, Kelowna Rockets, 01/12/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Pankratz picked up a nice goal following up a teammates rush and collecting a rebound that he was able to win position on and put his team within one late in the third. Despite his smaller size, he did a good job tonight at winning these little battles showing his compete level. His consistency shift to shift was something noticeable. One shift he would get the puck at the wing and fly out of the zone, next shift he took his time with the breakout and ended up turning the puck over. Being more consistent should help with his offensive possession.
Levi Benson (LW, L, 5’7″, 156, Kelowna Rockets, 10/04/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Benson is as agile with his movement as he is with his feet. He does a good job at using them in unison where it makes it harder for larger, slower footed defenseman to cover the same ice as quick as he does. His perimeter play attracts eyeballs because you never know when he is going to cut to the inside and make his play. Couple times tonight cutting into the middle, he was able to get a quality shot or attempt off, couple other times, someone stepped up and he was easily removed from the play showing a little bit of risk to his game.
Carson Wetsch (RW, R, 6’1″, 200, Kelowna Rockets, 05/04/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Carson Wetsch displayed impressive hand skills during a fast break, showcasing quick movement and control with the puck on both hands. He effectively used these skills to create scoring opportunities, including a shot that narrowly missed its mark. In one-on-one situations, Wetsch demonstrated agility and ability to beat players, often looking to exploit small gaps in coverage. However, his game was sometimes marked by risk-taking, which led to forced plays. To improve, Wetsch could benefit from better situational awareness, as he occasionally struggled to pick the right moment to unleash his more advanced skills. Overall, Wetsch’s stick-handling abilities remain a notable aspect of his game.
1 Viewing
Comments: Wetsch is a big forward who uses his towering frame to provide most of his value. He can effectively use his size and strength to provide defensive value. He is a true threat in the trenches, whether he is in front of the net battling for position or in the corners fighting for pucks. He was able to show tonight that he does not lack the tools to do much with the puck once he gains possession of it. His agility in small areas could improve but straight line speed was solid and showed this with the rushes he was able to provide, along with three assists on the night.
Kayden Longley (LW, L, 6’2″, 180, Kelowna Rockets, 01/09/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Longley deserves a star in tonights game due to his efforts on his teams first goal of the game. Shorthanded, he worked a full shift in his own zone blocking a shot, pinning a guy, then creating a turnover. After the turnover, he found gas in his tank to beat out the defenseman back door and received a pass off the rush he was able to get over a sliding goalies glove. Longley has a sturdy frame that he showed on his goal along with some impressive speed and this combination he has makes it harder for smaller defenseman to compete against him. As one of the more skilled players on the ice, he stepped up in tonight’s game.
Rowan Guest (D, L, 6’5″, 201, Kelowna Rockets, 01/31/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Guest showed tonight that he is a body first, stick second, puck third is kind of the order of ways that he plays defense. He is one of the bigger players on the ice and because of this, he takes it into his own hands to provide the physicality almost every shift. He makes a good first outlet pass but if that pass is not open, it is hard for him to find a second option. When he reads the play right, he closes well but when he misses his cue to go by a second, he is extra slow to close allowing smaller forwards to find better ice. He does have the ability to move the puck and when he connects these passes it also massively helps his defensive value.
Hiroki Gojsic (RW, R, 6’3″, 202, Kelowna Rockets, 05/01/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: The obvious intangible that Gojsic has is his size. He was able to tie the game up in a similar way from the previous goal, flying down the wing and just blowing one by the goalie from a bit of a distance. During his release, he dropped to one knee, showing the power he was able to get behind his shot. He is quick for his size, he has two options of beating defenders, with speed and size. At times tonight he was a bit over offensive minded, couple by passes to a turned over puck that has the other team going the other way with numbers. The stop and starts aspect to his game are limited with the amount of speed he wants to play with.
Carson Carels (D, L, 6’2″, 197, Prince George Cougars, 06/23/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Carels has the size to be effective physically but tends to be stick first. He is dynamic in the offensive zone but did not show that same grit in his own zone, because where he struggles is winning a lot of board battles or muscling his way to pucks. He can be a huge help with zone exits and be the force that kills the opponents possession in his end by carrying or passing the puck out of his zone. Tight power turns and cutting corners with his skating help open up the ice he likes to attack. Two assists on the night says he understands what to do in the offensive zone whether that is deciding to get a shot on net, or be evasive and create a lane to make a nice pass.
Kooper Gizowski (F, L, 5’9″, 177, Prince George Cougars, 05/05/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Gizowski was able to show off his one timer on the first goal of the game where he was able to unleash one from the flanker position on the power play. The smaller forward showed all game how well he can handle the puck and the cliche trait with his size and ability to stickhandle is that he is not have a strong shot. This does not apply to Gizowski. He is all offense at times, working hard twice as hard on the forecheck as he does on the back check but when it comes to offense, he is one of the more skilled players on the ice.
Aiden Foster (LW, L, 6’2″, 184, Prince George Cougars, 02/25/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Foster’s physicality allows him to dominate board battles, showcasing his ability to win possession reliably. However, his overall skill set falls short of elite standards. His skating and consistency are not as refined, which limits his effectiveness in creating scoring opportunities beyond the net. While Foster excels in tight spaces, using his body to create scoring chances, he struggles with perimeter play due to his weaker skating ability. On defense, Foster often lacks focus and positioning, making him a liability in shutting down opponents. Despite physical attributes that suggest defensive upside, his current game is marred by inconsistency on this end.
1 Viewing
Comments: Foster picked up a nice and important goal at the start of the third period where he was able to get a stick on a point shot tipping it past the goalie. He has some great size that allows him to be on pucks first and create turnovers defensively. Instead of out muscling, he uses his long reach and longer stride to disrupt. On the flips side, smaller forwards at times found ways to exploit this reach by putting pucks through his triangle and his feet. Some footwork defensively could help defend versus players with hands.
Riley Ashe (RW, R, 6’1″, 200, Prince George Cougars, 01/30/2006, Nebraska Omaha)
Game Rating
B
Riley Ashe showcased his impressive skills during tonight’s game, scoring a highlight-reel goal that tied the score in the first period. His move at the net was particularly noteworthy, as he demonstrated his agility and hand-eye coordination with a forehand-backhand combo on a breakaway. The goal highlighted Ashe’s ability to finish in close and showcased his puck-handling skills. However, it’s worth noting that his positioning allowed him to capitalize on a turnover and create this scoring opportunity. Overall, Ashe’s hands are one of his most valuable assets, and he consistently demonstrates his potential as a skilled player.
1 Viewing
Comments: Buried a goal on a breakaway absolutely firing it in the net. He looked like he powered this goal into the net and was out of the net before people knew it went in. He was able to find himself sprung using his speed in the neutral zone and finding a seam up the gut. Ashe was able to show that same power his shot has in the corners and along the walls tonight. He does not get bumped off the puck easy and has a nasty puck protection game. He uses his body well and gets around the puck making it harder for smaller defenders to play a body on him, they are forced to use their stick and he takes advantage of this physically.
Jett Lajoie (LW, R, 6’0″, 196, Prince George Cougars, 02/05/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Lajoie can shoot the puck. Scored a nice goal coming down the wing and with just pure power, beat the goalie glove side from a bit of a distance. He is not selfish by being over selfless with the puck, he takes his chances when they are given to him and takes some chances that may not be as clear. With a shot as quick and powerful as his, all chances seem like good ones to take. When Lajoie is at his best when he is using his size and speed to create space. An example is when lowers a shoulder to find a better spot off the rush to shoot the puck. He has a solid board game being able to hold on to pucks longer along the wall than others.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images