Rockets grounded in Winnipeg

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/12/2019 (1592 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Connor McClennon is known for his flair with the puck.

But Wednesday night, the speedy 17-year-old Winnipeg Ice right-winger scored two goals that were equal parts perserverance and good luck. 

He caught a break to snap a scoreless tie late in the second period and then slammed home the game-winner early in the third to lift the Ice to a 3-1 Western Hockey League victory over the Kelowna Rockets at Wayne Fleming Arena. 

McClennon’s opening goal came on a sharp-angle shot that struck Kelowna’s Cole Schwebius in the glove before bouncing over the Rockets goaltender and trickling into the net.

The second goal, his 11th of the season, resulted when McClennon capitalized on Jakin Smallwood’s rebound, shovelling the puck past Schwebius at 4:37. 

“I just got enough of it to get it by,” said a smiling McClennon, who almost completed his second career hat trick later in the period — only to be denied by Schwebius.

“I’m just happy they’re starting to go in. At the start of the year I was having to earn everything I got, so to get a couple of lucky ones, I guess, is kinda rewarding.”

The Ice started the game without the services of veteran forwards Peyton Krebs, Michal Teply, Nino Kinder (all away with their respective national junior teams) and the injured Mike Milne, which represented 30 of the club’s 104 goals in 2019-20. And it showed.

With a depleted offence, McClennon understands more of the scoring burden falls on him. 

“I try not to put too much pressure on myself,” said McClennon. “Obviously, there is a little bit. We’re missing three guys that play in the top six. My minutes go up, important minutes in the last couple of minutes of the game. I’m just trying to contribute any way I can.”

Kelowna, playing the fourth game of a six-game East Division road trip which included a 2-1 shootout win against the Wheat Kings in Brandon Tuesday night, was without leading scorer Nolan Foote, who is attending Team Canada’s selection camp. The Rockets dominated in the faceoff circle by going 34-for-53 but like the hosts, had trouble generating dangerous scoring chances.

Smallwood, with his ninth of teh season, also scored for the winners, who now head out on the road for games in Prince Albert and Regina on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Newcomer Liam Hughes, making his third consecutive start in the Winnipeg net, was denied his first career shutout by Jake Lee’s goal with less than eight minutes remaining. He finished with 32 saves.

Kelowna’s Schwebius had 24 stops.

The victory was Winnipeg’s eighth straight on home ice, tying the Kamloops Blazers for the WHL’s longest home winning streak this season.

The Ice are second in the East Division at 18-11-1-0.

The Rockets, who had won the first three games of their six-game East Division road trip, dropped to 17-9-1-2.

 

NOTEWORTHY: Three stars: 1. Connor McClennon, Winnipeg (two goals); 2. Jakin Smallwood, Winnipeg (one goal, one assist); 3. Liam Hughes, Winnipeg (32 saves)… Winnipeg went 0-for-5 on the power play. Kelowna was 0-for-4… Announced attendance was 1,621.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14