The Calgary Rockies skated to a hard-fought 5-3 victory over Coquitlam HC in a Junior Prospects Hockey League matchup defined by a wild second period. The game was a goaltending duel early, with Coquitlam's Jack Swan and Calgary's Luca Mummery holding firm against a barrage of shots. The Rockies finally broke through in the final minute of the opening frame, as Evan Paxton scored to give the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission. The floodgates opened in the second, however, as the teams combined for five goals in a frantic twenty minutes. Coquitlam's Minjun Kang answered quickly to tie the game, but Calgary responded with goals from Joshua Monteith and Dawson Berdula to surge ahead 3-1. Coquitlam captain Brayden Sloan cut the deficit to one with a key goal, but a major boarding penalty assessed to Sloan late in the period proved costly. On the ensuing power play, Matteo Shular capitalized for the Rockies, netting what would stand as the game-winning goal.
Despite being outshot 32-34, the Rockies' efficiency and disciplined play after the penalty-filled second period made the difference. Coquitlam showed resilience in the third, with Luca Allegretto scoring early to make it a 4-3 game and applying heavy pressure. However, goaltender Luca Mummery was a wall for Calgary, turning aside all six third-period shots to preserve the lead. The Rockies' defense locked down in the final minutes, limiting Coquitlam's chances before Evan Paxton sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final seconds, completing his multi-point night. For Coquitlam, the loss was a story of missed opportunities and penalty trouble, as they couldn't overcome the major infraction and a 0-for-3 performance on their own power plays.
The game showcased the offensive talents on both sides, with Calgary's Evan Paxton (2 goals, 1 assist) and Matteo Shular (1 goal, 1 assist) leading the charge. For Coquitlam, the line of Minjun Kang, Jaxon Robinson, and Rayhan Patel connected for a nice goal, while Jack Swan made a valiant 44-save effort in a losing cause. In the end, the Calgary Rockies' ability to capitalize on their chances and weather Coquitlam's early shot advantage proved decisive in securing the road victory.
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