WHL Playoffs: Rockets move on with Game 7 win over Royals

Justin Kirkland tied Game 7 with 0.2 seconds left in regulation, then Calvin Thurkauf won it in OT, as Kelowna Rockets beat the Victoria Royals to advance to the WHL finals.

VICTORIA — Calvin Thurkauf scored 5:56 into overtime as the Kelowna Rockets rallied for a 3-2 win over the Victoria Royals on Tuesday in Game 7 of their Western Hockey League playoff series.

Justin Kirkland scored twice for Kelowna, including the tying goal with one second left in the third period.

Tyler Soy and Alex Forsberg scored first-period goals for the Royals.

Rockets goaltender Michael Herringer made 28 saves as his team advanced to Western Conference championship against the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Victoria’s Coleman Vollrath stopped 22 shots in defeat.

Kelowna was 0 for 4 on the power play while the Royals scored once on three chances with the man advantage.

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REBELS 2 PATS 1

RED DEER, Alta. — Adam Musil scored the tiebreaking goal 12:46 into the third period to lift the Rebels over Regina in the deciding Game 7 of their playoff series.

Adam Helewka also scored for Red Deer, which will face the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Eastern Conference final.

Adam Brooks scored the lone goal for Regina.

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