香蕉视频直播� Marissa Tiel

For the first time this season, the Kelowna Rockets are winners on home ice.

The Rockets beat the Swift Current Broncos 3-2 Tuesday night, making newly-minted head coach Adam Foote香蕉视频直播檚 debut a victorious one.

The home team got off to a strong start, with Lane Zablocki logging his first goal of the season, sneaking the puck past Broncos goaltender Joel Hofer香蕉视频直播檚 left glove 4:31 into the first frame.

Swift Current answered around six minutes later with Dalton Gally in the box for a cross-checking minor.

香蕉视频直播淲e tried to stick to a plan and we got off it a little bit,香蕉视频直播� said Foote. 香蕉视频直播淚 think we got frustrated. Their goalie really kept them in it, I felt, the first 10 minutes of the first period, gave them a bit of life and I felt we might have tried to press a little too much.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: Kelowna Rockets do well with new head coach

With the game tied 1-1, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Kyle Topping scored his fifth of the season at 7:27 in the second frame.

The lead was short-lived as the Broncos scored one of their own 16 seconds later to tie it up again.

Jack Cowell got his second of the season just over halfway through the second period, the eventual game-winner.

Gally, Erik Gardiner, Kaedan Korczak (2), Conner Bruggen-Cate and Mark Liwiski all logged assists in the game.

香蕉视频直播淭he effort was there,香蕉视频直播� said Foote, 香蕉视频直播渁nd guys tried to do what we asked.香蕉视频直播�

The win at home marked a first for the team at Prospera Place this season.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 so much fun to win at home in front of the crowd,香蕉视频直播� said veteran forward Topping. 香蕉视频直播淲e wanted to give them a nice win tonight and I thought we were really good as a group.香蕉视频直播�

The Swift Current Broncos were at the end of a six-game road stint. The 2018 WHL Champions have struggled this season with only a single win.

The game was the first for Foote behind the bench after being named head coach Tuesday morning.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been on a bench before, that香蕉视频直播檚 for sure, but it香蕉视频直播檚 fun to see those kids look back and ask questions,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 different than the pros. They really care. They don香蕉视频直播檛 want to let you down.香蕉视频直播�

Foote wasn香蕉视频直播檛 too happy about having a game on his first night as head coach. He香蕉视频直播檇 only had one practice with the team, but was confident in goalie James Porter香蕉视频直播檚 abilities.

香蕉视频直播淚 think Porter kept us in it,香蕉视频直播� said Foote. 香蕉视频直播淗e made some big saves at the end.香蕉视频直播�

The Rockets had to kill a four-minute high sticking penalty late in the third period to hold on to win.

Foote was impressed with how his team killed penalties, noting several players sacrificed their bodies to block shots.

香蕉视频直播淚 love the character and the will to block shots,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Foote香蕉视频直播檚 appointment to head coach comes a day after the Rockets announced they were parting ways with former head coach Jason Smith.

Smith was hired before the start of the 2016/17 season and spent two full seasons as head coach. He led the team to a 45-22-5-0 record in his first year and a 43-22-5-2 record last season.

香蕉视频直播淎nytime you let someone go that is the quality of Jason Smith it香蕉视频直播檚 very tough, however, the success of our hockey club ultimately falls with myself and I feel at this time we need to go in a different direction,香蕉视频直播� said Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton in a news release Monday morning. 香蕉视频直播淛ason is just a wonderful person and we want to thank him for his time here.香蕉视频直播�

The announcement came a few weeks after the club was named as 2020 Memorial Cup host.

香蕉视频直播淏ecause we host the 2020 Memorial Cup, we know a number of personnel moves will have to be made,香蕉视频直播� said Hamilton. 香蕉视频直播淲e are confident Adam will be able to help us move forward, not just this year, but next season also.香蕉视频直播�

The coaching change was a surprise to the players.

香蕉视频直播淲e weren香蕉视频直播檛 expecting this. Gator (Smith) was a great guy and a great coach,香蕉视频直播� said Topping, who has shared ice time with both of Foote香蕉视频直播檚 sons, Cal and Nolan as a Rocket.

He said the transition has been manageable as Foote knows the players.

香蕉视频直播淲ith Adam coming in, the one thing I noticed and a couple of the guys have been talking, is he香蕉视频直播檚 familiar with us and obviously with both Footers (Cal and Nolan) playing here, he香蕉视频直播檚 watched almost every game and he knows us personally and he knows our style of play.香蕉视频直播�

Foote, now 47, had a 19-year career in the NHL, logging 308 points (66 goals, 242 assists). In his first season in the NHL, he amassed 168 penalty minutes and would go on to log many more before his retirement.

He was drafted 22nd overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989.

The former captain of the Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets was a gritty stay-at-home defender. He won two Stanley Cups with the Avs in 1996 and 2001 and won Olympic gold with Team Canada at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

Most recently, Foote has been a defensive coach with the Avs.

The Foote family has close ties with the Rockets organization. Nineteen-year-old Cal played three WHL seasons with Kelowna and was selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lighting. He currently plays in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch.

Younger brother Nolan, 17, is an active member of the Rockets, an assistant captain who is widely considered a first-round 2019 NHL Entry Draft pick.

In his first press conference Tuesday morning, coach Foote addressed the question of coaching his son.

香蕉视频直播淚 have to feel safe at home and Nolan has to feel safe at home. He香蕉视频直播檚 going to have a bad day and cost us a game; I hope he never does, but chances are, it may happen and he香蕉视频直播檚 gotta come home and not be holding that. I香蕉视频直播檓 not going to talk about it. I香蕉视频直播檓 going to be dad at home,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 skate him harder because he didn香蕉视频直播檛 put his dishes away either.香蕉视频直播�

Foote said he respects Smith, also a former NHLer, as a player.

香蕉视频直播淗e taught my kids a lot. They loved him. He treated them really well.香蕉视频直播�

The Rockets will have a few days at home before they suit up for their next game against the Prince George Cougars Saturday night at Prospera Place.

These next few days will be a welcome break for the Rockets as they recover from the personnel changes and build chemistry with the new coach.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 huge. I think you look at the whole change, our coaching staff, the emotions that went on with everybody. I think everyone felt overwhelmed in the last 18 hours and it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be nice to get some flow, get some practices and maybe not try to cram too much too soon down them,香蕉视频直播� said Foote. 香蕉视频直播淚t will be good for our team.香蕉视频直播�

Foote said the coaching staff won香蕉视频直播檛 give the team too much to work on, but the neutral zone is on the list.

香蕉视频直播淓veryone is a little overwhelmed with the change,香蕉视频直播� said Foote. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檒l be a little tired tomorrow, so we won香蕉视频直播檛 throw too much on their plate.香蕉视频直播�

Topping is hoping to ride the momentum from this home win.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檒l get in a nice groove with some practices and a lot of time off,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to work on some things and be ready for Saturday.香蕉视频直播�

The Rockets, who improved to 5-10-0-0 host the Prince George Cougars (5-6香蕉视频直播�0-1) Saturday. Puck drop is 7:05 p.m. at Prospera Place.

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