Kelowna, B.C. — The Cariboo Cougars saw their four game win streak come to a crashing halt with a 5-1 loss to the Okanagan Rockets Saturday afternoon in Kelowna.

After a very tight opening frame that saw neither team beat the goaltenders, the Rockets broke the scoreless tie with 7:33 remaining in the second period. The Cougars got the equalizer with two and a half minutes to go in the frame after Logan Styler converted on a break.

The Cats started the third with positive momentum, killing off one of just three minor penalties in the game but the Rockets retook the lead three minutes in on a one-timer by Alex Gran. Just over three minutes later the Rockets made it a 3-1 lead. The Cougars struggled to find their game as their defensive woes resurfaced late in the final period allowing two more goals in the final four minutes.

The Rockets improve to 9-1-1 on the season and sit just one point back of the Cougars heading into Sunday’s rematch. Nathan Warren took the loss in net. The loss combined with a Vancouver NW Giants 6-3 win over the Vancouver NE Chiefs vaults the Giants into first place, with the Cats one point behind.

Sunday’s rematch between the Cougars and Rockets goes at 10:00am at the Capital News Centre.