The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 8-0 Thursday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna.

It was the first game of a home-and-home series between the teams. They meet again at 7:35 p.m. Friday at the ShoWare Center.

Kelowna (35-10-2-1) took a 1-0 lead at 3:22 of the first period when Carter Rigby scored. J.T. Barnett and Colton Heffley had the assists.

The Rockets went in front 2-0 at 6:34 of the first on a goal from Dylan McKinlay. Michael Sissons had the only assist on the goal.

Defenseman Jesse Lees extended Kelowna’s lead to 3-0 at 9:45 of first. Heffley and Rigby had the assists.

Kelowna outshot Seattle (18-28-2-1) 16-8 in the first period.

Rigby made it a 4-0 lead at 1:31 of the second period, just after a power-play ended. Heffley and Barnett were credited with the assists.

Heffley scored at the seven-minute mark of the second to get the Rockets fifth goal. Rigby and Barnett were credited with the assists.

Danny Mumaugh replaced Brandon Glover in net after the fifth Rockets goal. Glover made 16 saves on 21 shots and his record is now 17-21-2-1.

Sisson made it a 6-0 lead at 17:18 of the second. McKinlay and Myles Bell had the assists.

The Rockets led 28-12 in shots after two periods by outshooting the T-Birds 12-4 in the second period.

Rigby got the hat trick at 6:58 of the third period to give the Rockets a 7-0 lead. Lees and Barnett had the assists.

Kelowna’s eighth goal came from Tyson Baillie at 14:50 of the third on an assist from Cody Fowlie.

Kelowna outshot Seattle 8-6 in the third period and 36-18 in the game.

Mumaugh stopped 12 of 15 shots in 33 minutes of action.

Kelowna goalie Jordon Cooke made 18 saves to get the shutout and improve his record to 26-8-1-1.

Tickets on sale

T-Birds single game tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

T-Birds season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Kelowna, Rigby 9 (Barnett, Heffley), 3:22. 2, Kelowna, McKinlay 17 (Sissons), 6:34. 3, Kelowna, Lees (Heffley, Rigby), 9:45. Penalties – Rigby, Kel (cross checking), 16:25. Green, Sea (high-sticking), 19:04.

Second period – 4, Kelowna, Rigby 10 (Heffley, Barnett), 1:31. 5, Kelowna, Heffley 6 (Rigby, Barnett), 7:00. 6, Sissons 17 (McKinlay, Bell), 17:18. Penalties – Honey, Sea (high-sticking), 13:30.

Third period – 7, Kelowna, Rigby 11 (Lees, Barnett), 6:58. 8, Kelowna, Baillie 15 (Fowlie), 14:50. Penalties – Forsberg, Sea (major-fighting), 7:20. Goulbourne, Kel (major-fighting), 7:20. Severson, Kel (high-sticking), 9:48. Hickman, Sea (major-fighting), 14:59. Barnett, Kel (major-fighting), 14:59. Johnson, Sea (10-minute misconduct), 14:59. Olsen, Kel (roughing), 14:59.

Shots on goal – Seattle 8-4-6 18, Kelowna 16-12-8 36. Goalies – Seattle, Glover 21 shots-16 saves (17-21-2-1), Mumaugh 15-12; Kelowna, Cooke 18-8 (26-8-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-2; Kelowna 0-2. A – 5,164. Referees – Nick Swaine, Colin Watt. Linesmen – Ryan Dawson, Ward Pateman.