Road Rash

• The Kamloops Blazers handed the Kelowna Rockets an early Christmas present, and it wasn't a bag of coal. Tyler Shattock's power play goal in the third period was the back breaker in the Blazers 5-3 home ice win last night at Interior Savings Centre. Oddly enough Saturday's game is the final time these two rivals will meet before Christmas, with the two teams getting together to renew acquaintances on December 30th.
• Despite Shattock's late power play goal the Rockets were able to score a shorthanded marker to make it 4-3. Jimmy Bubnick ended the scare with an empty netter to make it a 5-3 final.
• While the Blazers received three consecutive power plays in the third period, the most laughable was when Blazers forward CJ Stretch received a goaltender interference penalty two minutes into the final period. Maybe I don't understand the rule, but it appears that if ANY contact is made by a player on the goaltender it's a penalty. Even if you are pushed in or your momentum causes you to touch the goaltender, you are forced to sit for two minutes.
• I was told that the Blazers played one of their best games over the last month at home which makes me feel good about the Rockets game. While a loss is nothing to cheer about, I thought the Rockets played a pretty good road game. Sure their were miscues defensively, but Kamloops committed just as many as the Rockets did.
• A few plays stick out in my head that shows the skill level of two young players. Shane McColgan hits Blazers forward Colin Smith off the puck as he attempts to move inside the Rockets zone. McColgan makes solid contact with Smith and in one quick, effortless move, takes the puck away and skates up ice. The other play that I marveled at was Brendan Ranford picking up a hard - high pass at the Rockets blueline and skating in on a partial breakaway. For Ranford to accept that pass on his stick and make it look routine just shows you the skill level of one of the league's top 17 year-old forwards. Both plays would be greater appreciated if seen on video. By explaining them just doesn't do them justice.
• A fight between Curt Gogol and Josh Caron had Gogol's hand bloodied and bruised. Gogol was nursing his hand in the penalty box and didn't play after that fight. I will say it again, a broken knuckle or finger from a fight where both combatants have their helmets on is always a distinct possibility.
• I hope the Rockets did some maintenance on their dressing room prior to gearing up for last nights game. Less than 24 hours earlier the flu infested Edmonton Oil Kings share that same room. The flu bug is so bad for the Oil Kings that several of the players have been transported in a van during their recent road trip as not to infect teammates on the team bus.

Brown blanks Bruins

Photo curtesy: Marissa Baecker/shootthebreeze.ca

• It would be safe to say Adam Brown loves playing the Chilliwack Bruins. For the third time in his young career the 18 year-old goaltender recorded a shutout against the four year old franchise. Friday night at Prospera Place, Brown made 23 saves in a 3-0 win. Brown has four career shutouts, three against the Bruins. Brown is 6-1-0-0 against the Bruins over his career.
• Brown's best save may have come off a shot from Bruins forward Ryan Howse. Howse picks up the puck at the left face-off circle and snaps a hard shot that goes right off the mask of Brown. Howse has to have one if not the best release in the WHL.
• This game was anything but a back and forth affair. The Rockets had to implement the 'slow and steady wins the race' philosophy. Capitalizing on two power play chances and limiting errors in the defensive zone was text book hockey. It resulted in the Rockets 10th win of the season.
• I liked the Rockets effort in the 3rd period where they limited the Bruins to just five shots and one scoring chance. It also appeared that the Bruins ran out of gas in the third period as they struggled to generate much. A late third period power play by the Bruins really struggled and resulted in an icing call on a missed pass. You are mentally out of sync when you ice the puck on the power play.
• Brandon McMillan again had a strong game. McMillan looked far more comfortable skating on a foot that he cracked about 4 weeks ago. McMillan was skating harder, winning puck battles and enjoying life playing alongside line-mates Lucas Bloodoff and Mitchell Callahan. McMillan had a goal and an assist and was named the 1st star.
• It was nice to see the reaction of Callahan after a spirited fight with Bruins 20 year-old Mitch McColm. After the tilt was over, Callahan slapped McColm on the shoulder for a job well down.
• Mark Friesen had a solid game for the Bruins. The veteran goaltender allowed just two goals, as the Rockets third goal of the evening was into an empty net. Friesen made some good saves in this one.
• The win moves the Rockets into a tie with Everett for 4th place in the Western Conference.

Game notes vs. Bruins

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Bruins and meeting for the third time this season. The Rockets are 2-0-0-0, having out-scored the Bruins 13-6. The Rockets have won by scores of 6-4 and 7-2. Following tonight’s game these two teams meet November 27th in Chilliwack. The Rockets are 2 and 1 during a four game home stand. The Rockets were a 4-1 winner over Calgary and a 5-4 shootout winner Wednesday against Prince George while suffering a 4-3 loss to Spokane. The Rockets are in Kamloops Saturday before hosting the Red Deer Rebels on Wednesday. Tomorrow night the Rockets begin a stretch of playing 14 of their next 19 games on the road.

Scoring by periods vs. Bruins:
1 2 3 Total
Rockets: 2 6 5 13
Bruins: 3 1 2 6

Give me more: The Rockets have out-shot the Bruins in both games, by a combined total of 70-59. The Rockets are 4 for 10 on the power play (40%) while the Bruins are 1 for 9 with the extra man (12%) in the first two games.

Last Game Recap? Tyson Barrie scored the game winning goal in the shootout leading the Rockets to a 5-4 win Wednesday night over the Prince George Cougars. Kyle St. Denis, Mitchell Callahan, Brandon McMillan and Spencer Main scored for the Rockets in their 9th win of the season. The Rockets were 1/3 on the power play while the Cougars were 1 for 4. The Rockets out-shot the Cougars 35-31.

Representing the ‘Dub’: Two members of the Rockets will play for the WHL when a touring Russian team makes a stop in Victoria and Kelowna next month as part of the Subway Super Series. Brandon McMillan will be joined by teammate Tyson Barrie. McMillan will play in the game in Kelowna on November 26th while Barrie will play in both games. Ryan Huska is an assistant coach for both games along with Giants bench boss Don Hay. Rockets athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn is part of the Team Canada training staff for both games.

Extra Man Mayhem: The Rockets have scored a power play goal in fourteen of the seventeen games this season. They failed to score a power play goal against Kamloops September 25th, Tri City October 23rd and against Spokane October 30th. The Rockets own the 5th best power play in the league.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in nine of the ten games he’s played this season. McMillan missed 6 games earlier this season with a cracked bone in his foot. McMillan has 5+12=17 this season. Stepan Novotny has points in 11 of the 17 games this season yet has been held off the score-sheet in 4 of the last 6 games. Shane McColgan has points in 13 of his last 14 games. McColgan has 6+15=21 over that period. McColgan has a point in 14 of the 17 games he’s played this season. McColgan has not scored a goal in five games.

Game Day Tidbits: Tyson Barrie has more points after nine games this season than after nine games one season ago (1+7=8)… Barrie has more goals than all seven of the other Rockets defenseman combined. Collin Bowman has two goals while rookie Antonie Corbin has also scored from the back end….The Rockets have been involved in eight-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 4-3-1-0 in those eight games…In the Rockets next three games they face a team with a .500 or worse record…In their next 11 games, only four of those teams are .500 or better…In the month of November the Rockets are playing 12 games in 24 nights…Stepan Novotny leads the team with 6 power play goals….Mitchell Callahan is a team high +9….Curt Gogol has 192 career WHL penalty minutes. ..Shane McColgan has a team high 16 assist, four better than Brandon McMillan’s 12…McColgan is tied with Medicine Hat’s Emerson Item for the WHL scoring lead by rookies. Item has played four more games….Tyson Barrie is riding a 5 game point streak after missing 8 straight games after being injured against Kamloops on September 25th. Barrie has 3+7=10 over those five games…The Rockets are 9-7-1-0 after seventeen games this season. Last year the Rockets were 10-7-0-0 after seventeen games…The Rockets have scored 67 goals in seventeen games this season after scoring 68 times in the teams first seventeen games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 60 goals against this season after surrendering 53 goals after seventeen games last year…Ryan Huska has 94 regular season victories as the Rockets head coach.

Shootout success

• A good start and a good finish for the Kelowna Rockets. Tyson Barrie played the hero by scoring the shootout game winning goal in the Rockets 5-4 win Wednesday night over the Prince George Cougars.
• The Rockets scored two quick goals less than 8 minutes into the game and you had a feeling this could be a blowout. But the Rockets let off the gas pedal allowing the Cougars to fight back. The two teams skated into the first intermission tied at two.
• Much like his team, Cougars goaltender Alex Wright also got better as the game wore on. Wright's best save was early in the 3rd period when he made a solid save off of Brandon McMillan on a breakaway when the game was tied at 3.
• Adam Brown's best save of the game came in overtime when he robbed Cougars forward James Dobrowolski. Cougars defenseman Kurt Torbohm makes a nice pass towards the left side of Adam Brown where Dobrowolski is standing all alone. On his belly, Brown doesn't give up on the play and stops the puck as it comes off the stick of the Cougars forward.
• Cougars d-man Jesse Forsberg is a great player. The 16 year-old was exposed in the Rockets 7-1 win over the Cougars a few weeks back but logged a ton of ice time in this one and was as good as any defender out there on either team.
• Lucas Bloodoff had a spirited fight with Cougars tough guy Tyler Halliday. Bloodoff was the aggressor yet didn't receive an instigator penalty, much to the dismay of the Cougars. Bloodoff also had a huge hit on Cougars d-man Daniel Medland-Marchen to set the tone just 30 seconds into the game
• The win moves the Rockets past Chilliwack and Kamloops into 5th place in the Western Conference.
• Former NHL GM Al Coates took in the game. Coates is now working as an executive with the National Hockey League.

Rockets game notes vs. Cougars

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Cougars are meeting for the second time this season. These two teams last met on October 10th with the Rockets earning a 7-1 win. Following tonight’s game these two teams will clash in Prince George November 20th and 21st. The Rockets are 1 and 1 during a four game home stand. The Rockets were a 4-1 winner over Calgary, yet dropped a one goal decision to Spokane (4-3 L). The Rockets conclude the home stand Friday against Chilliwack before facing the Blazers in Kamloops Saturday night. Following the home stand the Rockets play 14 of their next 19 games on the road. The Rockets are 12 and 3 in their last 15 regular season meetings against the Cougars at Prospera Place.

Representing the ‘Dub’: Two members of the Rockets will play for the WHL when a touring Russian team makes a stop in Victoria and Kelowna next month as part of the Subway Super Series. Brandon McMillan will be joined by teammate Tyson Barrie. McMillan will play in the game in Kelowna on November 26th while Barrie will play in both games. Ryan Huska is an assistant coach for both games along with Giants bench boss Don Hay.

Last Game Recap? Tyson Barrie scored twice in a 4-3 loss to the Spokane Chiefs last Friday night. Shane McColgan picked up two assists and was a +3. Adam Brown was sharp making 31 saves in the loss. The Rockets were out-shot 35-34 with the home team going 0 for 4 on the power play while the Chiefs were 2 for 4 with the man advantage.

One man up: The Rockets have scored twenty-one power play goals (21/73=28.8%) in their last thirteen games. The Rockets have scored a power play goal in thirteen of the sixteen games this season. They failed to score a power play goal against Kamloops September 25th, Tri City October 23rd and against Spokane October 30th. The Rockets own the 5th best power play in the league.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in eight of the nine games he’s played this season. McMillan returned last Friday after missing 6 games with a cracked bone in his foot. McMillan has 4+11=15 this season. Stepan Novotny has points in 11 of the 16 games this season. Shane McColgan had his ten game point streak snapped against Vancouver October 25th. McColgan had (6+11=17) over that period. Kyle St. Denis has fifteen points in his last twelve games (8+7=15). Lucas Bloodoff has goals in five of his last eleven games.

Game Day Tidbits: The Rockets have been involved in seven-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 3-3-1-0 in those seven games…In the Rockets next four games they face a team with a .500 or worse record…In their next 12 games only four of those teams are .500 or better…In the month of November the Rockets will play 12 games in 24 nights…Rookie defenseman MacKenzie Johnston earned his first career point, an assist, in last Friday’s loss to the Spokane Chiefs. Johnston’s assist came on Mitchell Callahan’s 3rd period goal….Stepan Novotny leads the team with 6 power play goals….Mitchell Callahan is a team high +7….Curt Gogol has 190 career WHL penalty minutes. ..Shane McColgan has a team high 15 assist, four better than Brandon McMillan’s 11…McColgan is a point back of Medicine Hat’s Emerson Item for the WHL scoring lead by rookies. Item has played four more games….Tyson Barrie is riding a 4 game point streak after missing 8 straight games after being injured against Kamloops on September 25th. Barrie has 3+6=9 over those four games…The Rockets are 8-7-1-0 after sixteen games this season. Last year the Rockets were 9-7-0-0 after sixteen games…The Rockets have scored 62 goals in sixteen games this season after scoring 61 times in the teams first sixteen games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 56 goals against this season after surrendering 50 goals after sixteen games last year…Ryan Huska has 93 regular season victories as the Rockets head coach.

Beach isn't holding his breath

Kyle Beach isn't holding his breath on playing for Canada at this years world junior hockey championships.

The Kelowna minor hockey product was not on the list of Western Hockey League players named to the roster for this months Subway Super Series against Team Russia.

Games featuring the two teams will be played in Victoria and Kelowna November 25th and 26th.

"An incident that got blown out of proportion at the Under 18's has me on the outside. I got into the Super Series last year and played really well, so I thought I would get a chance but didn't even get an invite to camp. It's disappointing, but hopefully I can play well over the next couple of weeks and maybe get an invite to the world junior camp."

Beach, a first round pick of the NHL's Chicago Black Hawks, has 14 points in 12 games with the Spokane Chiefs this season.

Daylight savings time disappointment

• Daylight savings time takes affect Saturday at midnight allowing BC resident the chance to obtain an extra hour of sleep. On Friday night it looked like the Kelowna Rockets needed the extra shut-eye in a 4-3 loss to the Spokane Chiefs. The Rockets got exactly what they deserved in this one. For the first time this season the team was flat for the majority of the game, and had it not been for goaltender Adam Brown, the score could have been much worse than just a one goal loss.
• The Rockets came out with no drive, no emotion in the opening period. They were unwilling to clear pucks with authority, initiate body contact or win battles to loose pucks. Spokane forward Mitch Wahl had three glorious chances in the first period to open up the scoring but was denied by the best player on the ice for the Rockets - Adam Brown.
• Kyle Beach had another strong game against the Rockets. The 19 year-old scored twice and added an assist and played a smart game. Rockets forward Curt Gogol attempted to engage Beach into a third period fight on a Spokane power play, which Beach thought about, and then smartly skated away.
• I am not sure what type of teammate Kyle Beach is, but you can't argue with his production on the ice. He has too much skill not to be a threat and only compliments what the Chiefs already have. With the return of overage d-man Jared Spurgeon, that Chief power play will be deadly.
• Spokane's better players were indeed better than the Rockets top end players on this night. Despite Mitch Wahl's struggles to score, he was solid in his own zone and was great on the penalty kill. The same can't be said for Rockets leading scorer Stepan Novotny, who was benched by the coaching staff for his uninspired play. While I am singling out Novotny, Lucas Bloodoff was equally as ineffective. If the older players aren't willing to work, what message does that send the younger players?
• While I was disappointed with the work ethic Friday night, it likely marks the first time this season the team didn't come out and truly compete. Overall through 16 games the Rockets can't be faulted for sluggish play. But if this team buys into the theory that they can put in a half-hearted effort and win, they are sadly mistaken.
• Tyson Barrie had two goals in the game, giving him 9 points in four games since returning from a knee injury in the third game of the season against Kamloops.
• Rookie Shane McColgan is now tied with Stepan Novotny for the team lead in points with 21. McColgan had two assists and was a +3. McColgan has registered a point in all but three games this season.
• Brandon McMillan returned to the Rockets lineup after missing 6 games with a broken bone in his foot. McMillan was held off the score-sheet for the first time this season. While he was able to contribute, he was obviously not 100%. You could tell he just didn't have that breakaway speed that he is known for.
• Rookie MacKenzie Johnston earned his first WHL point, an assist in the third period.

Working ethic thrown out the window

More later.
Spokane 4 Rockets 3.

Game notes vs. Chiefs

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Chiefs are meeting for the first of just four times this season (2 at home – 2 on the road). After tonight’s game these two teams face one another November 15^th in Spokane before tangling again March 3^rd and 9^th. These two teams met four times last season with the Rockets winning all four games. The Chiefs managed just two goals in the four games and were out-scored 10-2. The Rockets are playing the second of four straight games on home ice. After tonight’s game the Rockets host Prince George Wednesday and Chilliwack Friday night. Following the home stand, the Rockets play 14 of their next 19 games on the road. The Rockets enter tonight’s game with two wins in their last three games, beating Vancouver and Calgary over that period.

Life’s a Beach: The return of the Spokane Chiefs means the return of Kelowna resident Kyle Beach. Beach was acquired by the Chiefs from the Lethbridge Hurricanes after being sent back to junior by the NHL’s Chicago Black Hawks. Is it any surprise that Beach has a penalty in all but one game this season. More importantly the 19 year-old forward has points in 6 of the 9 games he’s played this season. Here’s the most impressive stat. Beach has played 9 career games against the Rockets and has 7 goals and 7 assists.

Representing the ‘Dub’: Two members of the Rockets will play for the WHL when a touring Russian team makes a stop in Victoria and Kelowna next month as part of the Subway Super Series. Brandon McMillan will be joined by teammate Tyson Barrie. McMillan will play in the game in Kelowna on November 26^th while Barrie will play in both games. Ryan Huska is an assistant coach for both games along with Giants bench boss Don Hay.

Winning Ways: The Kelowna Rockets have been fortunate to be on the winning end when facing the Chiefs at Prospera Place over the years. The Rockets are 12-2-0-1 in the last 15 games against Spokane on home ice. Those two losses came in 2007-08 when the Chiefs won in Kelowna by scores of 4-3 and 5-2. In five of those 15 games, the Rockets have shutout the Chiefs.

Last Game Recap? Stepan Novotny scored two power play goals in the first period in a 4-1 win Wednesday night over Calgary. Cody Chikie and Brett Bulmer also scored for the Rockets, who were 2 for 8 on the power play. Adam Brown was named the games first star making 35 saves. The Hitmen were 0 for 4 on the power play.

Extra Man Mayhem: The Rockets have scored twenty-one power play goals (21/69=30.4%) in their last twelve games. The Rockets have scored a power play goal in thirteen of the fifteen games this season. They failed to score a power play goal against Kamloops September 25^th and Tri City October 23^rd. The Rockets own the 4^th best power play in the league.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in all eight games he’s played this season, but is sidelined day-to-day with a cracked bone in his foot. McMillan has 4+11=15 this season. Stepan Novotny has points in 11 of the 15 games this season. Shane McColgan had his ten game point streak snapped Sunday in Vancouver. McColgan had (6+11=17) over that period. Kyle St. Denis has fifteen points in his last eleven games (8+7=15). Lucas Bloodoff has goals in five of his last ten games.

Game Day Tidbits: Twenty year-old forward Lucas Bloodoff was named the Rockets captain on Wednesday. Bloodoff takes over the captaincy from Colin Long, who is playing in the AHL this season…The Buffalo Sabres announced Wednesday that Tyler Myers will spend the remainder of the season in the NHL. It marks the 9^th former Rockets d-man now playing in the NHL. The others are Kyle Cumiskey, Alex Edler,Scott Hannan, Sheldon Souray, Shea Weber, Luke Schenn, Josh Gorges and Duncan Keith.….Rockets 16 year-old Shane McColgan is leading the league in rookie scoring in the WHL (6+13=19)….Veteran defenseman Tyson Barrie returned to the lineup last Friday after missing 8 straight games after being injured September 25^th in Kamloops…The Rockets are 8-6-1-0 after fifteen games this season. Last year the Rockets were 9-6-0-0 after fifteen games…The Rockets have scored 59 goals in fifteen games this season after scoring 59 times in the teams first fifteen games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 52 goals against this season after surrendering 47 goals after fifteen games last year…Ryan Huska has 93 regular season victories as the Rockets head coach.

Two Rockets named to Super Series roster

Two members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to the roster when the Western Hockey League faces Team Russia in the 2009 Subway Super Series.
Brandon McMillan will be joined by teammate Tyson Barrie for games in Victoria and Kelowna next month.
Barrie will play in both while McMillan will participate in the one game hosted by Kelowna on November 26th.
Kelowna resident Curtis Hamilton, the son of Kelowna Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton, will also represent the WHL in the game being played on the 26th.
Rockets head coach Ryan Huska is a member of the WHL coaching staff for BC leg of the Subway Super Series.