Rockets game notes vs. Cougars

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets face the Cougars in the second of back-to-back games in Prince George this weekend. Last night the Cougars were a 3-2 winner. This is the 4th meeting of the season between these two teams. The Rockets are 2-1-0-0 against the Cougars, having out-scored them 14-8 in the seasonal series. The Rockets are playing their 6th game in nine nights. Overall the Rockets have lost five straight and seven straight games on opposition ice. Following these two games this weekend the Rockets are in Chilliwack next Friday before hosting Kootenay Saturday night.

Seasonal Series Breakdown: The Rockets have out-shot the Cougars 114-72 in the first three games. The Rockets power play is 4 for 13 (30.8%) while the Cougars are 2 for 20 (10%) in the three games.

Period 1 2 3 OT SO Total
Rockets 3 3 7 0 1 14
Cougars 4 2 2 0 0 8

Halliday makes debut: The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Tyler Halliday off waivers Thursday. Halliday played earlier this season with the Prince George Cougars before being released. Halliday had 21 fighting majors last season and collected 161 penalty minutes, 6th best in the league. Halliday joins Lucas Bloodoff and Mark Guggenberger as the Rockets three 20 year-olds this season.

Rockets make trade: The Rockets acquired 19 year-old Geordie Wudrick from the Swift Current Broncos Monday for 19 year-old Stepan Novotny and prospect Tanner Clark. Clark was the Rockets 3rd round bantam pick in 2008. It’s the fourth trade between the Broncos and Rockets in the last three seasons.

Last Game Recap: Tyson Barrie assisted on both Rockets goals in a 3-2 loss last night in Prince George. Geordie Wudrick and Collin Bowman scored third period goals in the loss. The Rockets fired 40 shots on the Cougars net and were 1 for 6 on the power play. Adam Brown took the loss in goal.

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 week 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.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in thirteen of the eighteen games he’s played this season. McMillan has 7+17=24 this season. Shane McColgan has gone four games without a point yet has a point in 16 of the 24 games he’s played this season. McColgan has not scored a goal in twelve games. His last goal was October 23rd in Tri City. Kyle St. Denis is four goals shy of his career high of 16 set two seasons ago. Geordie Wudrick has goals in back-to-back games.

Game Day Tidbits: Adam Brown leads the league in games played by a goaltender (23)….The Rockets have been involved in twelve-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 5-6-1-0 in those twelve games…Kyle St. Denis leads the team with 7 power play goals….Mitchell Callahan is a team high +6….Curt Gogol now has 226 career WHL penalty minutes. ..Shane McColgan and Brandon McMillan have a team high 18 assist…McColgan is two points back of Medicine Hat’s Emerson Item for the WHL scoring lead by rookies…Tyson Barrie is riding a career high 12 game point streak after missing 8 straight games after being injured against Kamloops on September 25th. Barrie has 5+15=20 over those twelve games…The Rockets are 11-13-1-0 after twenty-five games this season. Last year the Rockets were 14-11-0-0 after twenty-five games…The Rockets have scored 83 goals in twenty-five games this season after scoring 94 times in the teams first twenty-five games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 78 goals against this season after surrendering 75 goals after twenty-five games last year…Ryan Huska has 96 regular season victories as the Rockets head coach.

No Show, No Problem

• Brett Connolly was a no show Friday night. His team didn't need him. The Prince George Cougars opened a six game homestand last night with a 3-2 win over the Kelowna Rockets. Much of the hype before the game centered around Connolly's return to the lineup from a hip flexor injury, but the 17 year-old was unable to play because of the flu. It was another 17 year-old, Brock Hirsche that scored the game winning goal on a third period power play leading the Cougars to the one goal win.
• Expect several NHL scouts to be on an airplane heading out of Prince George today after hoping to see Connolly play Friday night. The belief is the projected 1st round pick won't be healthy enough to play Saturday night when the two teams meet again, meaning all eyes will be on him when he dresses for the WHL during the Subway Super Series later this week in Victoria and Kelowna.
• The Rockets managed just seven shots in the opening period with three golden opportunities providing little in the way of results. Mitchell Callahan clings one off the cross-bar in the opening frame before Kyle St. Denis misses the net on a breakaway. The Rockets created scoring chances throughout the game but struggled when it came to execution.
• While the Rockets directed 40 shots at the Cougars net, how many resulted in point blank second opportunities? The answer. Very few. I'm sorry but Cougars goaltender Alex Wright may be a good goaltender, but he isn't great. On this night the Rockets made him look better than he really is.
• Rockets forward Geordie Wudrick scored his first power play goal of the season in the third period on a two-on-one passing play with Kyle St. Denis. St. Denis made a nice pass to Wudrick who one-timed the puck past Wright to make it a 2-1 game. Unfortunately Wudrick took a penalty resulting in the game winning goal with the 6 foot 3 forward sitting in the box.
• Tyler Halliday made his Rockets debut Friday night and started the game alongside Wudrick and St. Denis. I would suggest that Halliday's evening was uneventful other than a spirited chat he had with former teammate Kurt Torbohm after the veteran defenseman made a high hit that caught Halliday in the head.
• Rockets rookie forward Shane McColgan was given the night off. McColgan watched this one from the bleachers as a healthy scratch.
• The start of the game was delayed 15 minutes when a sheet of glass was shattered during the Rockets warmup. Instead of the scheduled 7 o'clock start time, the opening faceoff took place at around 7:15.
• The loss was the Rockets 7th straight on the road and 5th in a row.
• The win was the Cougars first in 10 games.

Rockets lose 7th straight road game

Prince George 3 Kelowna Rockets 2 Final. More later....

Welcome to Prince George

I had the pleasure of traveling to Prince George by air, arriving at 8:30 this morning. The hour and 10 minute flight beats 8 hours on the bus any day. I arrived to snow, yet a temperature of about +2.

Assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert runs the workout.

The newest Rocket, Tyler Halliday stretches during this mornings skate.

Two Rockets take a spin after a pre-game skate at the CN Centre this morning. Codey Ito is on the left while Cody Chikie is on the right.

Rockets pick up 20 year-old

The Rockets acquire 20 year-old forward Tyler Halliday from Prince George. These are the details I am getting from Allan Bristowe of CKPG in Prince George.

From what I am told, Halliday is a great team guy. He likes to get involved physically and is no stranger to fighting. He had 21 fighting majors last season. Halliday was 6th in the WHL in penalty minutes with 161 pims last season, 32 fewer than former Rocket Ryley Grantham. Halliday had 15 goals as a 19 year-old last season. Originally a member of the Red Deer Rebels, Halliday joined the Cougars in 2008-09. Halliday was released by the Cougars last week so essentially is picked up by the Rockets for nothing. Halliday, a Kamloops resident, joins Lucas Bloodoff and goaltender Mark Guggenberger as the Rockets three overage players.

I am flying out to Prince George Friday morning so I will have Halliday on our pre-game show tomorrow night.

Rockets effort puts damper on Wudrick's debut

• It's not often the Kelowna Rockets give up 44 shots to the opposition on home ice, but Wednesday night was one of those rare occasions. The Portland Winterhawks fired 19 shots on goal in the first period alone in a 4-2 road win. Goaltender Adam Brown was the only reason why the Rockets had a legitimate chance of sending the game into overtime after a Geordie Wudrick goal late in the third period. Brad Ross ended any hope with an empty netter for the Hawks 16th win of the season.


• The Hawks dominated play in the first period specifically. The majority of the period was played inside the Rockets zone to a degree I have not seen this season. It appeared that the Hawks simply wanted the puck more than the Rockets did. After speaking to head coach Ryan Huska after the game it only confirmed what I saw. While the visitors were good, the home team was just that bad.


• Huska credited 18 year-old Cody Chikie for being the teams best forward. He also suggested that some veteran forwards may have to sit out this weekend to get the message across that their sub-par work ethic won't be tolerated.


• The Hawks were no where near this dominant when these two teams played one another Saturday night in Portland. Getting to loose pucks first, pin point passing and very few defensive miscues resulted in a solid effort by the road team. It's been suggested that the Hawks play better on the road than they do at home. I am buying into that theory after what I saw Wednesday.


• Geordie Wudrick made his Rockets debut and didn't disappoint. Wudrick started the game with veterans Brandon McMillan and Kyle St. Denis, but neither had strong games to support what Wudrick was wanting to accomplish. As expected Wudrick worked hard, initiated contact and scored his first goal in a Rockets uniform in the third period after a breakaway pass from teammate Tyson Barrie. Wudrick ends the game a minus 2, but one of those goals that was scored against him was the empty netter from Hawks forward Brad Ross.


• Wudrick's goal was his first in 12 games. He was do.


• Give the Hawks credit for staying out of the penalty box. The Rockets were handed no power play chances after two periods before getting three chances in the third.


• Rockets forward Curt Gogol again found himself involved in a fight, this time with Hawks enforcer Tayler Jordon. Jordon is 6'6 and 200 pounds while Gogol is just 6'0, 178 pounds. Giving up 20 pounds and 6 inches in a scrap is almost unheard of...unless your name is Curt Gogol.


• The Rockets have now lost 4 straight and are 0 and 9 against American based teams this season.


• The Rockets slipped into 7th in the Western Conference with the loss. Technically they are tied for 8th with Kamloops, but are granted 7th because of more wins.


• The Rockets gave up 44 shots on goal, the most this season. The previous high was 37 given up opening night against Vancouver.
• The Rockets have not given up that many shots in one game since giving up 48 shots on goal on the road in Vancouver September 30, 2007 in a 5-0 loss.

This negative talk is getting on my nerves

Ok, I've read some negative things over the last couple of days about Geordie Wudrick, most of which is coming from hockey fans in Swift Current.
Like any player who is traded, they come with baggage and Wudrick is no exception. But is all the negative talk about this player really valid?
I found it interesting that Wudrick scored his 35 goals last season as an 18 year-old.
Take a guess how many other 18 year-old players scored 35 or more goals last season in the WHL outside of Wudrick.
The answer?
Three.
Evander Kane, Brandon Kozun and Jordan Eberle.
That's it.
Statistically speaking Wudrick scored the fourth most goals of any 18 year-old in the the WHL last season. Red Deer's Landon Ferraro scored over 35 goals at the tender age of 17.
I will reserve judgement on Wudrick until I see him play night in and night out, but for Bronco fans to trash this player just doesn't add up.
Sorry I don't buy it.
I heard the same talk when Brady Leavold came here and he was gold for this team. Leavold got his act together once he came to Kelowna and proved he was a good player. He too needed a change, and benefited greatly from it. I expect Wudrick to do the same.
Has Wudrick struggling this season? Does he have work ethic deficiencies in his game? Sure he does. He was not playing good hockey this season and was playing well below his ability. He needed a change, and now he's gotten one. But is Wudrick a pretty good player that deserves some credit for his accomplishments?
Oh, ya!
You don't score 35 times as an 18 year-old without having some ability. Funny think is I have yet to hear or read a Bronco fan make that same claim.
Why do I come to his defense?
Yes, he now plays for the Rockets, so that's a starter. The second reason is I hate to see junior players being bashed, specifically if statistics prove otherwise.
I won't defend Wudrick on this blog again...I've done my talking. Call it my rant. This blog is called Regan's Rant.

My wish is for Geordie Wudrick to do his talking in one area only, on the ice.

Game notes vs. Hawks

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets return home after a three game road trip to host the Portland Winterhawks tonight. These two teams met four days ago in Portland with the Hawks earning a one goal win. This is the second of four games between these two teams this season. They meet again on January 15th before closing out the seasonal series February 20th in Portland. The Rockets are riding a three game winning streak on home ice, having out-scored their opponent 10-5. The last loss at home was a 4-3 setback to Spokane October 30th. Following tonight’s game the Rockets play back-to-back games in Prince George and enter a stretch of games playing 4 of their next five on the road. The only home game over that stretch is November 28th against Kootenay.

Digging Deeper: The Rockets were 2-0-0-0 against the Hawks on home ice last season. The Rockets won both games 6-2 and 5-4 in a shootout. The Rockets are riding a 7 game winning streak against the Hawks at home. The last win by Portland at Prospera Place was September 24, 2005 in a 6-3 win. Brandon Dubinsky was named the first star by scoring twice and adding two assists.

Rockets make trade: The Rockets acquired 19 year-old Geordie Wudrick from the Swift Current Broncos Monday for 19 year-old Stepan Novotny and prospect Tanner Clark. Clark was the Rockets 3rd round bantam pick in 2008. It’s the fourth trade between the Broncos and Rockets in the last three seasons.

Last Game Recap: The Kelowna Rockets were shutout for the first time this season in a 1-0 loss Sunday in Spokane. James Reid made 26 saves in the win. Adam Brown took the loss making 20 saves. The Rockets were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Chiefs were 0 for 2.

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.

Power Outage: The Rockets have gone back-to-back games without a power play goal. The Rockets were 0 for 3 against Spokane Sunday and failed to score on 4 chances against Portland Saturday night. The Rockets scored two power play goals in a 4-2 loss in Everett on Friday. Despite the recent slide, the Rockets have scored a power play goal in eighteen of the twenty-three games this season.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in thirteen of the sixteen games he’s played this season. McMillan has 7+17=24 this season and has five goals in his last nine games. Shane McColgan has points in 15 of his last 20 games. McColgan has 6+17=23 over that period. McColgan has a point in 16 of the 23 games he’s played this season. McColgan has not scored a goal in eleven games. His last goal was October 23rd in Tri City. Kyle St. Denis is four goals shy of his career high of 16 set two seasons ago. St. Denis had a four game goal scoring streak snapped Sunday. St. Denis has 8 goals in his last 12 games. Geordie Wudrick has gone 11 games without a goal. His last goal was October 21st vs. Kamloops.

Game Day Tidbits: The Rockets have been involved in eleven-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 5-5-1-0 in those eleven games…Kyle St. Denis leads the team with 7 power play goals….Mitchell Callahan is a team high +8….Curt Gogol collected his 200th career WHL penalty minute Friday night in Everett. Gogol now has 215 career WHL penalty minutes. ..Shane McColgan and Brandon McMillan have a team high 18 assist…McColgan is two points back of Medicine Hat’s Emerson Item for the WHL scoring lead by rookies…Tyson Barrie is riding a 10 game point streak after missing 8 straight games after being injured against Kamloops on September 25th. Barrie has 4+12=16 over those ten games…The Rockets are 11-11-1-0 after twenty-three games this season. Last year the Rockets were 12-11-0-0 after twenty-three games…The Rockets have scored 79 goals in twenty-three games this season after scoring 84 times in the teams first twenty-three games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 71 goals against this season after surrendering 71 goals after twenty-three games last year…Ryan Huska has 96 regular season victories as the Rockets head coach.

Central scoutings list doesn't include Adam Brown

I have to admit I was a little surprised when I didn't see Adam Brown's name on the list of Central Scouting's preliminary rankings for this summers NHL draft.
The list, released today, featured the top 20 players eligible from the Western Hockey League and the top six goaltenders.
Adam Brown's name wasn't there.
Why?
The only think I can think of is size. At 5'10 maybe NHL scouts aren't sure he's big enough?
This doesn't mean Brown won't get drafted, but to see six goalies ahead of him from the WHL did surprise me.
No other eligible Rockets player made the list either. Ok, maybe that's not exactly true. Luke Moffatt, Rockets property, is rated 13th of eligible U.S players heading into the draft.
Curtis Hamilton, Rockets gm Bruce Hamilton's son, is rated 12th while fellow Kelowna resident Ryan Harrison is ranked 14th.

Wudrick @ Practice

Geordie Wudrick arrived at Rockets practice today. The 19 year-old forward was wearing a helmet with #11 on the back...Colin Long's old number. Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton says Wudrick will play alongside Brandon McMillan. I would anticipate Kyle St. Denis will also be on that unit.