Verdino Lucky to Be Alive

Kelowna Rockets defenceman Kyle Verdino is lucky to be alive.

Verdino was involved in a serious two vehicle accident late last month in Phoenix Arizona, breaking his ankle and left hand.

Kyle was driving to the gym when he was hit by an on-coming vehicle.

Charges in the accident have not be laid.

Verdino's father Ralph says his son also underwent plastic surgery after suffering significant cuts to the right side of his face.

Over 500 stitches were needed to close various lacerations on Verdino's face and body.

"When we saw his truck four days later at the salvage yard I said...(sigh). People were scared to ask how the driver was. One of the workers said we see a lot of wrecks and this is one of the top five that we've seen here, damage wise", Verdino added.

Ralph Verdino says his son should make a full recovery.

"The ankle they (doctors) figure he will have to be off of it for about six weeks, three without pressure at all and then in three weeks doctors will put a walking boot on him."


Editors note: Do to the sensitivity of the situation I gave Ralph Verdino the option of not commenting on the accident. Mr. Verdino found no problem with this incident being relayed to readers/listeners and hockey fans in Kelowna. In fact he appreciates the support Kyle's teammates have shown towards him on the road to recover.

Alumni Pics

Pictured above is Tyler Mosienko, James McEwan and Randall Gelech.

I had the chance to play a round of golf with Blake Comeau(left) and Troy Bodie (right).

Rockets Alumni Weekend Begins

• The Kelowna Rockets alumni weekend kicked off Thursday afternoon at the Harvest Golf and Country Club as past and current players gathered for the texas scramble format. I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with former Rockets Blake Comeau (Islanders) and Troy Bodie (Anaheim Ducks) and Bill Winters, a local accountant, who was instrumental in helping the Rockets make a successful bid in hosting the 2004 Master Card Memorial Cup. Did we win the tournament? No. Did we make some good shots? Yes. Did we have a great afternoon? Absolutely.
• Nashville Predators Shea Weber, Toronto Maple Leafs Luke Schenn, Montreal Canadiens Josh Gorges and Boston Bruins forward Chuck Kobasew were on hand for the event. Weber went so far as to purchase the jersey of Blake Comeau during the auction following dinner.
• Other alumni included Kristofer Westblom, James McEwan, Clayton Barthel, Brett Palin and Randall Gelech just to name a few.
• Current Rockets Cody Almond, Brandon McMillan and Evan and Lucas Bloodoff took in the event. Head coach Ryan Huska and assistant Ryan Cuthbert were also there.
• Former Rocket Brady Leavold is about to become a father for a second time. Leavold's fiancee will give birth to a baby boy in September. Leavold already has a 15 month old daughter.
• Mike Card is going to try his luck in Germany this season. After suffering through concussion problems, Card will play in Europe in an effort to get back to good health and improve his game. Card's off-season has been a long one after being sent home in February after suffering his second concussion of the season.
• Tyler Mosienko will also be playing hockey in Europe next season. Mosienko has signed a deal to play in Germany.
• Kiel McLeod will be playing in Italy this season.
• Cam Paddock was unable to play golf Thursday as he recovers from off-season hip surgery.
• This tournament last year raised 33 thousand dollars for the Kelowna General Hospital.
• Current Rockets defenseman Collin Bowman, despite failing to be drafted last month, will attend the training camp of the NHL's Ottawa Senators.

Spurgeon's Oiler Days Are Over

Tyler Spurgeon is no longer a member of the Edmonton Oilers. Spurgeon became a unrestricted free agent after the Oilers failed to offer him a contract Wednesday.
Originally drafted by the Oilers in the 8th round of the 2004 NHL draft, Spurgeon will now attempt to sign on with another interested party.

'Spurg' played 212 games with the Kelowna Rockets, winning two league championships and a Memorial Cup.

Pulkkinen A Rocket

The Rockets have selected 1992 born Finnish player Teemu Pulkkinen in today's CHL import draft.

Pulkkinen is a 5'10 - 170 pound left winger. Pulkkinen is undrafted.

Wikipedia has this information on him:

Pulkkinen competed for Finland at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships in the United States. He recorded 13 points in 6 games to finish third in tournament scoring behind teammate Toni Rajala and Russian Vladimir Tarasenko, helping Finland to a bronze medal

Video of Pulkkinen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7vecwtpPX0

Replacing Mikael Backlund

It won't be easy, but the Kelowna Rockets will attempt to find a replacement for the departed Mikael Backlund in today's Canadian Hockey League import draft.
Backlund will play this season with either the Calgary Flames or the Flames AHL affiliate.
Pending a trade, the Rockets have the 50th pick in today's opening round.
In most situations having the 50th overall selection would be bad news, but the import draft is a different animal.
The key to success in this draft is having connections, and a trust built between the C.H.L team and a european agent. Like a smooth talking salesman, the agent will often times stretch the truth on the abilities of the player he represents. These players are often times describes as Ferrari's, yet are nothing short of a lemon. They are clearly no better than what a 16 year-old North American player can bring to a team in his first season of junior hockey. It's up to the CHL teams to see through the smoke and mirrors and make an intelligent pick, sometimes on a player unseen.
The Rockets make their one and only pick at about 3 o'clock this afternoon. Only one selection is required, as Stepan Novotny will return for his second season with the Rockets in 2009-2010.

Three Rockets Selected By NHL Teams

• A few pleasant surprises for the Kelowna Rockets on NHL draft day. The selection of Tyson Barrie in the 3rd round by Colorado wasn't one of them. It was a given Barrie would be drafted, it was just a matter of what round, two or three. Barrie is just the 4th Rockets players taken by the Av's at the NHL draft. Luke Curtin (5th rd. 1996), Scott Parker (1st rd. 1998) and Kyle Cumiskey (7th rd. 2005).
• For his sake, I am glad the Tampa Bay Lightning never drafted him. While it would have made for a good story (Tyson's dad Len is co-owner of the Lightning), I'd prefer Barrie making his mark at the pro level without someone suggesting his father was the reason he was earning a chance at the NHL. No question Len Barrie has been one of the key reasons why Tyson is the player he is today, but the skilled d-man is mature enough and level headed enough to do things on his own. I'm confident that Tyson Barrie will be just fine developing into a pro player.
• It wouldn't be fair to suggest that Evan Bloodoff was off the radar of NHL scouts heading into this weekends draft, yet his modest offensive totals in his 3rd season in the WHL had you wondering whether teams would be interested enough to use a pick to acquired the playing rights to the Castlegar BC resident. Does he have pro potential? The Phoenix Coyotes think so after picking him in the 6th round. Despite playing at times on the teams fourth line, his ability to close quickly on opposition defenceman and his knack of breaking away from an opponent with lightning speed caught the eye of Coyotes assistant gm Brad Treliving, who made no less than three stops at Prospera Place this past season.
• You have to feel especially happy for Mitchell Callahan. A tryout at Rockets training camp last fall and now he is associated with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. Callahan is simply a good news story. When the Wings were making their second to last pick at the draft Saturday, they must have been looking for a player with no fear and someone who has a competitive edge. That player is Mitchell Callahan. Callahan led all WHL rookies in fighting majors with 20, and frankly could have had more had the coaching staff not pulled back the reins to contain his enthusiasm to chuck the knuckles. No question Callahan has many rough edges, but the Wings see a player who will go through the wall for his teammates, a trait you simply can't teach. The Wings have a proven track record of making astute moves late in the draft, and with a little time and patience along the way, maybe Callahan can be playing in Motor City someday.
• Congratulations to all three players for being recognized at the NHL draft.

Barrie an Av/Bloodoff a Coyote/Cally a Wing

The Colorado Avalanche have selected Tyson Barrie in the 3rd round, 64th overall in the NHL draft.
Barrie was the Av's 4th player picked in the draft.
It's interesting that Barrie joins Saskatoon Blades d-man Stefan Elliott as players drafted by Colorado. The two are former teammates and were often compared when talking about offensive defenceman heading into the draft.

*** Update: Congrats to Evan Bloodoff. The younger brother of Rockets forward Lucas Bloodoff, was drafted today by the Phoenix Coyotes. Bloodoff was drafted in the 6th round.

Mitchell Callahan was picked by the Detroit Red Wings, also in the 6th round.

Getting Your Friday Rockets Fix

Special thanks to the Chilliwack Bruins, and specifically Jacob Bestebroer for sending me these photos. Click on the photo's to enlarge. Bob Frid is the man behind the great pics. Spencer Main throws some body against the Bruins.
Belated happy birthday to Colin Long, who turned 20 last week.

Gugg's with the poke check.

That puck likely hit the iron and stayed out.

Tyson Barrie Will Watch NHL Draft From Home

I gave Kelowna Rockets defenceman Tyson Barrie a phone call today to see if he was going to Montreal for this weekend's draft. Barrie says he will be sitting back and watching the opening round Friday night at home in Victoria. (4 P.M Pacific) Here is a portion of our conversation. The remainder can be heard Friday morning on AM-1150 www.am1150.ca

The suggestion that Barrie will be selected in the second or third round:

"I would love to come out of no where and be selected in the first round, but I don't know how realistic that is. I really don't have any expectations. I was touted as a possible first rounder earlier in the year, but those were very early rankings."

Tyson responds to having a high profile dad. Len Barrie is the co-owner of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.

"People respect him and I've gotten this far with his help, but from here on out I want to do it on my own without going to Tampa Bay".

Regardless of what happens, Barrie says being drafted by any NHL team is an honor:

"I don't exactly think it really matters where you are taken now in the draft. I think it matters in three to five years. It's a little bit of a measuring stick now, but if you look at the record from previous drafts it's not always the top ten guys that are moving on, it's the ones who work the hardest."

For the record, Tyson's dad Len was a 6th round pick of the Oilers in 1988.