Jeff Truitt won't follow Britney's Lead

Jeff Truitt won't have to shave the hair off his head.

He won't have to get a tattoo.

Nope, he won't even have to go into rehab.

He doesn't have to follow the lead of pop singer Britney Spears who has accomplished all three things over the last couple of days.

All Truitt wanted to accomplish Tuesday was a win over arch rival Chilliwack. He got it, meaning a meltdown for the Kelowna Rockets coach isn't necessary after a 4-1 win.

Truitt went home with a sense of relief after the victory.

Was he dancing for joy?

Not a chance, but he was pleased to see his team move back into sole possession of 4th place in the BC division, now just two slim points up on the expansion franchise.

The Rockets had some energy in this one, and looked pretty good in the first period by trying to set the physical tone early. I thought Clayton Barthel was the leader in that area.

With the game scoreless after one, I thought the Rockets elevated the play in the second period right after an abbreviated power play.
The Rockets coaching staff must have said something specifically to the defenseman, who stepped out of the comfort zone by rushing with the puck and at times actually initiating offense inside the Bruins zone.
I saw Clayton Barthel in a place I have never seen him this season...behind the opposing teams net.

Are you kidding me?

It was a sight to be hold let me tell ya. It was that extra threat from the back end that enabled the Rockets to dominate the 2nd period, and score 3 goals in just over 4 minutes to take a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Frankly the period could have been better for Kelowna and worse for Chilliwack if Bruins goaltender Matt Esposito didn't make two huge stops on Colin Long and Justin Berhardt.

Speaking of Bernhardt, he played with a lot more determination and heart in this hockey game. He often appears lazy, and has no battle level while trying to move away from a defenseman while carrying the puck, or simply battling along the boards. He appeared to want to win puck battles, which was encouraging for a player who needs to step up with the absence of Chris Ray, who will likely miss games this weekend because of a sore shoulder.

While the third period saw the Rockets struggle in their own zone, the bottom line is they allowed just one goal in the game, so full marks are given for a solid defensive effort. While the Bruins tried to retaliate with a goal in the 3rd, you could sense this time around a collapse wasn't about to happen because the Rockets discipline was better, and they did a great job in getting in front of shooting lanes.

Regan's Random Thoughts:

We saw another piece of the Rockets future on display when defenseman Collin Bowman made his W.H.L debut. The Rockets 2nd round pick in the 2006 bantam draft saw spot duty on the Rockets defensive core.
Bowman is playing junior 'B' hockey this season in Spokane, Washington.

Bruins forward Aki Kangasmaki has one if not the best name in the Western Hockey League, but his skating has something left to be desired. I can't believe a euro skates that bad.

Rockets Director of Marketing/Game Operations Anne Marie Hamilton wasn't at Tuesday's game against Chilliwack. She was home sick in bed. It's the first time she's missed a game in 14 seasons.
Anne-Marie's Husband Gavin Hamilton was joking that now G.M Bruce Hamilton may want her to stay home on Friday when the team hosts Lethbridge, considering the Rockets won with her absent from Tuesday's game.

'Nine was divine' for the Rockets in the 4-1 win over Chilliwack.
Cody Almond now has 9 goals on the season after scoring a pair in the win, while Lucas Bloodoff and Colin Long also scored their 9th goals of the season.

Justin Bernhardt and David Schulz were wearing bandannas during the team's 'sewer ball' game outside the dressing room before the game. Schulz would only say he got the odd looking bandanna at 'the dollar store', and they were not being worn as a good luck charm.
The way I see it, those two should wear them again before Friday's game.
Who knows, maybe that odd head gear has mystical powers?

Rockets defenseman Tyler Myers didn't play in Tuesday's game because of a groin injury. The training staff are not sure he will be able to play for team Alberta at the upcoming Canada Winter Games.
In total the Rockets have four players headed off to Whitehorse, including Evan Bloodoff, Riley McIntosh, Brandon McMillan and Myers.

League Commissioner Ron Robison was in Prince George last night.
Robison calls Prince George the most concerning market in the W.H.L.
“There’s no question it’s a major concern to the league,” Robison said Tuesday.“It’s been in a free-fall for the last number of seasons. Prince George used to be in the top four (attendance-wise), now it’s in the bottom four. We’re concerned particularly because there’s a much more competitive team on the ice this season.