Sleepless in Seattle

Rockets Head Coach Jeff Truitt likely had a sleepless night as the team bus headed back from Washington State without a win on the weekend.

The Rockets suffered a 4-3 shoot-out loss Friday night in Everett, and last night extended their winless streak on the road to a franchise tying 10 games, with a 2-1 loss in Seattle.

The Rockets got off to a good start against the T-Birds with some good jump in the early stages of the game getting 10 shots on goal in the first frame.
After an early second period goal from Justin Bernhardt to make it 1-1, it looked like the Rockets were on their way to getting into the win column on the road for the first time since December 27th.

But after that Bernhardt goal, the Rockets flat-lined.

Without team captain Chris Ray, who suffered a shoulder injury and didn't return after being tripped into the boards in the first period, the Rockets simply couldn't generate enough quality chances on T-Birds goaltender Derek Yeomans.

And give the T-Birds some credit, as they took very few penalties in the game, so the Rockets couldn't even generate chances with the extra man.
As it turned out the game winner was scored by Greg Scott of the T-Birds when the Rockets were on the power play.

Regan's Rocket observations from the weekend:

I always like when coaches reward players by putting them in the starting lineup if they are playing in their home town or against a team they used to play with. Rockets Head Coach Jeff Truitt put Clayton Barthel and James McEwan in the starting lineup against the T-Birds Saturday night. A nice move considering both were T-Birds last season and were playing in Seattle for the first time this season.

The T-Birds were wearing a third jersey last night, which essentially looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs road jersey's with the word 'Seattle' on the front. The colors were simple with Blue with white trim, but the name bars were terrible to see on the back of the jersey's.

I was hopeing to witness the two youngest players in the WHL meeting face to face Saturday at the Key Arena, but it didn't happen.

Evan Bloodoff was in the lineup for the Rockets, but the T-Birds scratched 16 year old Sena Acolatse.

Acolatse turned 16 on November 28th making him the youngest player in the Western Hockey League this season, seven days younger than Evan Bloodoff, who was born November 21st, 1990.

It's not often that I have a conversation with a Western Hockey League referee, but Friday night in Everett I ran into Zac Wiebe.
Wiebe is from my hometown of Swift Current, and I remember him as a stick boy/helper for the Broncos when he as a little kid.
Now he's a grown man, and is trying to make a name for himself as an up-and-coming referee.
Wiebe is living in Omaha, Nebraska where he is doing all kinds of games from the W.H.L to the Western Professional League.

It's always nice when radio colleagues can get together after a W.H.L game.
I had a chance to meet up with Silvertips play-by-play man Keith Gerhart after Everett's 4-3 shoot-out win over the Rockets.
Gerhart has to be having a fun season calling Tips games considering they've had so much success this season.
Gerhart fears the first round where the Tips will face one of three teams, Tri City, Spokane or Seattle - and all three have the potential for an upset.

I chatted with Tips forward Moises Gutierrez before Friday's game.
What an awesome interview.
This 20 year-old talks like a 30 year-old pro. He spoke about getting out of Kamloops in the off-season and how hockey is now fun again.
Is he not the come-back player of the year?
He had just 15 goals with the Blazers last season and has 35 goals this year while leading the W.H.L in power play goals with 24.
He says playing for Kevin Constantine is tough, but it's made him a better player.
Despite failing to sign a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who drafted him a couple of years ago, Moises says the two sides are now talking about a deal thanks to the improvements he's made with his game this season.

Man do I feel sorry for Craig Cuthbert.
The former Rocket has only 1 assist with the Saskatoon Blades this season.
Sure he is likely playing a checking role with the Blades, but one point in 16 games isn't going to cut it.
Plus he is a minus 6.
He is going to be hard pressed to make that Blades team next season.

And one final thought on the weekend brings me to my color analyst David Michaud.
David made the trip with me down to the states this weekend for games against Everett and Seattle, and we had a great time.
He's a great guy to be with away from the rink, and is enjoyable to work with when we are on the air.
While Michaud is only in his first season of doing Rockets hockey, he has no broadcasting background yet has tremendous insight and brings a comical slant to a broadcast that we often times take to seriously.
I am not sure if Michaud is the best color analyst in the league, but I can guarantee you one thing, he's the best dressed.
Now if I could only stop him from cheering for the Leafs.

I'm off to bed, will post Monday on some interesting observations inside the Rockets bus!