For the Rockets it's Magic # Time!

It's magic number time for the Kelowna Rockets.

With 6 games left to be played, and two points back of Chilliwack for the final playoff spot in the B.C division the number '5.5' means something significant for the basement dwellers in the division.

Bruins wins and Rockets Rockets losses adding up to 5.5 gives the expansion franchise the final playoff birth, while the Rockets will miss post season for the first time in franchise history.

If the two teams are tied after the regular season, a one game showdown would take place to decide who advances to the 'second season' and who goes home.

How close are these two teams?

They split the seasonal series 4-4, with the Bruins out-scoring the Rockets 21-18.

Name the only other teams in the Western Hockey League that has never missed the playoffs?

The Answer - the Everett Silvertips.

Every other team in the league (excluding Chilliwack which is new this season) have at one time or another missed post season.

The Western Hockey League is reviewing tape of a checking from behind incident involving Prince George Cougars forward Nick Drazenovic.

Drazenovic was given a 5 minute major and game misconduct for a hit on Rockets rookie defenseman Tysen Barrie in the late stages of the Cougars 7-4 home ice win Saturday.

The Rockets have sent in a tape to be viewed by league disciplinarian Richard Doerksen.

I would be surprised if Drazenovic was suspended considering his clean track record.

The longest suspension the Western Hockey League has awarded was to Red Deer's Pierre-Paul Lamoureux, who was slapped with a five game suspension for recieving a match penalty after what appeared to be a kicking motion in a fight in Swift Current January 31st.

The W.H.L is also expected to fine the Everett Silvertips for a lack of security following a game against Portland Friday night.

Everett fans began throwing debri at the Hawks bench, hitting Hawks Assistant Coach Brian Pellerin with a cup of beer, while Head Coach Mike Williamson just avoided an on-coming water bottle.

You have to hand it to overage goaltender Derek Yeomans.

A change of scenary hasn't hinder his game this season, it's made him better.

Yeomans again has been the workhorse, now as a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds after carrying the bulk of the load for the Kelowna Rockets last season.

Yeomans has recorded 10 straight wins, with his last loss coming back on February 7th against Spokane.

Yeomans has played in 51 games this season, just 3 shy of his personal best of 54 games as a member of the Rockets during the 2004-2005 season.

The St. Albert, Alberta product has played in 167 career games, and has 16 career shutouts.

Fortunately for Rockets fans, they can see him one more time when the T-Birds pay a visit to Prospera Place Friday night.

A former Tacoma Rocket goaltender will likely get bumped from the W.H.L record books this week.

Jeff Calvert, who played 152 games with the Rockets franchise from 1991-1994, is the league's all-time leader in games played by a goaltender with 229.

But Swift Current Broncos overage netminder Kyle Moir will leap frog over Calvert and will officially become the league's leader in games played when he faces the Regina Pats Wednesday night.

Moir will play in career game #230.

Moir was a 3rd round pick of the Broncos in 2001.

To my recollection, it's the highest pick the Broncos have ever used to acquire a goaltender at the bantam draft.

Can the Kamloops Blazers catch Vancouver for first place in the B.C division?

It won't be easy.

The Blazers play their final 6 games on the road, including a date in Kelowna tomorrow night.

The Tri City Americans may have the best schedule down the stretch playing 6 of their final 8 regular season games at home.

The Brandon Wheat Kings are competing with the Seattle Thunderbirds as the hottest team in the W.H.L.

The Wheat Kings haven't lost in 10 straight games, with the only glitch being a shootout loss to Moose Jaw.

The T-Birds have won 10 straight, with the last loss coming February 7th against Spokane.

A former Kelowna Rocket is enjoying his final season of junior hockey with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Selkirk Steelers.

Brent Howarth scored 49 goals with the Steelers this season, and was edged out of the league scoring title by his twin brother Kyle. Kyle Howarth, Brent's linemate had 141 points this season, 10 more than Brent's 131.

Congrats to Kyle St. Denis.

The Rockets forward, who was acquired from the Regina Pats earlier this season along with Justin Bernhardt and Jason MacDonald was named the Vernon Vipers rookie of the year at the teams awards banquet on Sunday.

St. Denis will play out his season with the B.C Hockey League team before joining the Rockets next season. St. Denis and the Vipers are meeting the Westside Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs tonight.

St. Denis had 24+34=58 in 54 games this season.