Fans Still Bashing Deal with Pats

• It appears hockey fans in these parts are still having a hard time grasping the 6 player trade last December between the Rockets and Pats. One caller to a Rockets phone in segment Monday on AM 1150 thought the trade was terrible, and that the Rockets were the big losers in what he described as a lopsided deal. But what the caller doesn't realize is the Pats better win this year with the players they obtained in that deal, because two of three are ineligible next season. Troy Ofukany and Kaspars Saulietis are twenty-year-old players on the Pats this season, while Kurt Hill is a 19 year-old. By comparison, Justin Bernhardt, obtained in the deal still has a year of junior eligibility left while Jason McDonald has two years remaining. Kyle St. Denis, the reason why the trade was consummated in the first place, has three years remaining after this season. Add it up. Which team gets more service out of the players they acquired? Obviously it's the Rockets. The caller also stated that the Rockets would have made the playoffs had they not made the trade. The truth is, they probably would have. What would they have gained from that experience is the better question. Two playoff homes games, considering they would have been penciled against Memorial Cup champion Vancouver in the first round? I hate to say it, but would the Rockets have beaten the Giants after acommplishing it just once in 8 attempts during the regular season? If the Rockets could do the deal over again, they'd do it in a heartbeat.
• If you can't get enough of Rockets hockey, I encourage you to join David, Phil Johnson and myself every Monday morning at 9:05 on AM 1150 http://www.am1150.ca/ for 'Ice Time'. We take 30 minutes and chat about the weekend that was, and look ahead to the Rockets upcoming schedule. You can call in at 862-2525 with questions or comments, and I promise I won't rag on you on this blog unless you too think the Rockets got the short end of the deal in the Pats trade last December.
• I've got to say it. How good would Shaun Vey look in a Kelowna Rockets uniform? With the Americans having four overage players, now that Colton Yellow Horn has returned to junior, is Vey the odd man out? Three goals in three games to start the season likely has Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton kicking tires about obtaining the former Vancouver Giant. But how many other GM's are also interested? Vey scored 23 goals last season with the Americans, after he was obtained from Vancouver after he left the club in the 2004-2005 season. One would think the price for Vey would be high, even though he has just one year of junior eligibility remaining.
• Do you think Cory Clouston is smiling these days? His former team, the Kootenay Ice are 0-3 to start the season. Ice new head coach Mark Holick is likely fairly concerned with the slow start. It just goes to show that Clouston was a good coach. No matter what type of team Clouston guided, he seemed to get the most out of his players. Holick is still finding his way, and is hoping the slow start is just an early hiccup in a long season.
• Is Clayton Bauers future with the Ice in doubt? The former Rocket has played just one of the Ice's first three games. Kootenay has 5 overage players on it's roster, so Bauer will likely have some anxious moments before GM Jeff Chynoweth makes a decision on his three 20's.
• Am I the only one keeping my eyes out for Mark Messier at the next Rockets home game. The father of Rockets forward Lyon Messier will surely show himself at a Rockets home game this season. He will undoubtedly get a seat in the Rockets luxury box if he takes in a game, but we'll do our best to get him into the broadcast booth for a little chat if he appears at Prospera Place.
• The Kelowna Rockets really don't matter. If you look at the Western Hockey League website, the Rockets do not appear in power play stats, penalty kill stats or in overall penalty minutes statistics. I'm sure it's just a glitch in the system, but I thought it was odd that the Rockets were left out.
• Former Rockets forward Troy Bodie is literally fighting for a spot with the Edmonton Oilers this season. Bodie got into an exhibition scrap with Calgary Flames d-man Dion Phaneuf Saturday night. It will be interesting to see if Bodie is back in the Oilers lineup tonight with an exhibition game in Phoenix.
• Blake Comeau remains with the New York Islanders. Comeau had 13 minutes of ice time in Monday's 5-4 overtime exhibition win over the Rangers.