"It's my fault, I'm to blame"

"It's my fault, I'm to blame".
That's how a dejected Kelowna Rockets head coach Ryan Huska spoke about not having another player out on the ice to kill a power play in Saturday's eventual 6-5 overtime loss to the Tri City Americans.
A Brandon McMillan five minute major penalty at the halfway point of the third period had expired with the Rockets holding a 5-2 lead. But because Huska hadn't put another player into the penalty box to serve the 5 minute McMillan penalty, once the major expired, the Rockets were unable to put another man on the ice until the next whistle. Myles MacRae jumped off the bench in the confusion to make it a 5 on 4, but was called for too-many-men on the ice. T.J Fast would score during the mishap, making it a 5-3 game. The visitors got momentum, scoring two goals in a span of just 1:21 to tie the game at 5. In overtime, on a Tyson Barrie penalty, Erik Felde would score as the Americans came away with two points in a come-from-behind 6-5 overtime win. Was it the sole reason the Rockets blew a 3 goal lead late in the game? I don't think so, but Huska wasn't having any of it. The bottom line is Huska could have passed the buck on the miscue. He could have taken the lesser traveled road by overlooking the mistake. But Huska is a coach of integrity, and didn't hide. He even went as far as to tell his players after the game that he was to blame. It took guts to come clean. The way I see it - if it was going to happen - it's best he get it out of the way early in his career. While the overtime loss does sting, the Rockets still managed a point in the game. But knowing Huska, the single point should have been two.

Random Thoughts:

• Up until being ejected, Brandon McMillan was solid in the Rockets home opener. McMillan scored twice, matching his goal total from all of last season.
• The Rockets power play was a threat to score on about every chance they had. Kyle St. Denis and Tysen Barrie just about hooked up for a power play goal on a slow developing 3 on 1. St. Denis appeared to be passing the puck to a streaking Colin Long who was going hard to the net, but at the last second spotted Barrie who was the trailer on the play. Americans netminder Kyle Birch made the save, but the play was executed to perfection. Last season the Rockets looked confused with the man advantage, yet in game one, the unit looked crisp and well oiled. Lets just hope it continues. The Rockets were 2/4 on the power play. The Americans were 4 for 8.
  
• Myles MacRae and Justin Bernhardt showed me some good things in game one. I thought both 19-year-olds showed good work ethic in the overtime loss.
• I can't say I was disappointed with any Rocket in Saturday's overtime loss. At times the team struggled in their own zone, but I thought those struggles were sporadic rather than a constant last season. I chatted with Steve Long (Colin Long's Dad) at the post game show. Even Long's grandpa and grandma made the trek up for Saturday's game and Wednesday's tilt against Vancouver.
• I felt so bad for Huska after Saturday's game. We have always had great chats on the air during his time as an assistant coach, but to see him down and out like that is something I want to avoid in the future. He could have avoided us (radio post game show) after the game, but came up and faced the music. You have to admire him for that!
• Another solid crowd at Prospera. Just over 62 hundred strong, the teams 121st straight sellout.