The Rockets Captain Is.........

• The Rockets organization is be holding a 'Captain's Luncheon' next Tuesday at Manhattan Point restaurant. The luncheon is a chance for the Rockets to announce the team captain for 2007-2008. We all have a good idea on who the captain will be, simply because of the coaching staff and managements high praise for this individual last season.
• Lyon Messier is now a Kelowna Rocket. His father Mark Messier was nicknamed 'Moose'. The offspring of a moose is a calf. So is Lyon Messier's nickname with the Rockets calf? It has a bad ring to it doesn't it.
• If Messier remains with the team, how sweet would it be for his dad to be a guest coach for one of the Rockets practices? Messier did participate in a Pro vs. Prospects game with Lyon's team in Texas last season, so it's not out of the question.
• Do you want to play goal for the Rockets? With Torrie Jung at the training camp of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kristofer Westblom has been the only goaltender during practice this week. But let me clarify by saying, Westblom is the only roster goaltender at practice this week. Wayne Pansegrau, the husband of Rockets Executive Assistant Carrie Pansegrau has elected to offer his services, and has geared up to tend goal. I would have offered my services (being a former goaltender), but head shots would have likely been prevalent had I donned the pads. That, and they would have lite me up like a Christmas tree! Not even Kim Dillabaugh could help me, and he's a miracle worker.
• The Rockets had four pro's practicing with the team on Tuesday. Former Rocket Justin Keller was joined by alumni Kris Mallette, Jason Deleurme and Kevin Korol.
• Brandon McMillan skated Tuesday, but didn't take any contact with the bad shoulder. Justin Bernhardt (groin), Kyle Verdino (shoulder) and Matt Brusciano (concussion) didn't practice.
• I had a good chat with Luke Schenn Tuesday. You have to love the kid. He is as personable as they come, and he's from Saskatchewan, so how can you not like the guy? Schenn is fighting off the flu bug after returning from the Canada-Russia Super Series. Schenn had a great time,rooming with Seattle Thunder Bird d-man Thomas Hickey. Schenn wore sweater number 15 for Canada, so I asked him if he would consider changing his number with the Rockets from 5 to 15 this season? Nope. Schenn says #15 is a forwards number, and he's sticking with old faithful - #5.
• I read that Jon Keen and the Swift Current Broncos radio crew are getting ready to do an exhibition game in Kindersley this weekend. The first WHL game I ever called was in that Saskatchewan community back in 1995 when the Swift Current Broncos faced the Medicine Hat in an exhibition game. Eldon Moberg was my analyst that night, and to say I was awful would be an understatement. I can't remember who won, only the fact we did the game in a plexiglas surrounded broadcast booth. You couldn't get a feel for the game, you couldn't hear the players calling for passes and the referee's whistle was barely audible. Maybe that experience alone is the reason why I bock when it's suggested we do a Rockets exhibition game on the radio.
• AM 1150, Kelowna's newest radio station - and the home of the Rockets - has a new website. http://www.am1150.ca/. In two weeks that website will include David Michaud's blog and yours truly. Yes we are moving from this location to the radio station website. If you are a regular reader of this blog, we will keep you in the loop when we make the jump over.