Rockets Snap Giants 20 Game Unbeaten Streak

• A win is a win. After going 4 games without a victory in the pre-season, Saturday night's victory over the Giants must have felt good for a young Rockets team that has had little success.


• It was Ryan Huska's first win as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets. Sure sure it came in the pre-season, but Huska had to be happy by snapping the Giants 20 game exhibition unbeaten streak. On top of that, Huska beat his former junior coach, Giants bench boss Don Hay.


• Myles MacRae had three goals in the win. MacRae has been on the score sheet with regularity in the pre-season, but haven't we seen this song and dance before? MacRae led the Rockets in exhibition scoring last year and then ended up finding the net just 14 times. Will the real Myles MacRae please stand up! The Rockets need this guy, and at 19, must be an impact player for this team.


• James McEwan had two goals, both on the power play. Is he the Rockets new secret weapon with the man advantage? The answer is no! The Rockets were down to 8 forwards and 4 d-men because of injury, meaning McEwan and others got plenty of playing time, including several shifts on the power play.


• Rockets forward Evan Bloodoff appears to be a little sturdier out on the ice as compared to last season. The younger Bloodoff worked his tail off last season, and wasn't afraid of getting involved, but often found himself off balance and spending a significant amount of time on his knees.


• Veteran goaltender Kristofer Westblom has tremendous rebound control. It really showed in last night's game against the Giants. Westblom would guide shots to the corners, while Giants rookie goaltender Kraymer Barnstable simply couldn't clear pucks on his own, resulting in several goals by the Rockets by simply crashing the net.


• Collin Bowman impressed me. The 16 year-old defenseman plays a Brett Palin type of game. He isn't fancy, does a nice job of taking the body, and has a pretty decent shot from the point.


• The Giants were running at 16 year-old Rockets d-man Tyson Barrie all night. The skilled rearguard can expect that type of attention all year long. Giants veteran Tim Kraus went as far as pushing Barrie's head into the ice, getting a penalty for roughing. Rockets forward Colin Long showed some aggression, by having some choice words for Kraus with Barrie laying on the ice favoring his cheek.


• Forward Justin Bernhardt saw little to no action in the third period of last night's game complaining of a sore groin.
• I like the youth of the Vancouver Giants. James Wright, Lance Bowma and Evander Kane have the Giants in good shape down the road.


• Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton did not attend last night's game. Hamilton is in Toronto at C-H-L meetings.


• It was feared forward Brandon McMillan may have separated his shoulder in Friday's exhibition loss in Vancouver. But talking to Rockets head coach Ryan Huska, McMillan's right shoulder which is in a sling, is just badly bruised.


• The injury bug has bit the Rockets in pre-season. Sixteen year-old Rockets rookie defenseman Kyle Verdino didn't play in Saturday's rematch after getting hurt Friday. Matt Brusciano was also hurt in Saturdays game. Early indications show he may have a concussion.
  
• The Tampa Bay Lightning prospects dropped their second game of the Traverse City Prospect Tournament, 3-1, to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. Rockets goaltender Torrie Jung, drafted in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning, made 22 saves on 25 shots in his Lightning debut.