Here we are just 6 days away from the Rockets home opener, and I've been asked numerous times if this years team will be better than last year. I think the Rockets will be, if they improve in these three key areas.
1) Improved Work Ethic: You still can't persuade me that the Chilliwack Bruins were a better team (skill wise) than the Rockets last season. Sure they had the deadly three-some of Moller, Aspenlind and Santorelli, but the offensive production dropped off dramatically after that. The Bruins scored just 13 more goals than the Rockets while allowing 15 more against. Down the stretch the Bruins just worker harder than the Rockets did. The young, inexperienced Rockets were so focused on the Bruins in their rear view minor, they lost sight of simply winning hockey games. Once the Bruins had moved past the Rockets for the final playoff birth, it was just too much to overcome. This season the Rockets have to come out and play desperate hockey every night, not occassionally. I don't care if they are playing a team with more skill. Heart and determination will go a long way in collecting valuable points during the regular season.
2) Improved Power Play: The Rockets were dead last with the man advantage last season, and on most night's even a single goal would have made the difference between collecting a single point, or even two, with a win. Puck handling defenseman who make clear decisions with the puck are essential to a good power play. While the Rockets are relying on a 16 year-old - hello Tyson Barrie - to lead the charge, his ability to move the puck around as the quarterback on the power play will go a long way towards the teams success with the extra man. Are the Rockets crazy to rely on a 16 year-old to be the quarterback on the power play? Remember Giants d-man Jonathon Blum? Giant head coach Don Hay used the 16 year-old consistently two short seasons ago. Sure he made mistakes back there, but he also manufactured scoring chances for his teammates. Blum is now a Memorial Cup Champion, a draft pick of Nashville, and is still just 18 years-old.
3) Improved Road Success: Six road wins won't cut it in any league, unless your 36 and 0 at home. The Rockets and Portland had the fewest road wins last season, yet the Rockets have the bragging rights of losing fewer games (or earning more points on the road) with 26 losses as compared to the Hawks 27. If the Rockets (in a worst case) can double the total number of road wins from one year ago, it would be a big step forward. Twelve victories on opposition ice doesn't sound like alot, but it would almost match the highest road win total of a team in the Eastern division last season. First place Brandon had just 14 road victories all of last season. It appears the days of playing .500 hockey on the road are fading. Fourteen of the 21 teams in the WHL last season had a winning percentage of less than .500 on opposition ice. Only Vancouver, Medicine Hat, Kootenay, Tri City, Everett, Seattle and Calgary were classified as GOOD road teams.
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