What's The Pre-Season For?/Rookie Goalie Gives Rockets Options

• I was asked Monday by AM 1150 morning man Phil Johnson if I was concerned about the Rockets 0-3 record at this past long weekend's WHL pre-season tournament in Edmonton/St. Albert.
  I didn't see any of the three games, which saw the Rockets out-scored 13-6 by the Edmonton Oil Kings, Swift Current Broncos and Regina Pats, so making comment on games I didn't even witness wouldn't be wise. That said, addressing the importance of winning in pre-season is free for debate.
  I told him I'm concerned, only for the fact I want to see this team succeed, something they only experienced 22 times last season. But the last time I looked, a teams exhibition record does absolutely nothing for you in the regular season standings. Some will argue it can often give you a positive feeling about yourself, and your teammates heading into the regular season later this month. The Rockets coaching staff likely used the three games in Central Alberta as an evaluation period for several players. Who are the Rockets top 4 d-man? With proper evaluation, maybe that question has now been answered. Who should play with whom? How many rookies should make this years team after icing 14 rookies at various times over the course of last season? In my opinion winning shouldn't cloud a coaches mind about the ultimate goal and purpose of exhibition games - evaluating talent and implementing a solid work ethic.


• What I found most interesting during the trip out East was the use of rookie goaltender Dylan Tait. Tait saw action in 2 of the 3 games on the weekend, and was named the Rockets player of the game in Monday's 3-2 loss to Regina. Tait, the Rockets 5th round pick in the 2006 WHL draft, was given a chance this weekend to prove to the coaching staff that he can play at this level. From my vantage point - and I had no discussion with the coaches about this - but from an outside observer it looks to me like the coaching staff want to see if Tait can potentially back-up either Kristofer Westblom or Torrie Jung full-time. If either veteran is dealt, Tait could be called into action on short notice. Or do the coaches keep Tait around for the season, waiting in the wings as Westblom and Jung fight it out to see who will earn the #1 duties? I've seen it done before, but to the detriment of a young goaltender. During my time with the Swift Current Broncos, a 16 year-old goaltender by the name of Tysen Motz spent the season with the team, essentially as a third string goaltender. A practice goalie if you will. The belief back then was Motz was better served practicing with the team rather than sending him back to his hometown of Abbotsford BC, where at the time the midget program was brutal, and the Broncos feared Motz may choose the college route if he elected to play in the BCHL. Motz, the Broncos 8th round pick in the 1996 draft, never turned into the franchise goaltender many had predicted. His year of simply practicing and seeing no ice time as the third wheel, stunted his development as a goaltender. Motz would play just 59 games with the Broncos over his career, before he was dealt to the Tri City Americans where he played 19 games before being shipped down to the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL. Last I heard, he was playing in the United Hockey League with the Motor City Mechanics. Will the Rockets make the same mistake? Highly unlikely! If Tait was going to hang around as a third goaltender, you can bet it wouldn't be for an extended period of time. Rockets goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh clearly knows what a young goaltender needs. It's called playing time, something that both Westblom and Jung crave. One thing is perfectly clear about the goaltending situation with the Rockets heading into a home and home pre-season series with the Vancouver Giants this weekend, both 'Westy and 'Junger are as competitive as they come, and want nothing more than to win, whether it's a regular season game or even exhibition.