A Formidable Force 5 on 5

• The Kelowna Rockets were simply the better team 5 on 5 in a 5-1 win in Prince George Friday night. Only a solid goaltending display from Cougars goaltender Real Cyr kept this game close after twenty minutes. While the Rockets scored two of their five goals with the power play, it was the teams play even strength that was the most dominant.
• Rockets rookie d-man Tyson Barrie was named the games first star for his two point effort. Barrie's goal came on the power play, yet his single assist was his first point this season even strength.
• Tysen Dowzak was again at his best in this one. The defensive defenseman continues to get rave reviews from the coaching staff. Dowzak is playing like a physical force while making the simple plays in the defensive zone.
• Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn again threw some big hits in this one. Myers hammered Jan Kupec with a thunderous hit, which had Kupec immediately headed to the Cougars dressing room. Kopec returned, but felt the ill affects from the huge hit.
• Cougars forward Dana Tyrell showed a tremendous work ethic, and was by far the best Cougar. But as the game wore on he tended to do things himself against a Rockets defense core which was smothering at times.
• Rockets goaltender Kristofer Westblom earned the win in his 100th career game. Oddly enough Westblom earned his first WHL win against the Cougars in a shutout victory back in 2004.
• Brady Leavold's name won't be found on the score sheet, but again played with determination and energy. Leavold showed some good restraint in the second period by not retaliating despite getting a cross check from a Cougar defenseman near the two benches.
• Milan Kytnar recorded his first multiple goal game of his career. His second goal was on a weak backhand that beat Cyr between the legs. It didn't matter though, as the game was out of reach by that point.
• It's worth noting Myles MacRae snapped a 13 game pointless streak with an assist in last night's game.
• The Rockets have now won 5 straight games, and have points in 6 straight. When was the last time the Rockets won 5 in a row? It was February 22nd to February 28th 2006. In fact the Rockets won 7 in a row before losing to Portland March 4th in a 2-1 loss.
• Westblom told David and I that the players are attempting to grow mustaches for the road trip to Alberta and Saskatchewan next month. It's best some of the younger players get an early start, as the art of growing facial hair likely won't come easy.
• It was my first look at the new scoreboard at CN Centre. The scoreboard includes a video monitor which is 6 feet high and about 7 feet wide. At a cost of just over a million dollars, the video monitor receives rave reviews from this broadcaster. For the record, the new scoreclock is paid for by the city of Prince George. Let me clarify by saying, that's what I was told by the two guys running the thing!
• I was pleased to see wireless internet at the CN Centre. Frankly it should have been in years ago, but with Prince George hosting the Royal Bank Cup last spring, it was a must to provide internet access to the media. Now if the visiting radio announcer can just get a p.a feed into the broadcast booth, we will no longer have anything to bitch and complain about.