Rockets host Bruins
Friday November 2, 2007
Game Time ‑ 7:00 pm
Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Bruins are meeting for the first time tonight. The Bruins are one of just two B.C division teams the Rockets face ten times this season. The other is the Vancouver Giants. After tonight’s game these two teams collide tomorrow night in Chilliwack in the first of three straight appearances at Prospera Centre, before playing back-to-back games in Kelowna January 9th and 18th. Last season these two teams met eight times, with the Rockets sporting a record of 4-4-0-0. The Rockets won three of the first four games between the two teams before the Bruins won three of the last four contests. While three of the eight games were decided by a single goal, the Bruins shutout the Rockets twice last season. Overall the Rockets were out-scored 21-18. The Rockets are coming off a 6-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday night, recording just their second regulation win on home ice this season. The only other regulation win for the Rockets at home was a 5-0 victory against Calgary October 10th. Tonight the Rockets are concluding a three game home stand. Following tonight’s game the Rockets will be playing 7 of their next 8 games on the road.
Breaking Down October: The Rockets top point getter in the month of October was Cody Almond. Almond had 3+10=13 points in 11 games during the month. Almond was a +1. Almond’s totals came after Rockets head coach Ryan Huska made him a healthy scratch just four games into the season. Colin Long was a close second in October with 4+8=12 points, and was a +6. Brandon McMillan was in third spot with 3+6=9 points, while recording a +5 rating.
Almond’s Outburst: Cody Almond set a career high with 5 points (1+4=5) in Tuesday’s win over Kamloops. It marked the first time a Rockets forward had registered five points since Blake Comeau turned the trick in October 2005 against Spokane. The last Rockets forward to register five points against the Blazers prior to Almond’s outburst was Cam Paddock, who had five points against the Blazers in November 2001.
Schenn Back Again: Rockets defenseman Luke Schenn returns to the Rockets lineup tonight after missing the last two games with a suspension. Schenn was suspended after receiving a major penalty for charging in a game against the Kamloops Blazers. Schenn will represent the WHL against a touring team from Russia during the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge next month in Medicine Hat and Cranbrook.
Bye Bye Bernie: The Rockets traded 19 year-old forward Justin Bernhardt to the Prince Albert Raiders Thursday for a 4th round draft pick. Bernhardt was acquired in a 6 player deal with the Regina Pats last December.
Who’s Hot: Colin Long has points in eight of his last nine games. Long has 4+8=12 over that period. Jamie Benn has gone five games without a goal. Kyle St. Denis snapped a 8 game goal scoring drought Tuesday night against the Blazers. Cody Almond has points in seven of his last 9 games and has been held off the score sheet in just four of the 14 games he’s played this season. Myles MacRae is pointless in 10 games. Last season MacRae had just four goals before Christmas, before responding 10 times after the break. Lucas Bloodoff has three goals in his last two games after going 13 games without a goal to start the season.
This and That: The Rockets have given up a power play goal in 12 of the 15 games they’ve played this season…The Rockets have been involved in a one goal game in 6 of their first 9 home games. The Rockets are 0-4-1-1 in those one goal contests…The Rockets have scored 29 goals on home ice this season while allowing 26 against…The Rockets have out-shot the opponent in just 5 of the teams first 15 games this season. The Rockets have managed the feat against Kamloops (twice), Vancouver, Seattle and Everett.
Broadcasters Quick Hits: The Rockets have been involved in eight – one goal games this season, including five of the last seven at home. The Rockets are 1-4-1-1 on those seven games…The Rockets all-time are 8 and 8 in the shootout…The Rockets record after fifteen games this season is 6-7-1-1, which is good for 14 points. Last season after fifteen games the Rockets record was 4-9-0-2, which was good for 10 points…The Rockets home record this season is 3-4-1-1 which is good for 8 points. Last season the Rockets home record was 3-4-0-2 after 8 games, which was good for 8 points.
Tonight’s Notables: Luke Schenn is playing in his 146th career game tonight. Colin Long played in his 100 career WHL game October 13th in Spokane. Rockets overage forward Brady Leavold played in his 135th WHL game Oct 6/2007 in Seattle. One hundred thirty-three (133) of those games have been played as a member of the Swift Current Broncos. Tysen Dowzak played in his 100th WHL game September 26th against Vancouver. Cody Almond played in his 100th career game October 19th against Everett. Colin Joe has the most games under his belt of anyone in the Rockets lineup. Joe plays in his 192nd career game tonight. James McEwan played in his 175th game October 6/07 in Seattle.
Rockets Schedule - Next 5 Games: Rockets Results - Last 5 Games:
Nov 3 @ Chilliwack Rockets 3 Spokane 4 L
Nov 7 vs. Red Deer Rockets 2 Giants 1 SHW
Nov 9 @ PG Rockets 3 Kamloops 5 L
Nov 10 @ PG Rockets 3 Moose Jaw 4 SOL
Nov 14 @ Kamloops Rockets 6 Kamloops 1 W
Rockets Players by Province: BC=13 US=4 ALB=3 SASK=2 MAN=1 EURO=1 Total=24
Rockets Season Highs and Lows:
Most Goals Scored: 6 vs. Blazers Oct 30th (6-1 W)
Most Goals Allowed: 6
Most Power Play Chances: 9 vs. Warriors Oct 27/07. Rockets were 0/9 losing 4-3 in shootout.
Most Power Play Goals Scored: 2
Most Power Play Goals Allowed: 4 @ Everett Sept 29/07
Most Shots Taken: 37
Fewest Shots Taken: 9 @ Vancouver Sept 29/07 (5-0L)
Most Shot Allowed: 48 @ Vancouver Sept 30/07
Fewest Shots Allowed: 13 vs. Blazers Oct 30/07 (6-1 W)
Last Shutout: - Kristofer Westblom 28 saves vs. Calgary (5-0 W)
Last Time Shutout: - @ Vancouver Sept 29/07 – Sexsmith 9 saves (5-0 L)
Penalty Shots: Torrie Jung stopped Michal Repik in the 3rd period of a 5-0 loss Sept 29/07.
Shootout Game Winning Goals: Dylan Hood scores in a 4-3 win in Seattle October 6/07. Colin Long scored the game winner in a 2-1 win over Vancouver October 24th.
vs. BC: 3-3-0-0 vs. US: 2-4-1-0
vs. Central: 1-0-0-0 vs. East: 0-0-0-1
Roster Stats:
Player total: 24
Year by Year Breakdown:
20’s – 3 Westblom, McEwan, Leavold
19’s – 3 Dowzak, MacRae, Joe
18’s – 8 Long, Kytnar, Brusciano, L. Bloodoff, Jung, Schenn, Almond, Benn
17’s – 6 St. Denis, E. Bloodoff, McIntosh, Myers, McMillan, Hood
16’s – 4 Bowman, Barrie, Paradis, Verdino
Average Age: 17.8
Rookies – 7
Record by Month:
Month Games Record Home Road
September: 4 1-2-1-0 0-1-1-0 1-1-0-0
October: 11 5-5-0-1 3-3-0-1 2-2-0-0
November: 13 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
December: 12 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
January: 13 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
February: 11 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
NHL Draft Picks-Training Camp Attendees: Jamie Benn (Dallas 07), Torrie Jung (Tampa Bay 07), Cody Almond (Minnesota 07), Milan Kytnar (Oilers 07), Tysen Dowzak (Tryout Philadelphia).
Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel (AM 1150)
3 comments:
Hey Regan do you not think we could of got more than a draft pick for JB?? I'm thinking we gave up on him to quick, or maybe he wanted outa here real bad, but give me a break - PA over Kelowna, where would you rather play??
I guess it depends if he was homesick or not. I'm from Winnipeg and sometimes the mountains make me a little clausterphobic (sp) and wish i was back in the 'Peg. If he was homesick like Finley said, I can sympathise with him
I will ask that to Bruce Hamilton when we discuss Bernhardt and the teams play in an interview this week. Not sure if it will run tonight or Saturday. My own thought is the Rockets gave him a try, and felt that as an older player, he could potentially be a bad influence on the team. I'm not saying he wasn't well liked, but with a young team you still have to be cautious of bad influences. Did it matter to him if the Rockets lost, or did he just accept it? I can't answer those questions, but maybe the Rockets thought it was worth moving him now before he was worth nothing a year from now? See Jason MacDonald. No one showed interest when he was shopped around the league, yet once he was released, Kootenay of course picked him up for free. Let Bernhardt's trade be a wake up call for any of the 19 or 20 year-olds. Being an older player, and not contributing (or caring) doesn't sit well with the GM.
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