Game Notes vs. Rebels (A Day Early)

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Rebels are meeting for the one and only time this season. The Rockets fail to make stops in Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton this season. Last year the Rockets played twice in Red Deer, losing by scores of 4-2 and 2-0. The Rebels last appearance in Kelowna was back on November 11, 2005 in a 2-1 loss in overtime. Since the start of the 1997-98 season, the Rockets are 6-3-0-0 with one tie in their last 10 home games against the Rebels. The last loss for the Rockets on home ice against Red Deer came November 4, 2003 in a 2-1 setback. The largest margin of victory for the Rockets over the Rebels in Kelowna was back on November 5, 1997 in a 7-0 win. The Rockets are coming off a 4-3 win in Chilliwack Saturday night, with Kyle St. Denis leading the way with two goals in the teams 8th win of the season. Overall the Rockets have won 3 straight games, having out-scored the opposition 13-6. The Rockets have recorded a point in 4 straight games overall. After tonight’s tilt the Rockets play 7 straight games away from Prospera Place, which includes back-to-back games in Prince George this weekend. Overall the Rockets will play 13 of their next 18 games on the road.

1st Period Feeling: The Rockets have outscored the opposition 8-3 in their last 5 games. The Rockets have also out-shot their opponent in three straight games, and 5 of their last 6 contests.

Saving the Day @ 17: Seventeen year-old Evan Bloodoff scored the game winner in Saturday’s 4-3 win in Chilliwack. Bloodoff has five goals this season, one better than the four he scored in 59 games as a rookie. Bloodoff needs just one point to equal the 8 he manufactured all of last season. Bloodoff’s goal against the Bruins came on the heels of 17 year-old Kyle St. Denis’ two goal effort. Three of the Rockets four goals Saturday came off the stick of a player in the 17 year-old age group.

Winning with Westy: Rockets goaltender Kristofer Westblom has started three straight games, posting a record of 3-0, with a goal’s against average of 1.99 over that period. Oddly enough Westblom has been in goal in 7 of the Rockets 8 wins this season. Westblom’s next start will be his 99th of his career. Westblom’s next win will be the 50th of his career.

Call Me Mr. Consistency: Colin Long leads the Rockets in points with 6+14=20. Long has been held off the score-sheet in just four of the teams first 17 games. Long has 10 multiple point games this season, including a three point effort against Kamloops October 26th. Four of his six goals have come on the power play. Cody Almond has been left off the score-sheet in just five games this season.

Doing it with Defense: Manufacturing offense isn’t the only reason behind the Rockets recent success. Veteran defenseman Tysen Dowzak is a +7 in his last 8 games while Colin Joe is a +4 in his last 4 games.

Schenn Suits Up for WHL: Rockets defenseman Luke Schenn will represent the WHL against a touring team from Russia during the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge later this month in Medicine Hat and Cranbrook.

Who’s Hot: Colin Long has points in ten of his last eleven games (4+12=16), and has a three game point streak (1+4=5). Cody Almond has a four game point streak (2+7=9). Almond has points in nine of his last 11 games. Evan Bloodoff has three goals in his last 6 games. Brady Leavold snapped out of a 7 game goal scoring drought Saturday night in Chilliwack. Brandon McMillan has just one goal in his last 6 games. Myles MacRae is pointless in 12 games. Lucas Bloodoff has four goals in his last four games.

This and That: The Rockets have points in 4 straight home games (3-0-0-1), having outscored the opposition 14-8 over that period…The Rockets have given up a power play goal in 14 of the 17 games they’ve played this season…The Rockets have been involved in a one goal game in 7 of their first 10 home games. The Rockets are 2-3-1-1 in those one goal contests…The Rockets have scored 32 goals on home ice this season while allowing 28 against…The Rockets have out-shot the opponent in just 7 of the teams first 17 games this season. The Rockets have managed the feat against Chilliwack and Kamloops (twice), Vancouver, Seattle and Everett…The Rockets have been involved in ten – one goal games this season, including seven of their last 9 games overall. The Rebels can do one better with 13 one goal games played.…The Rockets all-time are 8 and 8 in the shootout…The Rockets record after seventeen games this season is 8-7-1-1, which is good for 18 points. Last season after seventeen games the Rockets record was 4-11-0-2, which was good for 10 points.

Tonight’s Notables: Luke Schenn is playing in his 148th 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 194th 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 9 @ PG Rockets 3 Kamloops 5 L
Nov 10 @ PG Rockets 3 Moose Jaw 4 SOL
Nov 14 @ Kamloops Rockets 6 Kamloops 1 W
Nov 16 @ Everett Rockets 3 Bruins 2 OTW
Nov 17 @ Portland Rockets 4 Bruins 3 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.
Overtime Winning Goal: Jamie Benn scored at 1:07 of overtime Nov 2/07 in a 3-2 win over Chilliwack.
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: 5-3-0-0 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 2-0-0-0 1-0-0-0 1-0-0-0
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)