Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• Rockets captain James McEwan will sit out Wednesday's game with a concussion. McEwan was hit hard in the late stages of Sunday's 5-3 win in Vancouver. McEwan won't be making the trip to Tri City along with defenseman Tyler Myers. Myers is still nursing a sore shoulder that he hurt Friday night in Everett.
• Rockets forward Matt Brusciano will make the trip with the team, meaning he is close to returning to the lineup. Brusciano could play Wednesday after missing the first 24 games with a concussion.
• If you missed it, here is the interview David and I had with Rockets assistant coach Jeff Finley Saturday night when Finley returned to Portland for the first time in over 20 years. Finley played with the Hawks for three seasons in the early 80's. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FFinley%20in%20Portland.MP3&nid=623777&
• Speaking of Portland, it's been a tradition in that building for as long as I've known, that when the Hawks coming out of their dresssing room and hit the ice, you hear the public address announcer yell this from the top of his lungs. I love it:http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FHere%20Come%20the%20Hawks.MP3&nid=623774&
• The Rockets face a huge test Wednesday night. The Tri City Americans are dominant on home ice. The Americans have just one loss in their last 26 homes games dating back to last season. The only team to beat the Americans in those 26 games are the Everett Silvertips. The Tips beat the Americans earlier this season by a 2-1 score.
• The Rockets 11 games with at least a point is impressive, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Rockets 24 game unbeaten streak the team set in the 2002-2003 season. The Rockets went 24 straight games without a loss before falling to the Kootenay Ice by a 6-4 score.
• Why do I like the Everett Events Centre so much? Listen to the fans in the background when the Tips score in overtime. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FOvertime%20Loss%20in%20Everett.MP3&nid=623775&.
• I haven't learned much in my 14 years of broadcasting hockey, but why don't more radio announcers let the crowd noise tell the story? Radio is the theatre of the mind, yet I find far too many announcers want to jump in and talk immediately after a goal is scored. Let the home town crowd carry the excitement that is in the building. That in my opinion makes the game come alive! Maybe I'm just old school?
• One more piece of audio for you on a day when the Rockets board the bus for the trip to Tri City. This is Sunday's game winner against the Giants, with Lucas Bloodoff scoring on the power play. http://www.am1150.ca/player/player?mediapath=&type=mp3&fi=files%2Fam1150%2Fsrimedia%2FOvertime%20Loss%20in%20Everett.MP3&nid=623775&