Now That's More Like It!

• Fans and media have been thirsting for this type of emotion between the Rockets and Blazers for what feels like an eternity. The so-called heated rivalry between the two BC division teams has been anything but over the last while, yet that changed dramatically Friday night. In the Rockets 7-4 win, fans were treated to three fights, some big hits and a general disdain for one another. I loved it. It took these two teams four games to get a hate-on for one another, so let's just hope the remaining four games between the two follow a similar path.
• The game featured three fights. Rockets defenseman Tysen Dowzak danced with Blazers newcomer Scott Wasden just moments after the Rockets took a 3-0 lead. Dowzak won the fight, but Wasden’s efforts woke up his team, who were in a sever hole just 5 minutes into the game. Give Wasden credit for trying to jump start his team.
• Rockets European Milan Kytnar bit off more than he could chew when he fought Blazers d-man Ryan Bender, while Lucas Bloodoff took a few in a lopsided fight with Kamloops defenseman Mike Gauthier. Despite Gauthier’s dominance in the Bloodoff tilt, I still liked the way Bloodoff answered the bell against one of the league’s toughest players.
• The Rockets built up a 3-0 lead just over 5 minutes into the game thanks to two of three odd goals. Defenseman Riley McIntosh scored his first WHL goal after his weak shot from the blueline appeared to hit a Blazer and change direction, fooling Kamloops goaltender Justin Leclerc. The Rockets 3rd goal came after Myles MacRae’s shoot in from centre ice hit the end boards before hitting LeClerc in the leg and going in. Despite the 3-0 lead, the Blazers were the victim of simply some bad breaks, and nothing more. Head Coach Greg Hawgood has to be applauded for not pulling Leclerc, but sticking with him despite some less than favorable bounces. The Blazers got back on track after the timeout and scored the next three goals.
• This game had everything. Fans witnessed some huge hits in this one, including Blazers 16 year-old Jimmy Bubnick laying out Rockets forward Brandon McMillan and Lucas Bloodoff getting the better of what appeared to be Blazers defenseman Mike Gauthier attempting to lay the boom on the unsuspecting forward.
• I thought Rockets forward Jamie Benn was fortunate to be accessed just a 2 minute minor for roughing after punching Blazers forward Juuso Puustinen in the mouth with a solid right hand. Benn got at it with Puustinen after the Euro sideswiped Rockets defenseman Tyson Barrie with a questionable hit.
• Keep your hands to yourself! C.J Stretch learned that the hard way in what turned out to be the game winning goal. I am not sure if Stretch meant to do it, but he tapped Rockets defenseman Collin Bowman in the head with his glove after teammate Shayne Wiebe scored by beating Bowman and then goaltender Kristofer Westblom. Stretch was given a unsportsmanlike penalty which resulted in Tyler Myers goal, giving the Rockets a 5-4 lead heading into the 3rd period.
• Four of the Rockets 7 goals were scored by defenseman. Coming into last night’s game the d-core accounted for just 9 goals combined.
• The Rockets 7 goals last night now gives them 98 this season. Those 98 goals are second to only the Tri Cities (99) in the Western Conference.
• It is always nice to see Blazers assistant coach Andrew Milne. Milne and I go back to our days with the Swift Current Broncos, and it’s great to see him mature into a pretty good junior coach. While he was rewarded with a contract extension prior to the sale of the Blazer franchise, let’s hope Milne sticks around when Tom Galardi evaluates all aspects of the franchise at seasons end. If the Blazers play with as such enthusiasm as Milne brings to the rink everyday, the team is in good shape.
• Shaw did last night’s game between the Rockets and the Blazers. It’s always nice to chat with Dan Russell and Bill Wilms prior to game time. These two veterans have called numerous junior games over the years, and my general impression is they love the junior game as much today as they did when they were calling radio games in the 80’s.