Rockets Making A Charge for First?

• Rockets head coach Ryan Huska said his best players had to lead the way against a Hawks hockey club which had won just twice in 12 road games this season. Well, two 18 year-olds led the charge in a 4-2 home ice win Saturday night. Colin Long scored twice and added an assist while Luke Schenn had 3 helpers in the teams 16th win of the season. I thought players like Jamie Benn, Brady Leavold and Cody Almond were just average at best.
• Rockets rookie Tysen Barrie was named the first star for his three assist effort. All three helpers came on the power play as the Rockets built up a 4-0 lead. Just one of Barrie's points this season have come even strength. That's right, 19 points have come with the extra man. One media type said in the broadcast booth that Barrie will be better than Duncan Keith. It's hard to argue after what Barrie has done at the tender age of 16.
• Rockets forward Kyle St. Denis was steamrolled by Portland defenseman Bo Montgomery early in the game, and after one shift, elected to pack it in. The coaching staff said St. Denis was just too woozy after the hit and sat him out for precautionary reasons. I just can't see St. Denis playing tonight against Chilliwack. I was simply amazed that after the hit, he got up and made it to the bench without the aid of the training staff or a teammate.
• I am not here to criticize any Portland Winter Hawks, but will instead point to players I thought showed some jam for the visitors. I thought as a team, the Hawks could have packed it in after trailing 4-0, but kept their nose to the grindstone and closed the gap with back-to-back markers in the 3rd. While Tristan King scored both goals for the Hawks, it was Chris Francis who I liked the most. Francis may be small, but skates extremely well. I liked Bo Montgomery on the back end, especially considering he is just 17. Montgomery makes mistakes back there, but is a physical force and plays the simple game.
• I had to laugh at a scrum that ensued after a stoppage in a goal mouth scramble in the second period inside the Rockets zone. Hawks defenseman Ryan Kerr was one of several players pushing and shoving after the whistle had blown. Kerr actually had his helmet off and shed his gloves looking to fight, yet didn't receive a penalty on the play. Only Rockets forward Jamie Benn got a penalty for roughing. Kerr played with an edge (border line dirty) all night long, and showed some nastiness on the Hawks blue line. When I suggest border line dirty, I don't want that to be perceived as a bad thing. I like when players go there and show some attitude or bite.
• Color Analyst David Michaud and I had a great chat with Hawks goaltender Kurtis Mucha before the game. We chatted about the hard times the Hawks have had this season, his inability to get drafted this summer in the NHL draft and his WHL record setting performance with a 65 save effort against the Chilliwack Bruins last month. The well spoke goaltender is a rising star in the WHL, yet it's unfortunate he plays on a team which simply can't help him out.
• Rockets defenseman Tysen Dowzak left last night's game with an undisclosed injury. Sitting out the final 20 minutes of last night's contest has me wondering if he will even play against the Bruins on Sunday. Dowzak has been just great this season, as a no-nonsense type of defenseman, who has really come into his own as a 19 year-old veteran.
• It was interesting to see Rockets goaltender Torrie Jung attempt to go for the open net with time ticking down, and the Hawks pulling the goaltender for the extra attacker. Jung got the puck behind his own goal and fired it towards center ice, before it was knocked down by a Hawk as time expired. Jung told me afterwards it was a selfish play on his behalf, but with 4 seconds left in the game, I saw no foul. Who was the last Rockets goaltender to score a goal? Jeff Calvert, as a member of the Tacoma Rockets.
• Best save of the game? How about Hawks Tyler Swystun playing goal as Rockets forward Jamie Benn attempted to fire the puck into the empty net as Portland pulled the goaltender late in the 3rd.
• The Hawks wore their 3rd jersey last night. The mainly white jersey with a stripe across the midsection with the wording 'Portland' looked pretty cool. I don't mind any 3rd jersey where you can identify the number and name bar on the back of the uniform. The worst jersey's to see for my eyes? The Vancouver Giants.
• Hey Hawks fans, remember the Vancouver Giants won just one road game in 36 back in the 2001-2002 season. The Giants were 1-32 with 3 overtime losses on opposition ice that season.
• It's interesting to point out that the Rockets are just 7 points back of Spokane for the WHL overall points lead. Let's don't get ahead of ourselves, but if you told me that on December 2nd that they'd even be close, I wouldn't have believed you!
• Canada announces it's training camp roster Monday for the World Junior team. It has to be on the mind of Rockets defenseman Luke Schenn, who is undoubtedly on Hockey Canada's radar.