It Was Ugly, And I Loved It!

• The Kelowna Rockets knew a solid start was imperative, but likely didn't expect to walk all over the Cougars by scoring the first four goals of the game, and taking a 6-1 lead into the first intermission. While the new look Cougars struggled in every facet of the game, including the goaltending of veteran Real Cyr, the Rockets looked like a well oiled machine, dictating the play at every turn.
• Cyr was pulled after the first period after giving up 6 goals on 16 shots. 17 year-old Ian Curtis did marginally better in the final 40 minutes. Curtis, making his Cougar debut after being acquired from the Swift Current Broncos this week, gave up 5 goals on 15 shots and allowed three goals on the three shots he faced in the final frame.
• It was nice to see Dylan Hood score three times in the win, the 17 year-old's first hattrick of his young WHL career. Hood's hattrick was the first by a Rockets forward since Justin Keller scored three times December 30, 2005 on the road in Calgary.
• The Rockets 11 goals last night matches an 11 goal outburst against the Vancouver Giants January 5, 2002 in a 11-2 home ice win. Dating back to the start of the 1996-97 season, the Rockets have never scored 11 goals in one game on the road.
• The Rockets have now won 6 straight games, having out-scored the opposition 34-5 over that period. The 6 straight wins ties a season high set earlier this season when the Rockets rolled off 6 straight wins from October 30th to November 10th.
• The Prince George Cougars organization knew their would be night's like these...but not this bad. Unofficially last night's 11-1 loss by the Cougars was the worst defeat in franchise history.
• Brady Leavold had 1+3=4 while Hood had 3+1=4 in the game. Leavold now has an 8 game point streak, with 6 goals and 10 assists over that period. Leavold was named the games first star and you would think would be in the running for the WHL player of the week on Monday with his solid play of late?
• Colin Long has done it. Long has temporarily moved into sole possession of first place in the WHL scoring race. Long had two assists, moving one point up on Chilliwack's Mark Santorelli for the league lead.