Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• I found it interesting that Shane McColgan says one thing he needs to work on is controlling the intensity in which he plays. It doesn't seem like a problem to me. My theory is you can't teach someone to play with intensity. It's either a part of your makeup or it's not. I would take a player who plays an overly intense game over one who doesn't appear to have a pulse. Pulling back the reins is far easier than whipping a dead horse.
• McColgan told me his mother was born in Saskatoon. That would enable McColgan to have dual citizenship if he so chooses down the road. If he is an elite player, which the Rockets assume he will indeed eventually be, he could have the choice of playing for either Canada or his native U.S if the opportunity of playing international hockey arises.
• McColgan also told me his mother Kelly was an elite swimmer in her day. McColgan says she was close to representing Canada at one time at the Olympic Games. It obviously shows that athleticism is part of his genetic makeup.
• I am amazed at how mature today's kids are. McColgan spoke confidently when I gave him a call yesterday. He was enthused about being a member of the Rockets, and appears excited to attend rookie came this fall. Unfortunately for all of the players taken in Thursday's draft, we will have to wait patiently, as they can't play until 2009-2010.
• McColgan is coached by Jack Bowkus, who has also guided the playing careers of WHL'ers like Colin Long, Mitch Wahl, Jonathon Blum and C.J Stretch. One wonders if the success Bowkus is having developing skilled California kids, would he not someday be considered for a coaching job at the WHL level? Bowkus, 40, is a alumnus of the Saskatoon Blades.
• Bowkus has high praise for Colin Long. When I asked him about Long's success this season and the potential of the Rockets leading scorer being drafted this summer, he had this to say. "He (Long) will be a big name in the NHL someday", Bowkus told me Thursday. "In ten years the NHL team that drafts him will say, are we ever glad we took him:"
• The Rockets last pick is the draft was Dillon Simpson from Edmonton. Simpson is the son of former NHL, turned broadcaster Craig Simpson.
• While the NHL draft is still a ways away, the possibility of having two Rockets selected in the top 10 in Ottawa is a good bet. It happened last season when the London Knights had Patrick Kane (#1) and Sam Gagner (#6) selected in the top 10. The last WHL team to see two of it's players selected in the top 10 were the Medicine Hat Tigers, when Jay Bouwmeester (#3) and Joffrey Lupul (#7) were selected in 2002.