Things That Make Me Go Hmm....

• Marc Habscheid stated in the Regina Leader Post Monday that he is interested in speaking with Pats GM Brent Parker about the vacant heading coaching position. If Habscheid indeed got the job, how odd would it be to see him behind the Pats bench with they make a visit to Prospera Place this season? The Rockets won't make a stop in Regina this season after doing the deed last year.
• What's Rockets forward Colin Long up to these days? Long is in Kelowna this week spending time with his billets and getting in some workouts with Rockets Athletic Therapist Jeff Thorburn. Nice to see Long pictured on the Phoenix Coyotes website wearing Coyotes colours. I don't want him to look too good in those colours though. I want him back for 2008-2009.
• Congrats to former Rockets forward Cam Paddock after signing a NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Just because he signs a deal with the Blues doesn't mean he's a slam dunk to play at the NHL level, but the fact he's gaining interest from the Blues is a feather in his cap. Paddock was originally drafted by Pittsburgh in 2002.
• The Rockets expect to have five goaltenders at their summer goaltending camp at the C-N-C this weekend. Veteran Torrie Jung will be joined by rookies Daniel Salamandyk and Dylan Tait and two other drafted goaltenders on the Rockets 50 man protected list. It only makes sense to have Jung as the legitimate #1 goaltender this season, but who earns the backup role? If I was a betting man Salamandyk is likely #2 on the depth chart, but don't count out Tait in challenging for the backup job either.
• Congrats to Vancouver Giants play-by-play man Joe Kenward for getting a piece of the pie as the Canucks have elected to go with a three man system for radio broadcasts this season. John Shorthouse will handle the majority of the duties, but Rick Ball will cover for Shorthouse on home games while Kenward will cover for Shorthouse on the road. Kenward's best move came when he moved from the smallest market in the CHL - Swift Current - and landed in one of the largest markets - Vancouver a few years back. If it was a calculated move on his part, Kenward looks like a genius. The remaining 21 radio broadcasters across the WHL are no doubt jealous. I'm not scared to admit it....I am! It's frankly nice to see a major junior broadcaster getting a chance to show his stuff at the NHL level. It rarely happens.
• It's interesting that both Kenward and Rick Ball are former broadcasters of the Kelowna Rockets. Ball called the play-by-play while Kenward was the color commentator before Ball left for Victoria after the 1999-2000 season and Kenward took a job in Swift Current. Kenward and Ball are not the first Kelowna broadcasters to call games at the NHL level. Jim Hughson had a short stay in Kelowna radio before eventually making his way to the 'show'.
• Colin Long isn't the only one wearing an NHL jersey. Jamie Benn is featured on the Dallas Stars website after signing a three year deal last week.