McColgan Impressive @ Rockets Main Camp

It may only be the first day of the Kelowna Rockets main camp, but 15 year-old Shane McColgan didn't look out of place. The Rockets #1 pick from this summers WHL bantam draft looked anything but intimidated on the ice with first round draft picks Luke Schenn and Tyler Myers. You can view one of many shifts that McColgan had during Tuesday night's workout. In case you haven't figured it out, he's the guy with the yellow helmet.

One of six goaltenders attempting to earn the back-up spot to veteran Torrie Jung is 16 year-old American born Adam Brown. Brown, who has duel citizenship because his dad is Canadian, is familiar with the Western Hockey League after being placed on the Lethbridge Hurricanes 50 man protected list earlier this summer. Brown told the Hurricanes that he wasn't interested in playing there, so was subsequently released and picked up by the Rockets. Brown should know something about hockey. His dad is Newell Brown, the assistant coach of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks. Last season Brown played midget hockey in Dallas Texas.

• Brown wasn't the only goaltender that impressed in Tuesday night's workout. Penticton's Darren Hogg looked good along with Rockets drafted netminder Jordon Cooke. It's clear that the battle of the back-up's will be one of the most interesting stories at training camp over the next three weeks.
• I am not sure how the teams were picked for main camp, but 'Team Teal' is stacked. Team Teal had Colin Long, Jamie Benn, Luke Schenn and Tyler Myers. By comparison, Team Red had Kyle St. Denis, Brandon McMillan, Evan Bloodoff and Tysen Barrie that stood out. Let's just say Team Teal had the majority of the territorial play in the evening scrimmage.
• Joey McEwan is attending Rockets main camp. McEwan is the younger brother of former Rockets captain James McEwan. Last year Joey attended rookie camp.
• Fifteen year-old Dylan Simpson is getting a chance to shine at main camp. Simpson is the son of former NHL'er Craig Simpson. While his dad was a forward, Dylan is a defenseman.
• Things got feisty during Tuesday night's workout when veterans Evan Bloodoff and Tyler Myers began pushing and shoving. The two dropped their gloves, but no real punches were thrown as the much larger Myers did a good job of tying up the aggressive Bloodoff.
• The Rockets will have a new look this season. The team has parted ways with the Reebok helmets and have gone to CCM. While the two are owned by the same company, you will notice that the helmets do look different. Colin Long and Jesse Paradis, who were linemates in Tuesday's scrimmage, were just two of very few veterans not wearing the new gear.
• I unfortunately didn't have a chance to see European Lukas Matejka. Matejka's group was not on the ice in the evening session. Fellow Euro Stepan Novotny is scheduled to arrive in Kelowna in the next couple of days.