Don't Be Blue At 0 and 2!

• Ok, get ready for everyone to panic about the Rockets 0 and 2 start. Losing 5-2 in the Tri Cities and 2-1 in Portland was not what the team envisioned heading into the weekend, but considering who remains at NHL training camps, did we expect them to open the season 2 and 0? Not one for excuses, the coaches won't let the players off the hook, but having a lineup that consisted of three 16 year-olds and ten-17 year-olds makes it extremely hard to win on the road this early in the season.
• Why shouldn't we panic with the 0 and 2 start? The Rockets started the season 0 and 2 in 2004-2005. That year they won the WHL title.
• Who did I like on the weekend? I thought Kyle St. Denis worked hard in both games, and I didn't mind the play of defenseman Curt Gogol. I also found it interesting that Aaron Borejko recieved significant power play time on the weekend. The coaching staff clearly see an upside to the rookie defenseman's abilty to make smart plays with the extra man. Borejko is a 5th round pick of the Rockets from 2006.
• Lucas Bloodoff will be out of the Rockets lineup indefinitely with a broken hand suffered in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Tri City Americans. Bloodoff broke the hand while trying to block a shot. It was the 19 year-olds first game back after attending the training camp of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• The Rockets welcomed back Brandon McMillan from the NHL training camp of the Anaheim Ducks. McMillan arrived at the rink in Tri Cities to late to play in the teams opening game, but was in the lineup Sunday against the Hawks.
• Give the Portland Winter Hawks some credit in Sunday's win. They received solid goaltending from Jordon White and two goals from Colin Reddin in the win. While the Rockets allowed just 9 shots on goal through 40 minutes, the Hawks were able to squeeze out the home ice win. For a team that won just 11 games all of last season, to get a victory this early in the season is huge.
• What wasn't huge was the crowd last night in Portland. It was sad to see. When just 18 hundred fans show up in a building that seats 10 thousand, it must be extremely disappointing for the players. It may take more than just winning for the Hawks to win back their fans.
• I had a chance to speak with Keith Hamilton before last night's game. Hamilton is the 16 year-old Portland goaltender who was born and raised in Kelowna. Hamilton's dad - Larry - is the Kelowna Rockets billet coordinator. In speaking to Keith, he says his role model is former Rockets team captain Brett Palin, and for good reason. Keith Hamilton's family billeted Palin for the entire 5 years he played in a Rockets uniform.
• Hamilton's mom, dad and sister took in both games on the weekend. In speaking to Hawks head coach Richard Kromm, he anticipates Hamilton playing in close to 20 games in his rookie season.
• I spoke to the public address announcer of the Portland Winter Hawks prior to Sunday's game. He told me he is now in his 18th season behind the mic, and will call his 600th home game in October. His "here come the Hawks" came through loud and clear during Sunday night's game.
• I found it strange that the Hawks organization allowed music to be played while the play was going on during the first period. You see it in basketball, but I just don't think it fits well with hockey. I found it took away from the game, and didn't add to it.
• It will be a sad day today as Torrie Jung says goodbye to his teammates. Jung will clean out his locker before heading to Nanaimo. Jung will sit at home as the Rockets work out a trade. Jung was made expendable when the Rockets acquired 20 year-old goaltender Kris Lazaruk from the Kootenay Ice Friday night.
• I've heard that Spokane Chiefs radio man Mike Boyle has his name on the Memorial Cup. The Chiefs, winners of the covetted trophy in 2008, had all of the players and coaches names put on the cup and included their radio guys name as well.
• You have to marvel at AM radio. Friday night as we were traveling to Tri City, we tuned into a game between Prince Albert and Saskatoon. For about 20 minutes we could clearly hear CKBI's Drew Wilson calling the play-by-play on AM 900.