Rockets Game Notes vs. Americans

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Americans are meeting for the first time this season. The Rockets make a return visit on November 4th before the Americans make two appearances in Kelowna on November 19th and January 14th. Last season these two teams opened the 2007-2008 season against one another, this time in Kelowna, with the Americans earning a 6-5 overtime win. Overall the Rockets were 0-3-1-0 against the Am’s last season, and were out-scored 18-8. The Rockets are riding a four game losing streak in Kennewick, dating back to the 2005-2006 season. The last win by the Rockets at the Toyota Center was February 25, 2006 in a 4-3 victory. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Portland Sunday for a 5 o’clock start before traveling to Kamloops to face the Blazers Friday September 26th. The Rockets first home game of the regular season is Saturday September 27th against the Blazers.
The Rockets are starting the regular season on the road for the first time since September 21, 2006 when they fell 3-1 to the Bruins in Chilliwack. The Rockets are 3-3-1-0 with a tie in their last 8 regular season openers dating back to the 2000-2001 season. Seven of the Rockets first nine games are on the road.

Who’s Back: The Rockets return 17 veterans from last years team. Leading that list is last years leading scorer Colin Long. Long led the team in points (101) and assists (64). Second year forward Jamie Benn is also back. Benn led the Rockets in goals scored last season with 33 in just 51 games. Both Long and Benn combined for 64 goals last season. The Rockets return 6 of their top 7 scorers from a year ago.

Gone But Not Forgotten: Six players from last year’s team are no longer around. Brady Leavold, James McEwan and Kristofer Westblom have graduated. Leavold and McEwan are playing pro hockey while Westblom is playing Canadian college hockey this year. Colin Joe and Milan Kytnar were traded to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the off-season while Myles MacRae elected to leave the team and play his twenty-year old season in the BCHL.

Nine is Devine: Nine members of the Rockets attended NHL training camps this year. Luke Schenn was in Toronto, Tyler Myers in Buffalo and Brandon McMillan with Anaheim. Colin Long attended Phoenix Coyotes camp, while goaltender Torrie Jung was in Tampa Bay. Cody Almond was with Minnesota while Tysen Dowzak received a tryout with the New York Rangers. Lucas Bloodoff also received a tryout with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jamie Benn is the only signed player, and attended the camp of the Dallas Stars. The nine players attending pro camps was a team record.

Exhibition Exploits: The Rockets were 2-1-1-0 in exhibition with wins over Vancouver and Spokane. The Rockets suffered a regulation loss to the Giants and an overtime loss to the Chiefs. The Rockets scored 11 goals in the four games they played, while allowing 11 goals against. Rookie forward Stepan Novotny led the Rockets in exhibition scoring with 2+2=4.

Rockets Review: Last season the Rockets won 38 games and finished with 84 points. Those 84 points were good for 5th place in the Western Conference and a date with the Seattle Thunderbirds in round one. The Rockets would lose out to the T-Birds in seven games. The Rockets had 21 home ice and 17 road wins last season.

By The Numbers: The Rockets scored 248 goals last season, 4th best in the Western Conference. The Rockets allowed 215 goals against, 5th worst in the West. The Rockets had the 7th best power play in the WHL last season at 19.9%. The Rockets would score 82 goals with the extra man, which were the second most power play goals in the league behind the Vancouver Giants 85.

Broadcasters Quick Hits: Rookie Stepan Novotny played high school hockey at Shattuck St. Mary’s, the same school that Sydney Crosby attended. Rockets defenseman Tysen Dowzak also attended the prep school…Rookie forward Mitchell Callahan scored 38 goals last season playing with the LA Midget Kings. Callahan is an undrafted player, but made the team on a tryout….Rockets 17 year-old goaltender Adam Brown’ father Newell is an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks...Rookie defenseman Curt Gogol’s father Brent played with Victoria and Billings of the WHL in the late 70’s. Brent Gogol still holds the WHL record for penalty minutes in a season with 511 in 1977-78….The Kelowna Rockets have 6 American born players on their roster this season, a franchise high. Everett also has six.


Tonight’s Notables: Jamie Benn had a career high 6 points (2+4=6) against Prince George Jan 19/08….Benn had eight – two goal games last season….Brandon McMillan is playing in his 127th career game tonight….Tyson Barrie is playing in his 72nd career game tonight. Barrie has 46 career points…Cody Almond had 13 multiple point games last season…

Rockets Schedule - Next 5 Games: Rockets Results - Last 5 Games:

Sept 21 @ Portland
Sept 26 @ Kamloops
Sept 27 vs. Kamloops
Oct 1 vs. Everett
Oct 3 @ Medicine Hat

Rockets Players by Province: BC=10 US=6 ALB=4 SASK=1 MAN=1 EURO=2 Total=24

Rockets Season Highs and Lows:

Most Goals Scored:
Most Goals Allowed:
Most Power Play Chances:
Most Power Play Goals Scored:
Most Power Play Goals Allowed:
Most Shots Taken:
Fewest Shots Taken:
Most Shot Allowed:
Fewest Shots Allowed:
Last Shutout:
Last Time Shutout:
Penalty Shots:
Shootout Game Winning Goals:

vs. BC: vs. US:
vs. Central: vs. East:

Roster Stats:
Player total: 24
Year by Year Breakdown:
20’s – 1 Dowzak
19’s – 6 Long, Benn, Jung, Almond, L. Bloodoff, Schenn
18’s – 7 E. Bloodoff, McMillan, McIntosh, Myers, Novotny, St. Denis, Hood
17’s – 8 Brown, Verdino, Gogol, Borejko, Bowman, Callahan, Matejka, Paradis
16’s – 1 Main
Average Age: 17.2
Rookies – 7

Record by Month:
Month Games Record Home Road
September: 4 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
October: 13 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
November: 10 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
December: 10 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
January: 14 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
February: 14 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0
March: 7 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 0-0-0-0

NHL Draft Picks-Training Camp Attendees: Luke Schenn (Leafs 08), Tyler Myers (Sabres 08), Colin Long (Coyotes 08), Brandon McMillan (Ducks 08), Jamie Benn (Dallas 07), Torrie Jung (Tampa Bay 07), Cody Almond (Minnesota 07), Lucas Bloodoff (Tryout Lightning 08), Tysen Dowzak (Tryout Rangers 08).

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel (AM 1150)