A Two-Way Horse Race For Backup

• It is down to just two 16 year-old goaltenders to challenge for the backup spot to veteran Torrie Jung. Dylan Tait, the Rockets 5th round pick in the 2006 WHL bantam draft is battling against 16 year-old American born Adam Brown. Tait won't turn 17 until March 1st while Brown turns 17 on October 12th. Both goaltenders will get sufficient playing time in the exhibition schedule as they try to earn a spot on this years roster.


• The Rockets released 18 year-old goaltender Daniel Salamandyk and 16 year-old Patrick Fairclough. Fairclough was a 10th round pick of the Rockets from 2007. Salamandyk will attend UBC this fall as he takes the first step in earning his doctorate. He's a smart, focused kid, and we wish him well.


• The Rockets now have 29 players on their roster. Seventeen of those are forwards, along with 9 defenseman and three goaltenders.


• The Rockets 2nd round pick in the 2007 WHL bantam draft will see some exhibition playing time. Spencer Main avoided the 11 cuts that were made Saturday.


• Mitchell Callahan, from Whittier California remains with the team. The 17 year-old showed some impressive moves in the intersquad game Saturday night. The only note I made on my lineup sheet when I watched him on the weekend was 'dangler'.


• The results are in. Cody Almond, Evan Bloodoff and Torrie Jung stood out in physical testing conducted by Rockets athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn. Honorable mention goes to Tysen Dowzak, Brandon McMillan and Tyler Myers. What is interesting to me is of those six players mentioned, only one is not attending an NHL training camp this fall. Evan Bloodoff gets little recognition, but the spark plug deserves full credit for coming into camp in tip top shape.