Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets conclude a mini two game home-stand tonight with a date against the Everett Silvertips. It’s the first of just four meetings between these two teams this season. The Rockets return the favor October 17th. The two teams will then hook up February 6th and February 21st to conclude the seasonal series. Last season the Rockets were 2-1-1-0 against the Tips, out-scoring them 16-12 in four meetings. The Rockets have won two straight heading into tonight’s battle after a 5-4 home ice win Saturday against the Kamloops Blazers. In that game Colin Long had two goals while Kyle St. Denis chipped in with a goal and an assist. Jamie Benn, Brandon McMillan and Tyson Barrie each had two assists. The Rockets scored five unanswered goals after the Blazers built up a 3-0 lead through the first 29 minutes of the game. Three of the Rockets five goals were scored on the power play. After tonight’s game the Rockets are on the road for three games in three nights. The Rockets are in Medicine Hat Friday, in Lethbridge Saturday before traveling to Cranbrook Sunday.
Breaking It Down: Of the fourteen goals the Rockets have scored this season, nine have come on the power play. Seven of the Rockets last 11 goals have come with the extra man. Of the 14 goals the team has scored in the first four games, six have come from the 19 year-old age group, while the 18 and 17 year-olds have each combined for 4 goals.
Myers & Benn: The Rockets welcome back Tyler Myers and Jamie Benn recently from NHL training camps. Myers was returned Tuesday by the Buffalo Sabres while Benn came back last Friday from the training camp of the Dallas Stars. Both had the privilege of playing in one exhibition game. The Rockets are now awaiting word on Luke Schenn and Tysen Dowzak.
Trade Winds Blow: The Rockets solidified their goaltending by acquiring veteran 20 year-old goaltender Kris Lazaruk from the Kootenay Ice for a 4th round bantam pick. The Edmonton Alberta produce has played 109 games over his four year career in the WHL. Last season Lazaruk played in 51 games.
Milestones:
Colin Long is playing in his 162nd game tonight. Long has 134 career points.
Evan Bloodoff is playing in his 132nd game tonight.
Brandon McMillan is playing in his 129th career game tonight.
Tyson Barrie has 49 career points and is playing in his 75th career game tonight.
Kyle St. Denis played his 71st career game Friday against Kamloops.
Jesse Paradis is playing in his 47th career game tonight.
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.
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.
Rockets Schedule - Next 5 Games: Rockets Results - Last 5 Games:
Oct 1 vs. Everett Rockets 6 Kamloops 2 W
Oct 3 @ Medicine Hat Rockets 1 Portland 2 L
Oct 4 @ Lethbridge Rockets 2 Tri City 5 L
Oct 5 @ Kootenay Rockets 5 Kamloops 4 W
Oct 10 @ Vancouver
Rockets Players by Province: BC=9 US=6 ALB=5 SASK=1 MAN=1 EURO=2 Total=24
Rockets Season Highs and Lows:
Most Goals Scored: 6 @ Kamloops Sept 26/08 (6-2 W)
Most Goals Allowed: 5 @ Tri Sept 21
Most Power Play Chances: 11 @ Kamloops Sept 26/08 – Rockets were 4 for 11
Most Power Play Goals Scored: 4 @ Kamloops Sept 26/08 (6-2 W)
Most Power Play Goals Allowed: 1 @ Tri Sept 21
Most Shots Taken: 40 @ Kamloops Sept 26/08 (6-2 W)
Fewest Shots Taken: 27 @ Tri Sept 21
Most Shot Allowed: 33 @ Tri Sept 21
Fewest Shots Allowed: 17 @ Portland Sept 22/08
Last Shutout: NA
Last Time Shutout: NA
Penalty Shots: NA
Shootout Game Winning Goals: NA
vs. BC: 1-0-0-0 vs. US: 0-2-0-0
vs. Central: vs. East:
Roster Stats:
Player total: 25
Year by Year Breakdown:
20’s – 2 Dowzak, Lazaruk
19’s – 6 Long, Benn, Almond, L. Bloodoff, Schenn
18’s – 7 E. Bloodoff, McMillan, McIntosh, Myers, Novotny, St. Denis, Hood
17’s – 9 Barrie, Brown, Verdino, Gogol, Borejko, Bowman, Callahan, Matejka, Paradis
16’s – 1 Main
Average Age: 17.2
Rookies – 7
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