Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• I feel relief for both the Rockets and Torrie Jung now that the veteran has moved on to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. It was tough to see the 19 year-old sitting at home patiently waiting for a trade, yet I don't blame the Rockets for holding onto the rights of a player who they wanted to get something in return. Jung goes to a very good team in Lethbridge, and he will undoubtedly make the Canes better in goal. What Jung does not receive is the number one goaltending duties that any veteran covets. Jung needs to play games. He can't be playing second fiddle again for a second straight season. It's up to the Naniamo resident to take advantage of every start he gets and to put doubt in the mind of Hurricanes head coach Michael Dyck on who indeed is the better goaltender.
• What do the Lethbridge Hurricanes get in Jung? You won't find a better communicator. Jung is a media delight and should be a good teammate. Maybe a change of scenery will make him a more consistent goaltender? Jung's fondest memory in Kelowna may be making 19 straight appearances to end the season in his 18 year-old year when Kristofer Westblom went down with a season ending knee injury.
• How interesting would it be to have Jung starting November 1st in Kelowna against his former team? Or is their a clause in the trade that prevents him from starting against his old team?
• I spoke to Dylan Hood today. The 18 year-old forward says he could possibly play Saturday night against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Hood is out with a broken nose and says he will have to wear a full face shield for the next 6 weeks. Hood looks sore after getting sucker punched by Prince George defenseman Cody Hobbs. What amazes me the most about the incident is that Hobbs was never suspended.
• The Rockets were quiet on the final day to declare their three-20 year-olds. The Rockets will go with just one - Kris Lazaruk - until possibly making a trade at the deadline when they have a better indication of where their team is headed.
• I'm looking forward to the weekend and seeing two of the premiere players in the WHL's Western Conference. Kyle Beach is on the menu Friday followed by Thomas Hickey on Saturday night. Beach is obviously a first rounder of Chicago this summer while Hickey was a first rounder of LA in 2007. They are both great players on the ice, but equally as solid off it.
• What's with Kyle Beach and the Kelowna Rockets anyway? Beach has played 8 career regular season games against the Rockets and has 7 goals. Beach has 10 points lifetime against the Rockets.
• Who is the captain of the Kelowna Rockets? The team has yet to decide on who will wear the coveted 'C'. It has nothing to do with Luke Schenn though. In talking to Ryan Huska, this weekend will determine on who gets the honor through solid play and leadership. The team wanted to name it's captain earlier this week, but a terrible outing - specifically by the veterans last Friday- had the coaching staff pulling the ballot forms out of the players hands. If the weekend goes well, we should know who the Rockets new captain is by mid week.
• The Rockets better enjoy Saturday's game at the Key-Arena. It will be the final time they play in that facility. The next time they face-off against the T-Birds, it will be late December in Kent Washington. I've taken my camera down to Seattle and will have some pics that I will post here reflecting on what I remember most about the 'Key'.
• I heard that Curtis Hamilton has returned to Kelowna after being injured last night against the Swift Current Broncos. Hamilton suffered a significant knee injury and the Saskatoon Blades forward has been send to Kelowna for an MRI. Funny thing is he can't get an MRI in Saskatoon.
• Is it just me or is Kyle Verdino a player? Man I've liked his play of late. He's decent defensively, strong and likes to take the body. That fact that he has shed so much weight has not taken away from his game one bit. It's made him better.