Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• The Rockets will be without Jamie Benn and Tyler Myers for their game Monday night in Vancouver, so should we accept a poor performance against the Giants because of the loss of those two key veterans? Nope. The Giants will be without leading goal scorer Evan Kane and top defenseman Jonathon Blum who are also at the world junior hockey championships. If Giants head coach Don Hay doesn't let his team off the hook, why should Rockets head skipper Ryan Huska.
• In my opinion 16 year-old Spencer Main may have played his best game in a Rockets uniform Saturday night against Kamloops. Main is a player you often don't notice. That can be a good and a bad thing. Some would suggest as a rookie forward the less you notice him the better. I just thought he was more involved in the play Saturday night which was the result of a little more determination in the offensive zone. Instead of being out muscled in puck battles, Main was winning his share. Let's hope it's a sign of things to come for the likable forward.
• I spoke glowingly about Brandon McMillan's play Saturday night, and the goal and two assists isn't the statistic that stands out for me. Why I liked McMillan so much Saturday was his willingness to get involved. The statistic that catches my attention is the 4 minutes in penalties. They weren't lazy hooking or holding penalties, but both minor penalties were the result of roughing. Those penalties were a clear indication to me that McMillan wanted to get involved and wanted to make an impact.
• What has Colin Long meant for the offensive totals of linemate Mitchell Callahan? Since Callahan was put alongside Long, the 17 year-old forward has two goals and 3 assists. That's five points in 7 games.
• Let's hope the Rockets can get the Giants into a shootout. Kamloops, Prince Albert and Everett have all beaten the Giants this season when a shootout is required.
• The Giants have lost in regulation to Chilliwack and Tri City.
• The Giants have not lost in regulation time at home this season. They are 17-0-0-2 and have scored an amazing 5.4 goals a game on home ice. Calgary doesn't even come close at 4.45 goals per game at home.
• Have you noticed the neck guards being worn by Jamie Benn and Tyler Myers at the world junior hockey championships? All Canadian players are wearing the protective device, but no one wears them in the Western Hockey League. My belief is the neck guards wouldn't be totally foreign to them, considering Benn and Myers must have used them in minor hockey.
• You'll notice some cool photos being displayed at Manhattan Point Restaurant at Prospera Place. Pictures of several Rockets players like Lucas Bloodoff, Colin Long and Kyle St. Denis are displayed on the wooden pillars looking onto the ice surface from the restaurant. It's a nice added touch.
• Prompts to the Rockets organization for treating long time hockey fan Adeline McNeil to free tickets for herself and her family to the game against Kamloops on the weekend. McNeil turned 100 years-young December 25th and celebrated with a visit to Prospera Place Saturday night. McNeil even wore a Rockets jersey with #100 on the back. She assured me that when she doesn't attend a Rockets game she is always at the other end listening to the radio broadcast.