Things That Make Me Go Hmm....

• I anticipate Rockets forward Kyle St. Denis returning to the lineup Friday against the Everett Silvertips. If that should happen, and Ian Duval returns from a bump he received last Friday against Medicine Hat, you will see - for the first time this season - the entire Kelowna Rockets lineup. When St. Denis was injured October 24th, the Rockets played that game without Tysen Dowzak. Dowzak was still playing pro hockey with the Hartford Wolfpack.
• Think about that for just a second. It is not until game #52 of the regular season that the Rockets have a complete lineup.
• When St Denis was hurt October 24th, he had 5 goals in his last 8 games.
• Cory Clouston is now an NHL coach. You have to marvel at his acceleration to the top. The former Kootenay Ice coach is now guiding the Ottawa Senators. Whether he is ready for the job or not can be questioned, but it is still great to see another junior coach getting the chance to show his talents at the NHL level. The Senators elected to promote from within, making you wonder if the Edmonton Oilers would ever make a similar move if Craig McTavish became expendable? Who is the Oilers AHL head coach. You guessed it, former Rockets coach Jeff Truitt.
• Never judge a book by it's cover. A great example of that would be the hotel we stayed at in Kent on the weekend. The Holiday Inn looked nothing special on the outside, but the rooms were very good. Granite counter tops, new bedding and high speed Internet. No mold in the shower - wow! The hotel must have received a face-lift, as the rooms simply didn't match the hotels exterior.
• My one complaint about the ShoWare Center in Kent would be the location of the radio broadcast booth. It is located in the far corner of the building. It happened to be the farthest place from where the T-Birds scored the game winning goal against the Rockets Saturday night. What makes matters worse is you are unable to see the two benches clearly, so if someone is hurt or someone is being benched, you can't see what's happening from where the visiting radio booth is located. The only plus of that location? The broadcast location is on the end that the T-Birds defend, so I could see the Rockets scoring chances clearly. The only problem? The Rockets scored only one goal in that game. This picture was taken in the 2nd period.
• What does Cody Almond take away from January after a solid month offensively? How about stitches in the inside and outside of his mouth after getting hit in the cheek with a puck Saturday against the T-Birds.
• Nice to see WHL Governors holding league meetings in Vegas this week. You have to wonder how much time is being spent on league business as opposed to time on the golf course and taking in the sights and sounds of 'Sin City'.