- The match up against the Giants will benefit more than just the fans of the Kelowna Rockets, who were very verbal on who they wanted their team to face in the Western Conference final. Who wouldn't want a chance to knock off the Western Conference regular season champions? Who doesn't want to beat a team in a playoff series that lost just 10 times during the regular season? If you can't admit that, you have no competitive juices running through your veins. The Giants may see it a different way, but clearly they are the Rockets greatest rival. That is the key reason why the Rockets will come out with no lack of emotion in this series.
- The match up I am looking forward to watching is between Tyler Myers and Evander Kane. We saw Myers on the ice against Tri City sharp shooter Mitch Fadden in round one, and Myers came through with flying colours. But we've seen the Giants separate Kane with Casey Pierro-Zabotel, meaning another Rockets defenceman outside of Myers has to stand up. Who is it? We will find out Saturday night.
- In my opinion Mark Guggenberger simply needs to match the play of Giants goaltender Tyson Sexsmith. I don't think 'Guggs' has to steal a game, but has to be as solid as 'Sexy'. That said, if he really wants to steal a game, let him!
- Jamie Benn admits he loves to play at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Benn says the big crowd, even if they cheer against him, pumps him up. On top of that he will have his dad, mom, and sister watching from the stands. Benn is from nearby Victoria.
- Benn admits it's a war on the ice, but he has a friendship with Giants forward Gary Nunn off it. The two were teammates with the BC Hockey League's Victoria Grizzlies.
- Get ready for all the articles in the newspapers about the connection between Rockets head coach Ryan Huska and Giants bench boss Don Hay. Hay coached Huska in junior with the Kamloops Blazers and the two are now competing for a Western Conference championship. I can see the headline now 'Teacher vs. Pupil'.
- As a kid my grandma called it the devils tool. It's the television. To a radio broadcaster the TV is still the devils tool, but you can't but like those two smiling guys, Bill Wilms and Dan Russell on Shaw. Or is it Dan Russell and Bill Wilms? They will be calling all the action on the 'devils tool' in this series while Gord McGarva and I will be calling the action on the 'chatter box'.
- Isn't it funny that the radio guys are now on TV while the paper guys are now on radio? Where do the TV guys go?
- I had the opportunity to visit with Ross Ruttle today. Ruttle was the Rockets anthem singer for several seasons before falling ill. He is now in a Kelowna hospice. It is truly sad to see a man with such a strong voice now only able to whisper. Ross Ruttle was not only the Rockets anthem singer, but he is a HUGE Rockets fan. He wanted to wish me, the Rockets players, and the front office staff the best of luck in this series. He will be watching/listening from his bed during the series. AM-1150 started the regular season with a pre-recorded version of 'O Canada' sung by Ruttle during the 2004 Memorial Cup. That anthem will again hit our airwaves in game one of the WCCS (Western Conference Championship Series).
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Rockets Fans Get Their Wish
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7 comments:
gotta agree with you, this is the best match-up for the fans. gonna be great tough physical hockey. many bigger teams have tried to out-muscle the giants throughout the year but with little success. apart from an early 7-1 win and a Feb 6-2 loss(one bad 2nd period) all the games have been tight. no more than 2 goals apart and 2 in ot. separating Kane & Casey confused the chiefs and casey showed signs of his old self in game 7. possibly due to less stifling checking. cause for concern for Kelowna, I think. Sexsmith seems to have banished the weak goals so Guggenberger better be sharp and the rockets D will have to watch out for the huge forecheck. looking forward to saturday. hoping for a big noisy crowd like tuesday.
Regan, sorry if i've sent the same post twice. new to this blogging thing & had trouble with my password
Steve Ewen's blog at the Province has some comparison stats that are interesting. mostly fairly even but one that jumps out to me is pp & pk. In the playoffs, rockets road pk at 79.6% against giants home pp at 25.6% and rockets home pp at 25.0% against giants road pk at a huge 91.3%. rockets better watch out taking penalties in Vancouver. maybe can't get too physical. 5 on 5 & pp giants have edge in skill throughout the lineup. giants pk very strong too. should I adjust my prediction back to giants in 6?
I appreciate your visit GiantsMemCup09, but I don't like your screen name!! Just kidding. I would like to get some comments from Giants fans, you included in this series. Be sure to return to share your thoughts after game one and two. Discussion/debate is good. Hacking on one another isn't.
From what I have seen this is going to be a great match up. However, Vancouver does not seem to play as well against teams that hit hard and play tough. In fact I thought Spokane could have played tougher against them and was surprised since they can be quite a tough team. If Kelowna hits hard and takes out the man we have a good chance. Vancouver's pk and pp looks real good from those stats above so the Rockets are going to have to play smart.
From Greg Drinnan's Blog:
"The Kelowna Rockets are making noises as though F Kyle St. Denis (concussion) might play at some point in the Western Conference final."
What have you heard Regan?
I can't see why you wouldn't see him in the lineup at sometime in the series. If he is skating with the team, that's a sure sign he is close.
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