My Cup Is Half Full, Not Half Empty

• While the Kelowna Rockets find themselves down two games to none in their second round playoff series with the Tri City Americans, my cup remains half full, not half empty, as they attempt to fight back in this series. Why? Two reasons. The next two games are on home ice, and the Rockets have yet to reveal their true colours.
• Until the Rockets unleash all of their weapons and the Americans handle the onslaught, I can't buy into the feeling that the end is near. Granted, the Americans are making life difficult for the Rockets, but so did the Giants, Hitmen and Chiefs. Do I need to remind you who won those games?
• Tri City head coach Don Nachbaur said it best before game two. "You can talk about all the adjustments you want. It (winning the series) all comes down to heart and soul, it comes down to grit, and it comes down to wanting it". It would be safe to say the Americans are living by those words, something the Rockets now need to buy into.
• Let me clearly state that Mark Guggenberger is the least of the Rockets worries in this series. Guggenberger has been solid, and in no way is responsible for the teams struggles in the first two games. The majority of the struggles are at the opposite end of the ice.
• Why the struggles offensively? The Rockets are often chasing the puck, not controlling it. The Rockets are being forced to make quick decisions with the puck, but again that is nothing new from previous games against Vancouver, Spokane and Calgary.
• Who's the biggest surprise when it comes to the Americans in this series. Without hesitation it's Kruise Reddick. Reddick has been everywhere in this series. He's created offensive chances, has won key face-offs, and has demonstrated impressive speed. Mitch Fadden and Taylor Proceyshen are the straws that stir the Americans drink, but Reddick is the player that has impressed me the most after the opening two games.
• The Rockets franchise has lost the opening two games of a series and have battled back. Look no further than the 2005 playoffs, when the Rockets lost the first two games of a second round series to the Seattle Thunderbirds. Both losses were by a single goal - same as this series. The Rockets would win game three and four before losing game five. The Rockets would put the T-Birds away with wins in game six and seven.
• Man, do I ever have respect for Am's captain Taylor Proceyshen, and it has nothing to do with the two game winning goals he's scored in this series. The 20 year-old pulls no punches when speaking of his faith as a christian athlete. "I put my faith first. Everything else comes second. I don't think that changes the way I play. I play as hard as I can, I play physical, and it doesn't mean I am a soft player because I have a faith. All I know is their are bigger things than just hockey". No matter what your faith, if any at all, you have to admire this young player for standing up for what he believes in. No wonder he is the Americans team captain. It's easy to be a follower, but it's extremely tough to stick your neck out and lead.
• Don Nachbaur is considering one of the best coaches in the WHL, so wouldn't it only make sense for him to look at making a move to the pro level after guiding this team from the bottom of the barrel to the top of the heap among the elite in the Western Conference? "I think anybody that has that competitive desire always wants to move up the ladder. I think I have been patient. I enjoy this age group, and more importantly we've had success here, so if a situation arose I would surely look at it. I think at the end of the day, anyone involved in any sport wants to move up the ladder, and if that situation arises, we will look at it".