Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• I ran into Graham Lee and Dave Dakers at Tuesday nights hockey game. Lee is the President and CEO of R.G Properties, the owners/operators of Prospera Place. I wonder if he is still mulling over the addition of a new scoreboard, or if he feels the existing one with the small monitor is sufficient enough?
• Lee should seriously consider additional space in the media/broadcast location at Prospera Place. I am thinking little thought was put into how big the press box should have been when the arena was built in 1998 for play in the 1999 season. How inadequate is the press box? Just look at the temporary riser that the Rockets have installed in the corner of the arena to house the print media for this series. Good on the Rockets for providing that space, but it just shows how the press box needs to expand in the very near future.
• If Prospera Place indeed gets an upgrade, they may want to look at improved lighting as well. I really noticed a difference when comparing Pacific Coliseum, the home of the Giants, with the dim lighting at Prospera. Granted, Pacific Coliseum received a new lighting system with the 2010 Winter Olympics closing in, but a brighter atmosphere on the playing surface wouldn't hurt the cause at the home of the Rockets.
• It was nice to see Giants co-owner Pat Quinn at Tuesday's game, but does Ron Toigo make many road trips? That makes me go hmm.
• After looking at video on the game winning goal in game three, the shot appeared to beat Guggenberger high to the glove hand side, not short side as stated in an earlier post.
• Jamie Benn’s 25 points in this years playoffs has already exceeded the total of the leading point getter in last years playoffs. Calgary’s T.J Galiardi had 24 points to lead the WHL in scoring in 2008. The last player to register over 25 points in the playoffs was Vancouver Giants forward Michal Repik, who had 26 points (10+16=26) in the 2007 post season.
• When is Jamie Benn going to get really angry in this series? Remember when he plowed over Giants defenceman Jon Blum in a regular season game with two solid hits? An angry Jamie Benn is good news for the Rockets, and bad news for Vancouver.
• Is Colin Long hurt? I have been asked that question numerous times in this years playoffs, including once by a player from the opposition. With just two goals in 13 games - one being an empty netter - its a fair question. Long has failed to register a point in three games in this series. My belief is he's healthy, yet has been snake bitten in the post season.
• I guess the same could be said for Giants forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel. The overager has just one goal in his last 8 playoff games. That goal was the overtime winner in game two.
• Benn is three points shy of the Rockets franchise record for points in one playoff season. Jesse Schultz holds the record after putting up 28 points in the 2003 playoffs. Benn has 25.
• Six-first round bantam picks are participating in the WCCS. Tyson Sexsmith (04), James Wright (05) and Evander Kane (06) are first round picks for the Giants. Tyler Myers (05), Tyson Barrie (06) and Shane McColgan (08) are first round bantam picks of the Rockets.
• Two of the three games in this series have been decided by a single goal.
• For the first time in this series the team which scored the opening goal of the game didn’t win. That was the case Tuesday when the Rockets' Cody Almond scored.
• For the first time in 9 playoff games the Rockets lost despite out-shooting their opponent. The Rockets out-shot the Giants in game three, yet fell 3-2.
• I received a neat e-mail from Cathy Thorburn today. The mother of Rockets athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn is cheering loud and proud back in New Brunswick. Cathy told me she can't watch the games because Shaw isn't available in that neck of the woods. She has to settle for listening to Gord McGarva and I call the play-by-play on the Internet. At least we have one listener in this series.
• A former Kelowna Rocket will play in this years Western Hockey League final. Jason MacDonald is part of the Calgary Hitmen, the Eastern Conference champions. MacDonald was part of a six player deal with Regina that included the playing rights to Kyle St. Denis.