Rimouski Says Au Revoire

• Another good hockey game Thursday night at the Colisee as both teams were in desperation mode with their seasons on the line. Dale Mitchell was the story scoring three times as Windsor came back from a 4-2 third period deficit, earning a 6-4 win. The Spitfires used another gear in the third while the Oceanic appeared to tire and fell into penalty trouble. That means the Spitfires advance against Drummondville tomorrow in the semi finals while Rimouski's season is over. The winner of Drummondville and Windsor will meet Kelowna in Sunday's final.
• The Rimouski team was fun to watch in the four games they played. I questioned their skill level in the opener, but looking back now, they hadn't played a game in three weeks when they faced the Rockets. They would give any Western Hockey League coach a heart attack, but man can they create offense.
• The best goaltender in the tournament? While I like to pump the tires of Mark Guggenberger, Oceanic netminder Maxim Gougeon appeared to be the most consistent. I didn't like the second goal he gave up Thursday night as the puck hit his glove and then went in, but the smallest goaltender in the tournament was standing tall between the pipes.
• Vancouver Canucks foward Kyle Wellwood would be watching the Memorial Cup with interest. His younger brother Eric plays for the Spitfires. Eric Wellwood is always in the play and provides Windsor with some good energy.
• The Oceanic's mascot 'Louky' is a smart dresser. Even when the Oceanic were wearing their away jersey's in Thursday game, 'Louky' also changed his jersey to match the team.
• If their is one thing I've noticed in Rimouski, it's a lack of pickup trucks. I've seen one, a black Dodge 1500. That's it. Being the owner of a Dodge 1500 myself and being from Southwest Saskatchewan, pickup trucks are common place. Not here.
• I understand Kyle Verdino's mom and dad have traveled up from Phoenix to support their son. Unfortunately with TV timeouts as part of the mix, Verdino hasn't seen the ice surface. The TV timeouts work in the Rockets favor, as it allows the top four d-men ample time to get a rest between whistles. Three TV timeouts a period translates into 4 and a half minutes of rest time.
• Had it not been for a career change in the fall of 2002, Rockets head coach Ryan Huska wouldn't be here at the Memorial Cup. Huska was attempting to get certified as a financial advisor when he elected to join Marc Habscheid's coaching staff as an assistant. A few years later he is guiding the Rockets to a Memorial Cup birth. Just think of it. Today Huska could be back in Kelowna looking over data dealing with mutual funds. Instead he's attempting to 'cash in' with a team that is one win away from the ultimate prize.
• It was the best day, weather wise, we've had in Rimouski. On Thursday the sun was shining, the wind was down and the drive to the Colisee was beautiful. Let's hope the weather holds for the remaining three days.
• We've been in Rimouski for nine days now. We arrived last Wednesday and it feels like it's been three weeks. Don't get me wrong the experience has been great, but the small confines of the hotel room gets old. Why am I spending a significant amount of time in my room? I am doing more than just calling games here. I am sending local stories pertaining to the Memorial Cup back to our newsroom at AM-1150. My hotel room is used as my audio studio during the tournament.