Things That Make Me Go Hmm...

• The Swift Current Broncos organization is well represented in the WHL final. Four former members of that team are now either with the Kelowna Rockets or Calgary Hitmen. Mark Guggenberger is the lone representative on the Rockets that played in Swift Current, while the Hitmen have Paul Postma, Kyle Bortis and Kris Foucault who have worn a Broncos jersey.
• Three players traded by the Moose Jaw Warriors at the trade deadline are now playing in the championship series. Ian Duval and Ryley Grantham will face off against former Warriors teammate Joel Broda.
• You will find a father-son connection in this years league final. Rockets defenceman Tyson Barrie is making his first appearance in the championship series. Barrie's father Len participated in the 1990 WHL final with the Kamloops Blazers before leading them to a bid at the Memorial Cup in Hamilton, Ontario.
• I ran into Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini in the lobby this morning. Tambellini is off to the World Championships tomorrow. Rockets fans may have forgotten that the Rockets traded for Steve's son Jeff in 2004, when his playing rights were held by the Spokane Chiefs.
• One of the players the Rockets selected in yesterday's WHL Bantam Draft was Sean MacTavish. Yes, Sean is the son of former Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish.
• The Rockets had a quick skate at the Saddledome this morning. My focus was taken off the ice as Darren Deschamps made a surprise visit. Deschamps was a member of the Rockets Memorial Cup winning team in 2004 and was also a WHL champion with the Rockets in 2005. Deschamps is now a Allan Cup champion too. Deschamps helped the Bentley Generals to the senior hockey championship last month in Steinbach Manitoba. I will have an interview with Deschamps on our pre-game show tonight on AM-1150, starting at 6 o'clock.
• The elimination of the Calgary Flames from the Stanley Cup playoffs has been positive news for the WHL and this series in general. The Calgary Sun newspaper covers the Hitmen quite well during the regular season, but the exit of the Flames means the Hitmen get wall to wall coverage in the local rags. No less than four articles on this series appeared in the paper today, and is the focal point on Calgary's all talk sports radio station.
• We will have the privilege of having Swift Current Broncos play-by-play man Jon Keen join us in the broadcast booth for some observations over the next two night's. Keen knows the Hitmen well, and should provide some added insight on what the Hitmen do well and what the Rockets need to do to counteract that. Keen is a neutral observer in this series, and should be a nice addition to our broadcast team.