- For the 4th time in the last 7 seasons the Rockets are off to the Memorial Cup. Tyson Barrie's goal in overtime lifted the Rockets to the 3-2 win, eliminating the Hitmen in 6 games. This Rockets team tends to bring their 'A' game to the table when it really counts. After an awful game five, the turnaround from dog tired to desperate was amazing. It was a complete effort that could have been decided in regulation time had it not been for Hitmen goaltender Martin Jones who was outstanding.
- The heavy artillery was brought out for game six, and the 'Benn Bomber' and the 'St. Denis Destroyer' found the designated target. Benn picked up two assists including the winner in overtime, while St. Denis was a threat with his speed. St-D often times stole the puck away from Hitmen defenceman who were attempting to move the puck up ice. His energy was infectious.
- Jamie Benn dropping his gloves to rough up Hitmen defenceman Michael Stone after applying a huge hit on Mikael Backlund. It looks now that it was the turning point in the game. While Benn took a double minor, the Rockets began out-hitting the Hitmen at every turn. That four minuter, in retrospect, was worth it's weight in gold. You won't hear that often in a game of this magnitude that a double minor is a good thing.
- Without a shadow of a doubt Michael Stone's hit on Rockets forward Mikael Backlund was the best I've seen all season. It was a major league collision, and clean to boot. What was even more amazing is that Backlund stayed in the game. Mikael Backlund is no ordinary Euro.
- Tyler Myers was named the series MVP for attempting to shutdown the top scoring team in the WHL during the regular season. But what can you say about the teams overall defensive play in the playoffs? Tyson Barrie had to play a little more cautious or conservative and had to concentrate on defense, while Tysen Dowzak played like only an overage veteran should. He played with purpose and made an impact. Brandon McMllan was tremendous while Collin Bowman was steady.
- Speaking of Bowman, it's the second straight year that a member of the family has participated in the Memorial Cup. Collin's older brother Drayson won the national championship last season with the Spokane Chiefs.
- Tyson Barrie now has a chance to attend his first ever Memorial Cup, something his dad also accomplished as a junior player. Len Barrie was with the Kamloops Blazers that lost three straight games at the Memorial Cup in 1990.
- I was especially impressed with Hitmen's head coach Dave Lowry when shaking hands with Rockets head coach Ryan Huska. Lowry had a few words with Huska before not only shaking his hand, but patting him on the back. I thought it was a classy gesture from the coach after a tough series and a tough loss.
- The Western Hockey League shouldn't find it hard in deciding which referee should represent the league at the 2009 Memorial Cup. Chris Savage is far and away the best official in the league, and deserves the honor, if he accepts?
- It was great to see three former Rockets captains celebrating the teams win up at Manhattan Point following the game. Ryan Cuthbert (2003), Josh Gorges(2004) and James McEwan (2008) all had huge smiles on their faces.
- You tend to appreciate a championship like this more when you experience missing the playoffs. I remember oh so well the 2006-2007 season when the Rockets missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Three years later they are champions once more.
- Jon Rosen, the play-by-play caller for the Everett Silvertips took in game six Saturday night. Rosen was itching to see some WHL playoff hockey and it was nice to chat with him before the game.
- Even former colour analyst David Michaud came out of the woodwork to watch the game in person. Michaud made the 7 hour trip down from Prince George to cheer the boys on.
- A quick shout-out to Corey Flett from the WHL league office. Flett uploaded video from the post game press conferences in the championship series and conducted several video interviews as well. It was a nice addition to the WHL website.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thoughts On Series Clincher
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9 comments:
and for all the bums and/or the people who missed the game,your recap.
http://www.whl.ca/2009-whl-championship-report---game-6-p128340/t-webTV
now,i'm sure we've brought this up,and i'm not complaining and am aware we won the game,but meyers...COME ON MAN! right in front of the net,why didn't you just push guggs out of the way to make it easier on him? it's things like this that i think are the reason he hasn't made buffalo yet,that and he needs to pack on a few pounds so he can rub guys off the puck and be a more physical presence.
with that out of the way,GO ROCKETS GO! :D
Regan, someone asked you a while ago on this blog, who do you think should be the next to be Artistically be placed in the Kelowna Rockets Wall of Fame, and you replied
"Lets win a WHL Championship first, then I'll tell you who I think deserves to be the next to go on the wall"
Well?
What do you mean, is the reason he hasn't made Buffalo yet? The kid is 18 freakin years old.
Two words. Tyler Myers!
Regan I have to vigorously disagree with your assesment of Savage as a ref. He was so far from his usual competent self in this series it was awful, to the point where there were fan rumblings about having to beat the WHL office as well as the Hitmen. The sheer number of too many men calls he LET GO, including a tying goal for the Hitmen directly after a blown call, is an example. And I do know the rule about playing the puck beforwe the previous players have left the ice. Add to that the numerous high hard head shots that Savage overlooked. I would not be surprised to see him dismissed never mind promised the Memorial Cup games. And he can take Kirk with him. I realize the amount of leniency these guys have to decide but there was too much let go to overlook. Almond and Callahan crosschecks to the head come to mind. kelowna is not all dressed in white either but they did not head hunt like Calgary. And I cannot believe any post that says otherwise. Give me an axample and I will apologize. Big big win in the end as Calgary finally ran into an opponent equally as talented and more determined.
Examples? Ok.
1) Great positioning
2) Not scared to call an infraction when his partner, who was closer to the action, was second guessing himself.
3)In control, not caught up the emotion of the game.
4)communication with players and coaches
Note: many of the two many men missed calls are a linesman's responsibilty.
Did we see missed calls? Yes. But he, in my opinion, is the best of the bunch.
Hey Regan,
Are you going to post your call of the winning goal?? I would love to hear it. I am sure it was a good one!
C'mon Regan I said one example, not a littany of the stuff he does properly??!! Ok..point taken....but if his performance is the best we can expect, then the WHL needs to tighten up their recruiting procedures to ban all seeing eye dog's from the officials room....and go back to one ref if they are second guessing each other....
I will once I get through some technical problems with my computer.
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