Heatley Grabs Headlines/Benn Back In Kelowna

• I had little opportunity to invest a significant amount of time at Rockets rookie camp on Friday do to Dany Heatley. The Ottawa Senators forward met with the media Friday morning at the Cap-News Centre to explain publicly why he wants to be traded by the Ottawa Senators. After totalling digesting what Heatley had to say, I too am having a hard time buying what he is selling.


• What a week it's been. Golfing great Greg Norman is in Peachland Tuesday announcing that he is going to build a golf course in that small Okanagan community and now Dany Heatley holds a news conference Friday in Kelowna which grabs national attention. I would have never thought nine years ago that a move to a city of 100 thousand would attract such high profile athletes. From a sports fan and media perspective I am thanking my lucky stars.


• I took in the Friday afternoon session at Rockets rookie camp. From my short stay I noticed specifically the goaltenders having an especially hard time keeping the puck out of the net. In a camp that consists of scrimmage after scrimmage the goaltender is often the one that seems to be the most exposed. Blown defensive coverage and some skilled forwards make for a bad recipe for goaltenders wanting to make an impression.


• Stepan Novotny and Curt Gogol are just two more veterans that have arrived in Kelowna for the start of main camp on Tuesday.


• When the Rockets open main camp on Tuesday, don't be surprised to see Jamie Benn and Cody Almond on the ice. While both players are signed, Benn and Almond will take part in drills considering they are both eligible to return for their 20 year-old season.


• While Mikael Backlund will spend a few days in Kelowna, I've been told he won't participate at training camp.


• When main camp opens Tuesday, two-a-day workouts are scheduled for 9 am until about noon with an evening session starting in the neighborhood of 6:30.