Quick Thoughts - Day One

• Good intensity in the early morning session on day one of rookie camp. You could tell that the players competing in the first session wanted to make a positive impression. I am sure the players were as surprised as I was to see head coach Ryan Huska on the ice as the unofficial referee. If I was wanting to be noticed, it was no better time than to prove I can play with coach Huska just a few feet away from the action.
• Craig MacTavish's son has made it to camp. Sean MacTavish was the Rockets 9th round pick in this summers WHL Bantam draft. I haven't seen him play, but I will try to make a point of watching him over the next three days. You would think with his son participating at rookie camp, Mac-T would be one of the parents cheering their kid on in the stands.
• Veterans are slowly making their way back to the Okanagan after a quick summer. Goaltender Adam Brown is back in town and even Mikael Backlund is expected to make an appearance in the next couple of days.
• I ran into Kim Dillabaugh at the rink. 'Dilly' is back with the hockey club again this season on more of a part-time assistant basis. He won't be seen on the bench this season. Dillabaugh's workload with the LA Kings is such that he will work with the organizations goalies about 15 days out of every month. That means Dillabaugh will make few road trips with the team this season.
• I had a good chat with Rockets athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn Thursday morning. Thorburn looks relaxed despite having close to 175 rookies to contend with. Thorburn is getting some help this week from Gary Creed, a huge hockey fan and RCMP officer.
• Shane McColgan was kicked out in the second period of the U-S Select Under 17 Team's 4-3 win Thursday over Switzerland at the Under 17 Five Nation Cup in Germany. The Kelowna Rockets forward was issued a game misconduct in the second period, yet the game sheet doesn't say why. McColgan and Team U-S-A face the Czech Republic Friday.