Not since Josh Gorges and Mike Card has a Kelowna Rockets defenceman put up more points in back-to-back seasons than Tyson Barrie. Barrie's 95 points are only 5 fewer than Cards 100 and 6 fewer than Josh Gorges' 101 in back-to-back campaigns. Entering his third season in the WHL, Barrie will eat up huge minutes on a defencive core that loses just one veteran, 21 year-old Tysen Dowzak. Should Tyler Myers crack the Sabres lineup at 19, Barrie will be stretched even further to play a solid defensive game while generating offense from the blue line. It will be interesting to see how his game develops under new assistant coach Dan Lambert.
Mitchell Callahan is going to be fun to watch this season. The 18 year-old should only improve on his point totals this season as he takes on a greater share of the burden of generating offense. Callahan came into camp last season as a unknown rookie, and left with the most fighting majors of any newcomer in the Western Hockey League. If those fighting majors can be reduced just slightly, I can't see why 20 goals isn't in his future. Callahan has to remember what caught the eye if the Detroit Wings in the first place. It was his willingness to get involved. Lets hope he comes back to Kelowna with a truck load of confidence and gets involved on the score sheet a touch more in his sophomore season. 
I anticipate the 2009-2010 season as a coming out party for Kyle St. Denis. We've heard the hype, now at 19, it's time for St. Denis to deliver. With his injury woes behind him, St-D should be near or at the top of the Rockets scoring parade this season. A point a game guy until he was injured early last season, St. Denis will also see huge minutes and will be the go-to-guy on the teams number one power play. His ability to skate and deft touch around the net make him one of the most exciting players to watch every time he touches the puck.
Let the battle begin. Adam Brown spent his rookie season in a backup capacity, but my general impression is 'starter' is on his mind heading into this years training camp. With a late birthday, the 2009-2010 season is Brown's draft year and earning a starting role with the Rockets at 18 is his ultimate goal. Brown will attempt to do something that no Rockets goaltender has accomplished since my time behind the microphone in Kelowna. No goaltender, 18 or younger, has ever earned the starting goaltending duties while wearing a Rockets uniform. That may all change this fall if Brown has anything to say about it.
Let the battle begin. Adam Brown spent his rookie season in a backup capacity, but my general impression is 'starter' is on his mind heading into this years training camp. With a late birthday, the 2009-2010 season is Brown's draft year and earning a starting role with the Rockets at 18 is his ultimate goal. Brown will attempt to do something that no Rockets goaltender has accomplished since my time behind the microphone in Kelowna. No goaltender, 18 or younger, has ever earned the starting goaltending duties while wearing a Rockets uniform. That may all change this fall if Brown has anything to say about it.
1 comment:
Alright let the season begin!! Great to have some fresh news on the Rockets, alot of people I've talked too think the Rockets will be hard pressed to make the playoffs this year due to losing alot of their scoring from last season, but I disagree, I think they have enough depth returning from last years squad to be a contender again. I believe Novotny will have a great season as well & could score 25 goals. Very disappointed that we don't get to see a team from the Eastern Conference this season. Enjoy your blog very much Regan, keep up the good work.
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