Rockets fall 3-2 to Giants

• The Kelowna Rockets concluded the 2009 pre-season schedule with a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants Friday night. Mitchell Chapman and Shane McColgan scored goals for the Rockets, who ended the exhibition season with a record of 2 and 3.
• The Giants held period leads of 2-0 and 2-1 before the two teams exchanged goals in the 3rd.
• The Giants out-shot the Rockets 13-3 in the first period and 32-16 in the game.
• James Henry had 3 assists in the win for Vancouver.
• The Rockets dressed just five veterans. Adam Brown was joined by Curt Gogol, Spencer Main, Kyle Verdino and Aaron Borejko.
• While Verdino and Borejko dressed, they didn't play. Both are out with injuries.
• Main again wore the 'C' for the Rockets in this one.
• Rookie defenceman MacKenzie Johnston, Mitchell Chapman, Colton Jobke and Antoine Corbin can't complain about a lack of ice time in this game. It was essentially a four man rotation on 'd' with the small numbers. The Rockets dressed just 15 skaters....13 if you throw Verdino and Borejko out of the mix.
• It was my first chance to see 16 year-old Giants defenceman David Musil. As advertised, this kid can play. He looked like a vet out there against essentially an all-rookie Rockets lineup. That said, Musil skates well for a big body (6'3 - 191) and possesses a pretty good shot.
• Torrie Jung's younger brother Mikael is attempting to make the Giants again this season, this time as a 17 year-old. They gave one of the Giants goals to Greg Lamoureux, but I would swear Jung had the Giants opening goal.
• Red Deer Rebels head coach Jesse Wallin took in Fridays game along with Edmonton Oil Kings GM Bob Green.
• The Rockets held a moment of silence before the game on the 8th anniversary of 9/11.
• In my 9 years as a Rockets broadcaster, this exhibition season has been the weirdest on record. To have so few veterans around to participate in pre-season games is nothing short of sad. While the young talent can be evaluated, how can the coaches, yet alone the fans, get a good indication of what type of team will hit the ice when the Rockets open the season on Thursday?
• In some respects the Giants and Rockets are facing a similar situation. If they both get back key veteran players they could go from being middle of the pack teams to challengers for a division or conference title. Evander Kane would make a huge difference to the Giants fortunes. The same holds true for Rockets defenceman Tyler Myers.