Game notes vs. Chiefs

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Chiefs are meeting for the first of just four times this season (2 at home – 2 on the road). After tonight’s game these two teams face one another November 15^th in Spokane before tangling again March 3^rd and 9^th. These two teams met four times last season with the Rockets winning all four games. The Chiefs managed just two goals in the four games and were out-scored 10-2. The Rockets are playing the second of four straight games on home ice. After tonight’s game the Rockets host Prince George Wednesday and Chilliwack Friday night. Following the home stand, the Rockets play 14 of their next 19 games on the road. The Rockets enter tonight’s game with two wins in their last three games, beating Vancouver and Calgary over that period.

Life’s a Beach: The return of the Spokane Chiefs means the return of Kelowna resident Kyle Beach. Beach was acquired by the Chiefs from the Lethbridge Hurricanes after being sent back to junior by the NHL’s Chicago Black Hawks. Is it any surprise that Beach has a penalty in all but one game this season. More importantly the 19 year-old forward has points in 6 of the 9 games he’s played this season. Here’s the most impressive stat. Beach has played 9 career games against the Rockets and has 7 goals and 7 assists.

Representing the ‘Dub’: Two members of the Rockets will play for the WHL when a touring Russian team makes a stop in Victoria and Kelowna next month as part of the Subway Super Series. Brandon McMillan will be joined by teammate Tyson Barrie. McMillan will play in the game in Kelowna on November 26^th while Barrie will play in both games. Ryan Huska is an assistant coach for both games along with Giants bench boss Don Hay.

Winning Ways: The Kelowna Rockets have been fortunate to be on the winning end when facing the Chiefs at Prospera Place over the years. The Rockets are 12-2-0-1 in the last 15 games against Spokane on home ice. Those two losses came in 2007-08 when the Chiefs won in Kelowna by scores of 4-3 and 5-2. In five of those 15 games, the Rockets have shutout the Chiefs.

Last Game Recap? Stepan Novotny scored two power play goals in the first period in a 4-1 win Wednesday night over Calgary. Cody Chikie and Brett Bulmer also scored for the Rockets, who were 2 for 8 on the power play. Adam Brown was named the games first star making 35 saves. The Hitmen were 0 for 4 on the power play.

Extra Man Mayhem: The Rockets have scored twenty-one power play goals (21/69=30.4%) in their last twelve games. The Rockets have scored a power play goal in thirteen of the fifteen games this season. They failed to score a power play goal against Kamloops September 25^th and Tri City October 23^rd. The Rockets own the 4^th best power play in the league.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in all eight games he’s played this season, but is sidelined day-to-day with a cracked bone in his foot. McMillan has 4+11=15 this season. Stepan Novotny has points in 11 of the 15 games this season. Shane McColgan had his ten game point streak snapped Sunday in Vancouver. McColgan had (6+11=17) over that period. Kyle St. Denis has fifteen points in his last eleven games (8+7=15). Lucas Bloodoff has goals in five of his last ten games.

Game Day Tidbits: Twenty year-old forward Lucas Bloodoff was named the Rockets captain on Wednesday. Bloodoff takes over the captaincy from Colin Long, who is playing in the AHL this season…The Buffalo Sabres announced Wednesday that Tyler Myers will spend the remainder of the season in the NHL. It marks the 9^th former Rockets d-man now playing in the NHL. The others are Kyle Cumiskey, Alex Edler,Scott Hannan, Sheldon Souray, Shea Weber, Luke Schenn, Josh Gorges and Duncan Keith.….Rockets 16 year-old Shane McColgan is leading the league in rookie scoring in the WHL (6+13=19)….Veteran defenseman Tyson Barrie returned to the lineup last Friday after missing 8 straight games after being injured September 25^th in Kamloops…The Rockets are 8-6-1-0 after fifteen games this season. Last year the Rockets were 9-6-0-0 after fifteen games…The Rockets have scored 59 goals in fifteen games this season after scoring 59 times in the teams first fifteen games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 52 goals against this season after surrendering 47 goals after fifteen games last year…Ryan Huska has 93 regular season victories as the Rockets head coach.