Thursday, October 29, 2009

Knocking off #1

  • In a game full of emotion and teetering on dirty with the game out of reach, the Kelowna Rockets managed a 4-1 win Wednesday night over the #1 ranked Calgary Hitmen. The game featured four fighting majors including Rockets defenseman Curt Gogol dancing with Hitmen forward Ian Schultz just 2 and a half minutes into the first period.
  • How chippy was the game? Offensive defenseman Tyson Barrie is involved in a fight with Hitmen forward Cody Beach after a high hit late in the third period on teammate Shane McColgan.
  • The two teams combined for 105 penalty minutes. It was old time hockey.
  • The game had all sorts of emotion, possibly a carry over from last seasons WHL final. These two teams hate one another, which is refreshing considering the Hitmen are from outside the Western Conference. It's amazing what a hard fought playoff series, even if it was six months ago, will do for a rivalry.
  • Adam Brown was the story for the Rockets. Brown made 35 saves in the win, his best game of the season. Brown's best save was on a penalty shot off of Hitmen forward Joel Broda when the game was scoreless. Following that save the Rockets would score just moments later to take a 1-0 lead.
  • Stepan Novotny scored two power goals, both in the first period. It was nice to see Novotny score against a solid team. If he wants to be considered an elite player he needs to produce against the top end teams, not the bottom feeders.
  • A nice touch that Hitmen coach Mike Williamson started forwards Cody Sylvester and Cody Beach. Both are Kelowna residents.
  • Brandon Kozun was the best Hitmen. Kozun has tremendous speed and was a threat to score on every shift.
  • Lucas Bloodoff was named the Rockets captain before the game and promptly chipped in with two assists.
  • As for the officiating...do I even go there? Not good.

3 comments:

rocketman said...

...great game last night despite the strange officiating...this just in... Myers to stay in Buffalo... what a shock!!

Ryan said...

Looks like the young Beach has learned from his older brother. Parents must be so proud of these two success stories and the class they exude.

fan said...

Ryan we thought the same thing about beach. congrats to Tyler Myers you deserve to be there & we'll be following your career & best of luck. also congrats to Barry & mcmillan you all make us proud rockets fan.