Sunday, October 25, 2009

Question the Rockets character no more

  • Mitchell Callahan will grab all the headlines for scoring the game winning goal against the Vancouver Giants, but it was soft spoken forward/defenseman Antoine Corbin that deserves much of the credit for Saturday's 4-3 overtime win. Corbin initiated two big hits in the second period to ignite his team and then scored his first WHL goal on a power play when his slap shot beat Giants rookie goaltender Brendan Jensen.
  • Rockets head coach Ryan Huska went so far as to say Corbin has the best slap shot he has ever witnessed at the junior level. Huska called Corbin's slap shot "heavy".
  • The Giants were full marks for a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes by simply winning one-on-one battles and scoring all three goals by owning the space in front of the Rockets net. I wonder if they bought into the theory, much like the 61 hundred in attendance, that the game was over after the opening period?
  • Cody Chikie was named the games first star for his goal and assist. Chikie showed good determination and hustle along with rookie Codey Ito. Ito even showed some guts by attempting to drop the gloves with a much larger Todd Kennedy in what appeared to be a first period scrap. The two were assessed four minute minors for roughing.
  • Giants head coach Don Hay threw 16 year-olds Zach Hodder and David Musil onto the ice in several crucial situations to which the Rockets followed suit with 16 year-old d-man MacKenzie Johnston, who was on the ice for a series of penalty killing assignments.
  • Despite giving up three goals in the opening period, none of which were his fault, goaltender Adam Brown was especially sharp when the game was tied at three by making some solid saves. I don't think Brown has been a real difference maker in his first 12 starts, but he was Saturday night. Let me be clear in stating that I think Brown has been good, but not great.
  • Was it a first Saturday night. Two California goaltenders facing one another? Adam Brown vs. Brendan Jensen. Brown is from Yorba Linda while Jensen is from El Granada California.

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