Rockets game notes vs. Bruins

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Bruins are meeting for the first of eight times this season (4 at home and 4 on the road). These two teams clash tomorrow night in Chilliwack before meeting again November 6th at Prospera Place. The Rockets and Bruins met 8 times last season, with the Rockets going 6-0-0-2. The Rockets were 3-0-0-1 at home last season against the Bruins, out-scoring them 17-6. The Rockets have not lost in regulation time to the Bruins in 9 games. The last time the Bruins earned two points against their BC Division opponent was February 9, 2008 in a 4-1 win in Kelowna. The Rockets are coming off a 5-0 win last Saturday over the Kamloops Blazers. Stepan Novotny had two goals and an assist in the team’s first win of the season. Adam Brown made 23 saves for his 3rd career shutout. Brown’s two other shutouts came against the Bruins last season. Following a home-and-home series against the Bruins, the Rockets host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday.

Welcome Home Haber: Marc Habscheid was hired as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on November 29, 1998, just a day after the Rockets were blown out 7-0 by Moose Jaw. Habscheid’s first win behind the Rockets bench would come in his first game, a 5-3 victory over Red Deer. Habscheid was only 4 regular season games shy of 300 behind the Rockets bench when he left the team following a Memorial Cup championship in 2003-2004. Habschied coached 296 regular season games with the Rockets, winning 184 times. That’s a winning percentage of .622.

More on Marc: Did you know Habscheid was drafted in the 6th round of the 1981 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers? The Oilers used their first pick that year to select goaltender Grant Fuhr. In the 1981 draft the Winnipeg Jets selected Dale Hawerchuk first overall. Habscheid scored 64 goals with the Saskatoon Blades during the 1981-82 season.

Sabre-toothed Tyler: Nineteen year-old defenseman Tyler Myers will start the season with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Myers made the Sabres 23 man roster and has 9 games to prove he can play at that level or be returned to the Rockets. Myers was the Sabres first round pick in the 2008 NHL draft.

Long Gone: The Kelowna Rockets have lost last years leading scorer Colin Long to the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. Long signed a pro deal on Thursday. The Rampage is the farm team of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes.

Game Day Tidbits: All six of Stepan Novotny’s goals this season have been scored on home ice. Novotny has 25 career goals, 16 of which have been scored at Prospera Place…Tyson Barrie, Mitchell Chapman and Max Adolph were all injured in last Fridays 4-1 loss in Kamloops…Forward Evan Bloodoff had knee surgery last Friday and will be sidelined for close to 6 months…Defenseman Kyle Verdino returned to the Rockets lineup last Saturday in a 5-0 win over the Blazers are suffering a broken hand and ankle in a serious car accident this summer in Arizona…Goaltender Adam Brown has played in all four games this season…Brandon McMillan has earned a point in the three games he’s played this season. McMillan has four assists in three games …The Rockets face a BC Division opponent in 4 of their next 5 games. The only non-division game is October 7th when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers…Five of the Rockets next seven games are on home ice…Ryan Huska will coach his 150th WHL game behind the Rockets bench Saturday in Chilliwack. Huska has 86 regular season victories…Cody Chikie scored his first WHL goal in Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Blazers. Chikie has played 15 games with the Saskatoon Blades over the last two seasons, yet is still considered a WHL rookie…The Rockets acquired 19 year-old Tyler Matheson from Saskatoon on Monday for a 7th round draft pick in 2010. Matheson is making his Rockets debut tonight.

By the Numbers: The Rockets are playing their 1013th regular season game tonight based in the city of Kelowna. The Rockets played their 1000th regular season game against the Rebels in Red Deer February 27/09. The Rockets are celebrating their 19th season as a franchise after being granted an expansion team for the start of the 1991-92 campaign. Tonight’s game is #1301 in Rockets history (Tacoma/Kelowna combined).