Rockets game notes vs. Cougars

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets face the Cougars in the second of back-to-back games in Prince George this weekend. Last night the Cougars were a 3-2 winner. This is the 4th meeting of the season between these two teams. The Rockets are 2-1-0-0 against the Cougars, having out-scored them 14-8 in the seasonal series. The Rockets are playing their 6th game in nine nights. Overall the Rockets have lost five straight and seven straight games on opposition ice. Following these two games this weekend the Rockets are in Chilliwack next Friday before hosting Kootenay Saturday night.

Seasonal Series Breakdown: The Rockets have out-shot the Cougars 114-72 in the first three games. The Rockets power play is 4 for 13 (30.8%) while the Cougars are 2 for 20 (10%) in the three games.

Period 1 2 3 OT SO Total
Rockets 3 3 7 0 1 14
Cougars 4 2 2 0 0 8

Halliday makes debut: The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Tyler Halliday off waivers Thursday. Halliday played earlier this season with the Prince George Cougars before being released. Halliday had 21 fighting majors last season and collected 161 penalty minutes, 6th best in the league. Halliday joins Lucas Bloodoff and Mark Guggenberger as the Rockets three 20 year-olds this season.

Rockets make trade: The Rockets acquired 19 year-old Geordie Wudrick from the Swift Current Broncos Monday for 19 year-old Stepan Novotny and prospect Tanner Clark. Clark was the Rockets 3rd round bantam pick in 2008. It’s the fourth trade between the Broncos and Rockets in the last three seasons.

Last Game Recap: Tyson Barrie assisted on both Rockets goals in a 3-2 loss last night in Prince George. Geordie Wudrick and Collin Bowman scored third period goals in the loss. The Rockets fired 40 shots on the Cougars net and were 1 for 6 on the power play. Adam Brown took the loss in goal.

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 week 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 26th while Barrie will play in both games. Ryan Huska is an assistant coach for both games along with Giants bench boss Don Hay. Rockets athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn is part of the Team Canada training staff for both games.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in thirteen of the eighteen games he’s played this season. McMillan has 7+17=24 this season. Shane McColgan has gone four games without a point yet has a point in 16 of the 24 games he’s played this season. McColgan has not scored a goal in twelve games. His last goal was October 23rd in Tri City. Kyle St. Denis is four goals shy of his career high of 16 set two seasons ago. Geordie Wudrick has goals in back-to-back games.

Game Day Tidbits: Adam Brown leads the league in games played by a goaltender (23)….The Rockets have been involved in twelve-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 5-6-1-0 in those twelve games…Kyle St. Denis leads the team with 7 power play goals….Mitchell Callahan is a team high +6….Curt Gogol now has 226 career WHL penalty minutes. ..Shane McColgan and Brandon McMillan have a team high 18 assist…McColgan is two points back of Medicine Hat’s Emerson Item for the WHL scoring lead by rookies…Tyson Barrie is riding a career high 12 game point streak after missing 8 straight games after being injured against Kamloops on September 25th. Barrie has 5+15=20 over those twelve games…The Rockets are 11-13-1-0 after twenty-five games this season. Last year the Rockets were 14-11-0-0 after twenty-five games…The Rockets have scored 83 goals in twenty-five games this season after scoring 94 times in the teams first twenty-five games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 78 goals against this season after surrendering 75 goals after twenty-five games last year…Ryan Huska has 96 regular season victories as the Rockets head coach.