Retro night in Regina

• The word retro in Latin terms means 'in past times', and it sure felt like hockey from the early 80's as the Kelowna Rockets and Regina Pats combined for 14 goals Wednesday night. Shane McColgan became the first Rockets player ever at 16 to score three goals in a game in a 9-5 win.
• McColgan was named the games first star for a second straight night, scoring three times and chipping in with two assists. George Wudrick (2+2=4) and Tyson Barrie (0+4=4) also had strong games while Brandon McMillan snapped a 13 game goal scoring drought by opening and closing the scoring.
• Barrie's point streak is now at 20 games. Jamie Benn had a 20 game point streak last season. The team record is 24 games set by Brett McLean in 1996-97.
• Wudrick has now scored 12 career goals against the Pats. It was the 19 year-olds 250th career game.
• The Pats had the second best power play in the league coming into the game but it was the Rockets that were deadly with the extra man. The Rockets went 6 for 8 with the man advantage and scored a shorthanded goal off the stick of rookie Max Adolph. Adolph now has 4 goals in five games.
• Not to be outdone, Mitchell Callahan and Cody Chikie each had three point nights.
• It was a tough night for the goaltenders, specifically the Pats duo of Damien Ketlo and Dawson Guhle. The Pats made a significant trade to acquire two forwards from Lethbridge earlier in the day but my general impression is some movement may be needed on the back end before the Pats can challenge Brandon and Saskatoon for a conference crown.
• The first time I watched Shane McColgan play as a 15 year-old I was impressed. I had that same feeling when 15 year-old Melville resident Damon Severson made his Rockets debut Wednesday night. Severson, a 9th round pick in this summers WHL draft, was openly excited about wearing a Rockets jersey and showed unbelievable poise when handling the puck. You have to remember this 15 year-old was sharing the same ice with arguably the best 19 year-old player in western Canada - Jordan Eberle. It didn't rattle Severson though. The first time Severson handled the puck was behind the Rockets net. Seeing he had no passing option, he calm and coolly skated the puck up the ice through the neutral zone before firing the puck deep inside the Pats end. Small feat maybe, but most raw 15 year-old rookies would have gotten rid of that puck like it had the H1N1 flu virus on it. Not Severson.
• Severson almost registered his first career point but a goal by Mitchell Callahan was disallowed on a high stick. Had the goal been allowed, Severson would have picked up an assist.
• What I found most refreshing about Severson was his outward appearance that he was genuinely excitement about making his debut. Some players come into the organization with a confident swagger, not wanting to show anyone that they are truly doing cartwheels inside. Severson looks like he simply loves to play the game and was on cloud nine that he had the chance to show his stuff against the Pats.
• The Rockets are now 2 and 0 on the road trip and have won 5 straight road games.
• Mark Guggenberger dressed for the first time this season as the teams back up. The 20 year-old could see action this weekend.
• I sure like the Brandt Centre -the home of the Pats. It's a great building. Sure it often has the smell of Agribition lingering in the air, but new seating this season that essentially goes to the roof of the building at one end is impressive. It looks like a pro building from the broadcast booth, yet seats just over 6 thousand fans. Great junior rink.

Fifteen year-old Damon Severson makes his Kelowna Rockets debut. Check back for an interview with the defenseman.

My broadcast location at the Brandt Centre. Unfortunately I learned 15 minutes before game time that I was indeed plugged into the wrong phone line. The one that says 'visitors broadcast booth' is actually the wrong one.

This is a look at the new seating at the one end of the Brandt Centre. Wrap-around seating is nothing new in that area, but it's now been extended higher.

I didn't post this photo yesterday because I forgot. This is Rockets assistant coach Dan Lambert during the 1986-87 season. Lambert was sporting a 'stache' at 16. Impressive. Look at the young fella in the lower left corner. That's current Rockets director of player personnel Lorne Frey.

Mark Guggenberger in warm up before Wednesday's game against the Pats.

OK, this isn't the most comfortable situation when the teams gm and the radio broadcaster are shoved into the same room. Not like I don't preach the virtues of the home team, but it just feels awkward when the gm is listening to your every word.