Jackson/Aschim practice with new team today

• No Dallas Jackson. No Sean Aschim. No problem. Two players acquired by the Kelowna Rockets at the Western Hockey League trading deadline on Sunday were no-shows at practice Monday, meaning just 14 players took to the ice for a hard paced workout. Jackson, who was acquired from the Prince George Cougars for Tyler Halliday and a third round pick, was driving his vehicle down to the Okanagan and was unable to make practice while Aschim was flying into Kelowna at around 4:30, a half hour later than the Rockets scheduled practice at Prospera Place. Both new faces will workout with their new teammates today.
• Why just 12 skaters and two goalies at practice? Collin Bowman and Geordie Wudrick were unable to participate because of injuries. Wudrick took a 30 minute skate prior to the team practicing, wearing nothing more than a helmet, gloves, skates and a Rockets track suit. Wudrick could return to the lineup in about two weeks.
• While Bowman didn't skate, the 18 year-old defenceman could be in the lineup this weekend either against Portland or Red Deer.
• Brandon McMillan wasn't at practice. The 19 year-old is getting some well deserves rest after attending the WJHC.
• Wudrick admits it felt odd to see Kyle Verdino packing his bags and heading to Swift Current. Verdino was traded to the Broncos for a 5th round bantam pick. Wudrick shared the same billet family with Verdino after being acquired from the Broncos for Stepan Novotny in November.
• Newly acquired forward Sean Aschim is the brother of 19 year-old Calgary Hitmen Kyle Aschim.
• It looks like Jackson will wear sweater #29 while Aschim has been given Halliday's old #20.
• The Rockets pick up Jackson at a good time. The 20 year-old has 2+5=7 in his last five games. Jackson had a career 4 points night against Kamloops on January 2nd.
• One thing stood out to me when the Kamloops Blazers shipped Jimmy Bubnick and Tyler Shattock to Calgary during Sunday's WHL trade deadline. Both are former Blazers first round picks. Since 2006, the year Bubnick was drafted, the Blazers have traded away 8 of the last 9 first round selections in the WHL Bantam Draft. The only player over that period not moved to another team was Reid Jorgensen in 2001. Bubnick, Shattock, Travis Dunstall, Victor Bartley, Kalvin Sagert, Josh Pokol, Tyler Boldt and Kyle Ladobruk have all been moved to another team after being picked by the Blazers in round one.
• The Saskatoon Blades didn't waste any time welcoming former Rocket Curt Gogol. The Blades already have Gogol's picture taken, wearing the Blades blue/navy and white. Oddly enough Tyler Matheson, acquired from the Blades by the Rockets in October, is still sporting a Blades jersey in his photo on the WHL website.