Saturday, March 13, 2010

McMillan makes most of last regular season game

  • Bantam hockey. That was the last time Brandon McMillan believes he scored four goals. The 19 year-old forward managed to score four goals in likely his final regular season game in a Rockets uniform Saturday night, leading his team to a 6-5 shootout win over the Prince George Cougars. McMillan ends the season with 25 goals, two shy of team leader Geordie Wudrick, who scored 27 goals to lead the team in that category.
  • McMillan ended the season on a 10 game point streak. McMillan had 10 goals over that period, scoring in seven of his last eight regular season games.
  • McMillan scored three times against Prince George last season when he collected five points (3+2=5) in a game November 21/08.
  • McMillan has had the majority of his success playing on a line with Lucas Bloodoff and Geordie Wudrick. It was suggested to me on the post game show that the line should be called the BMW line. Bloodoff-McMillan-Wudrick. Works for me.
  • McMillan's four goal effort is the first by a Rockets player since Stepan Novotny scored four times in the opening game of season against Vancouver.
  • A huge contingent of NHL scouts were on hand to see Prince George forward Brett Connolly. Connolly didn't disappoint. The slick skating forward scored once and added an assist and was named the games second star. Connolly has played just 16 games this season but will be a first round pick in this summers NHL draft. The question is, could the Cougars have made the playoffs this season with a healthy Connolly? You would have to think so. This player makes others around him much better.
  • The Rockets end the season five wins shy of 40. A 35 win season without Kyle St. Denis and Evan Bloodoff regularly in the lineup is nothing to shake a stick at.
  • Tyson Barrie set a new Kelowna Rockets franchise record Saturday night with two assists. Barrie ended the season with 72 points, shattered the record for points by a defenceman in a season when Tomas Slovak recorded 71 points in 2002-2003.
  • Barrie led the Rockets in scoring this season with 72 points. Barrie became the first d-man since Gerad Adams had 52 points to lead the Rockets in scoring in 1998-99. Adams totals came after the d-man was acquired from Regina while leading scorer Brett McLean was traded to Brandon.
  • Mitchell Callahan scored his 20th goal of the season, becoming the 4th Rockets player to score 20+ goals. Callahan also had the distinction of being the only player to dress in all 72 games.
  • The Rockets end the regular season with wins in five of their last six games.
  • Tickets for the opening round playoff series between Tri City/ Everett will go on sale Monday morning at 9:30 am.

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