Tonight’s Preview: Welcome to the 2010-2011 regular season. The Rockets are celebrating their 20th anniversary this season in the Western Hockey League. The team was born in 1991 as an expansion franchise in Tacoma and played out of Washington State for 4 years before moving to Kelowna, where the team is enjoying its 16th season in the Okanagan. Tonight the Rockets host the Prince George Cougars in the first of 8 games between the two teams this season. The Cougars make a return visit November 2nd and November 12th before the Rockets head north for a pair of games in Prince George November 19th and 20th. The Rockets are meeting the Cougars five times in their first 23 regular season games.
Last season vs. Cougars: The Rockets were 7-1-0-0 in eight games against the Cougars last season. The Rockets were 4-0-0-0 at home and 3-1-0-0 in Prince George. Three of the eight games were decided by a single goal with the Rockets winning two of the games in a shootout.
Who’s Back: The Rockets are led by last seasons MVP Tyson Barrie. Barrie, the league’s top defenseman, was also the teams leading scorer last season. Barrie is joined by veteran 20 year-old forward Geordie Wudrick and Evan Bloodoff. Adam Brown, now 19, is the starting goaltender. Brown was the #1 goaltender at the start of last season while overager Mark Guggenberger was recovering from a sports hernia. Western Conference rookie of the year nominee Shane McColgan also returns this season.
Who’s Gone: The Rockets said goodbye to 20 year-olds Mark Guggenberger, Lucas Bloodoff and Dallas Jackson. Both Guggenberger and Bloodoff are playing Canadian college hockey while Jackson was released Tuesday after a tryout with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. Brandon McMillan will land in the Anaheim Ducks organization after signing a pro contract in May.
New Faces: Two 17 year-old rookies cracked the Rockets opening day roster. Zach Franko, the teams 2nd round pick in 2008, and Colton Sissons, acquired from Saskatoon in the Curt Gogol trade last season, have made the cut. Nineteen year-old European forward Andreas Stene is also a new addition up front. The Rockets also acquired 20 year-old defenseman Brendon Wall from Prince Albert and 19 year-old Kevin Smith from Moose Jaw in separate deals in August.
Recent Moves: On Tuesday the Rockets released 19 year-old Codey Ito and 18 year-old Sean Aschim. Ito made the team last year on a tryout while Aschim was acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders for a 6th round bantam pick. The Rockets also sent 16 year-old Tyrell Goulbourne back to Edmonton for another year of midget hockey.
This and That: The Rockets are starting the season with back-to-back games at home. The Rockets host Tri City Wednesday before visiting the Americans Friday night….Eight of the Rockets first 12 games of the regular season are on home ice….The Rockets franchise is playing its 1369th regular season game tonight. The team has 697 regular season wins….The Rockets return six of their top seven point getters from last season. They include Tyson Barrie, Shane McColgan, Mitchell Callahan, Brett Bulmer, Geordie Wudrick and Cody Chikie….The Rockets were 35-31-0-6 last season and beat the Everett Silvertips in seven games in the opening round. The Rockets would eventually fall to the Tri City Americans in five games in round two…Rockets head coach Ryan Huska is a member of the coaching staff for this years entry at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Defenseman Tyson Barrie attended Team Canada’s summer camp…Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in Penticton in July…Ryan Huska is coaching in his 217th career game tonight. Huska has 120 victories as a head coach with the hockey club…The Rockets were 5 and 1 during the pre-season with two wins over Vancouver and Chilliwack before splitting a pair of games with Kamloops. Jason Seibert, Max Adolph, Zach Franko and Colton Sissons tied for the goal scoring lead with three each…The Rockets named their captain for the 2010-2011 season. Tyson Barrie will wear the ‘C’ while Colton Jobke, Kevin Smith and Evan Bloodoff have been named assistant captains…Jobke signed an entry level contract with the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Jobke, never drafted, attended the Wild’s rookie camp and was invited to main camp before earning the deal….Brett Bulmer was in the Minnesota Wild’s lineup Friday night in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues.
3 comments:
what college is Guggenberger with
Regan, Is McMillan gone without a shred of doubt?
Regan, I know you don't have anything to do with this but any idea why the webcast was so blurry tonight? It was much worse than it usually is.
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