Ouch!

• I think George Brett said it best when he was quoted as saying "If a tie is like kissing your sister, losing is like kissing your grandmother with her teeth out." Last night's 6-1 loss in Portland was tough to stomach. It was ugly. It was the Rockets third straight loss and fifth in six games. Ty Rattie led the way for the Hawks with two goals and an assist. Rattie also got into a fight with Cody Chikie, giving the 17 year-old the Gordie Howe Hat trick. You know it was a long night when Rattie can pull off that feat and designated Hawks tough guy Tayler Jordan scores a goal.
  
• A missed 5 on 3 power play about eight minutes into the game really came back to bite the Rockets. With Portland up 1-0, the Rockets had a chance to draw even but failed to score. What usually happens when teams struggle and miss a golden opportunity, the opposition comes back and scores. That's exactly what happened. Four minutes later, the Hawks make it 2-1 and then Shane McColgan's roughing penalty proves costly as the home team scores a power play goal for a 3-0 lead after the opening period.
• Hawks forward Tayler Jordan takes a first period charging penalty after trying to send Rockets defenceman Antoine Corbin into next week with a big hit along the end boards. Who comes to Corbin's aid? Sixteen year-old d-partner Damon Severson. I mean this fight is over before it even starts, but give Severson credit for even attempting to engage with Jordan. Severson was likely unaware that Jordan fought former Rockets tough guy Ryley Grantham a few times in Jordan's rookie season and fared pretty well. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
• While few offensive chances were created from the Rockets older players, two rookies had second period opportunities that would have made the score a little more respectable. Zach Franko hits the goal post while Gal Koren is unable to beat Hawks goaltender Mac Carruth on a nice pass from Shane McColgan.
• In saying that, unlike Friday's 4-2 loss, the Rockets manufactured no where near the same quality chances. It was a easy night for Carruth. The Rockets most dangerous players should be Geordie Wudrick and Brett Bulmer. Those two were essentially non factors. Instead of being difference makes, the two chose to stand idly by.
• Spencer Main cares. The 18 year-old forward is getting involved in some way. Main, uncharacteristically, has three fighting majors in his last five games.
  

• It was nice to catch up with Rockets alumni Joe Suderman. Suderman is in his final year of chiropractic school down in Portland. Suderman chose to take his schooling down in the states because their is only one institution in Canada. Suderman played three seasons with the Rockets from 1998 until 2001 before eventually being traded to the Prince Albert Raiders.
• At least I have one fan! I noticed a gentleman standing within ear-shot of my broadcast location listening in on the post game show. On a commercial break I acknowledged him and found out that he heads up the Portland Winterhawks booster club. He told me he listens to our broadcasts when the Hawks are in Kelowna and called me "one of the most unbiased broadcasters he's heard". I told him, he must have caught me on an off night! All joking aside, it was nice to hear some positive feedback after what I witnessed on the ice.