Things that make me go hmm....

• From the WHL players that I've spoken to in Kelowna, Vancouver, Prince Albert and Kamloops, none are pleased with the length of the suspension handed out by the league towards Tri City Americans forward Brendan Shinnimin. It's been suggested that he could be a target once he returns to the lineup. I am not saying someone would stoop so low as to hit Shinnimin from behind into the end boards, but if the 19 year-old doesn't keep it clean and steps out of line in the least bit, he will face the music and the players will decide what his punishment will be. It would be safe to say, according to my straw poll, that Shinnimin will be public enemy number one when he returns to the Americans lineup.
• Maybe the Americans should have kept 20 year-old forward Mike Brown around for protection?
  
• Blazers head coach Guy Charron says he wasn't getting any saves, so he pulled starting goaltender Jon Groenheyde after the first period of Wednesday's game. Groenheyde was slow in getting to the Blazers bench for the start of the second period, making us wonder in the broadcast booth if he was indeed hurt. Or was he sulking? He looked anything like a 'team first guy' as he sat stoically on the bench for the remainder of the game. As a goaltender going through minor hockey, I was always told that even as a back up you can still add value to the team by talking on the bench and encouraging your teammates. I guess Groenheyde didn't get the same memo.
• I found it interesting that the Rockets scratched 20 year-old defenceman Brendon Wall Sunday in a game against Everett. Injected back in the lineup Wednesday against Kamloops, Wall scored once and added an assist for a two point night. Did it light a fire or was it just coincidence?
• Move over Brett Bulmer and Shane McColgan. Rookie Zach Franko may be the new face to be reckoned with at forward now that he leads the team in scoring. Franko's three goals and three assists are impressive. But should we be concerned that a 17 year-old newcomer is leading the points parade?
• How do you stop Ryan Howse? The Chilliwack Bruins forward has ten goals and leads the league in that category. Howse has points in every game he's played this season. When you can shoot the puck as well as he can, who cares that he has just three measly assists.
  
• The Rockets did something right against Howse last season, shutting him out - points wise - in four of eight games.
• In case you are wondering, the Rockets will be playing their 5th game in eight nights Friday in Chilliwack.
  
• Oddly enough the Rockets and Bruins last wins came against the Everett Silvertips. The Rockets beat the Tips 4-3 in a shootout Sunday while the Bruins were a 4-3 winner in overtime on Wednesday.