'Giant' win on the road

• While a team’s success hinges greatly on the strong play of its older players, the Kelowna Rockets have so many good young ones that it’s hard for them not to make an immediate impact. Look no further than to rookie forward Colton Sissons. The just turned 17 year-old (he celebrated his birthday Friday night) scored twice in the Rockets 4-3 win Friday night over the Vancouver Giants. Sissons power play goal in the first period made it a 2-0 game while his third period goal was the game winner. The North Vancouver resident picked a special place – Pacific Coliseum – to register his first career multi goal game.

• Another North Vancouver resident wouldn’t be out done. Defenceman Kevin Smith opened up the scoring on a first period power play blast from the point and then chipped in with two assists. The three point night wasn’t a career high for the former Moose Jaw Warrior, who had four assists against the Edmonton Oil Kings last December in an 11-2 win.

• Tyson Barrie picked up one assist, but wowed the crowd of 94 hundred with his ability to control all facets of the game. He was smooth in quarterbacking the power play but was equally as good defensively.

• Mitchell Callahan scored once, giving him 9 points in three games this week. Should the WHL just hand him in the player of the week award now, or does he have to wait until next week?

• Adam Brown had another solid game in goal. His only miscue was an attempt at moving a puck up the boards to a teammate that was intercepted by Giants forward James Henry. Henry picked off the pass and fired it into an empty net to make it a one-goal game. The goal, which came shorthanded, was the result of a miscue by a teammate at the Giants blue line.

• Brett Bulmer appears to be rounding into form. That’s bad news for opposition goaltenders and great news for the Rockets. Bulmer collected two assists including a nice pass from the half wall to Sissons who was waiting at the mouth of the crease. Sissons smartly redirected it past the goaltender for an easy tap in.
  

• The Rockets are now riding a three game winning streak. It took them eight games to accomplish that feat (three wins) to start the season.

• Legendary NHL’er Gordie Howe was on hand with his two sons Marty and Mark for the ceremonial face-off. On 'Gordie Howe Night', hockey fans honoured the 82 year-old, who won four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings.