Rockets beat beast from the east

• He wasn't named a game star, but 17 year-old Colton Sissons played a pivotal role in the Kelowna Rockets 6-3 win over the Saskatoon Blades Saturday night. It wasn't his opening goal that sparked his team, but a solid open ice hit on Blades defenceman Stefan Elliott in the first period seemed to give the Rockets the belief that they wouldn't back down without a fight. Elliott found himself flat on his back after running into Sissons at the side of his own net and then took a penalty moments later for high sticking. Sissons aggressive play resulted in a momentum shift of sorts that wasn't evident until the two team's took the ice for the start of the second period.
• Despite being down 2-1 after 20 minutes, the Rockets rallied with three unanswered goals in a span of 2:19 in the second frame for a 4-2 lead. Another 17 year-old, this time Shane McColgan, got the ball rolling by out waiting Blades goaltender Adam Morrison before shooting the puck through his legs to tie the game at two. Geordie Wudrick and Evan Bloodoff then score 18 seconds apart and the Rockets are on their way in handing the Blades just their 7th loss of the season.
• Rockets goaltender Adam Brown was named the games first star for a series of sensational saves when his team is trailing 2-1. Brown robs Blades forward Josh Nicholls in the first period with a sensational right pad save and then denies overage forward Marek Viedensky twice from point blank range in the second period when the Blades are applying the pressure to make it 3-1.
• McColgan, Mitchell Callahan, Damon Severson and Tyson Barrie each have multiple point games. McColgan's two point effort helps him surpass the 100 point plateau for his career.
• No question the win is a big one for the Rockets, who take advantage of a Blades team playing their fourth game in five night's.Mitchell Callahan's power play goal at the 12 minute mark of the third essentially puts the game out of reach. The air goes out of the tires of the Blades with that goal, as the visitors have no hope of a possible comeback.
• Can I be critical of the fans? I am a little disappointed that several of them start leaving with 5 minutes left to go in the game with the Rockets leading 6-3. Are we really in such a hurry to get home that we can't wait for the final buzzer? And where is the buzz in the building and the response from the fans in celebration as time is ticking down that 'their team' has just beaten one of the best in the WHL? Are we too spoiled with all the winning over the years that we don't recognize the huge accomplishment? Am I wrong here? Leave your comment below if I am. If you don't, it tells me I hit the nail on the head.
  
• Again referee Jeff Ingram sits idly by as fellow official Derek Herman takes the drivers seat when calling penalties. Ingram is extremely passive in making calls, something we saw in Kamloops last month. It's not like he didn't make any calls on the night, but he was extremely hesitant to whistle the play down for blatantly obvious infractions.
  
• It is nice to see the Saskatoon Star Phoenix newspaper still cares about it's readership by sending its beat report on the Blades Western Conference road trip. Cory Wolfe is traveling with the team during its five game swing. Wolfe sticks out like a sore thumb in the press box as few if any newspaper reporters are seen traveling with a WHL team during these tough economic times.