Thursday, January 6, 2011

Not good

  • The Moose Jaw Warriors left the BC Division last night with eight points in their back pocket. Two of those points came courtesy of the Kelowna Rockets. Playing their sixth game of a mammoth seven game road trip, the Rockets, not the Warriors, looked road weary in a 4-2 loss Thursday night. Moose Jaw scored four times in the second period and in the process handed the Rockets their third straight loss.
  • Putting up four is all the Warriors needed on this night as the effort by the home team just wasn't there. Sorry, but I've seen this team at its best and this was no where close. The battle level just wasn't there. I can take losing, but falling flat on your face without any fight at home is hard to digest.
  • Speaking of fights, one of them featured a complete mismatch as Rockets European forward Gal Koren - with 8 penalty minutes - went at it with 6 foot 6 designated tough guy Cody Beach. I cringed when I saw it develop at centre ice, but the carnage was no where near as bad as I had anticipated. Beach clearly won the battle, but Koren actually attempted to trade punches with the much larger, more experienced Beach.
  • Collin Bowman was impressive in his return to Kelowna for the first time since requesting a trade at the end of last season. Bowman issued several big hits and was arguably the most physical player on the ice. I think it should be stated that Bowman played no where near that mean/intense during his time with the Rockets. Had he, Bowman would have likely heard his name called on draft day a couple of years ago.
  • Warriors forward Jesse Paradis celebrated his 20th birthday by picking up an assist against his old team. The former Rocket is anything but flashy but he gets by with a solid work ethic. At the major junior level at least, determination and hard worker can make you an effective player.
  • Mitchell Callahan was hell bent on playing Thursday night and he indeed was in the lineup with his team. Callahan arrived at the arena about an hour before game time after traveling back from the World Juniors in Buffalo, New York. Callahan was actually one of the Rockets better players despite sitting on an airplane all day. Oh, to be 19 again! Tyson Barrie was a late arrival and did not play.
  • Adam Brown was pulled for the second straight game after giving up four goals. As was the case on Sunday, Jordon Cooke came in and shut the door the rest of the way.
  • The Rockets have failed to score a power play goal since returning from the Christmas break. The Rockets are 0 for 25. They were 0 for 8 against the Warriors and surrendered a shorthanded goal.
  • Geordie Wudrick scored his team leading 20th goal of the season. Wudrick had 19 goals with the Rockets all of last season.
  • Shane McColgan extended his point streak to a season high seven straight games. McColgan had an assist on a nice pass on Brett Bulmer's second period goal.

5 comments:

g.k said...

It was great to see our tough guy's show up tonight!! Chickie, Koren & Main. Wow!! We need to address this real quick!!

Ryan said...

Couldnt agree more, sickening to watch those 3 guys have to fight. Beach fights our weakest player and doesnt have to answer for it for the rest of the game. That is weak.

Unknown said...

Agree with ya what is # 29 there for ?? Hopefully somebody can stand up in that room and get the fire burning again in their bellies ....Enough with half the team taking nights off on game day.
come on guys you can do better than that remember MOVEMBER.....

Unknown said...

i was disappointed in our 20 yr. olds. although fighting may not be wudrick, smith and bloodoff game. you gotta stick up for your younger guy. mcgllrath and the moosejaw defence took liberties with our guys all night. great discipline to skate away but sometimes the wild guys gotta show up

Unknown said...

sorry meant stebner not smith