Almost a year to the day since road shutout

• Goaltender Darcy Kuemper has single handily won games for the Red Rebels this season. On Friday night Adam Brown did the same for the Kelowna Rockets in a 1-0 road win. Brown, the games first star, made 27 saves in the shutout as the Rockets moved four points up on Vancouver for first place in the BC Division.

• Brown was spectacular, making several solid stops, including a first period breakaway when the Rockets were on the power play. Brown made a serious second period stop on Rebels forward Byron Froese when two Rockets defenceman collided at the blue-line. Froese was again stoned by Brown from in-close late in the third period. It was Brown's 10th career shutout.

• Geordie Wudrick's one timer from the high slot was the only goal of the game. Line-mate Colton Sissons beat a Rebel defenceman to the puck against the boards and quickly backhanded a pass that Wudrick one-timed into the back of the net. It was the 20 year-old's 34th goal of the season, one shy of his career best of 35 set with the Swift Current Broncos.

• You don't see him mentioned much on this blog but defenceman MacKenzie Johnston did a nice job against Rebels leading scorer Ryan Nugent Hopkins. Taking body against the skilled forward is a must and Johnston did just that.

• It was only the second time this season the Rebels have been shut out at home. The other team outside to accomplish the feat? The Kamloops Blazers.

• It was the Rockets first road shutout since a 4-0 win in Edmonton back on February 26/2010. Adam Brown made 24 saves on the night.

• The Rockets have now matched their win total from all of last season when they won 35 games in 2009-2010.

• The horrid schedule of February comes to an end Saturday night when the Rockets face the Calgary Hitmen. That will be the completion of 13 games in 24 days.
• Following the game we ate at Montana’s where the players gag has someone unexpectedly wearing the moose horns as staff members are fooled into thinking it is the unsuspecting victims birthday. On Friday night I was officially given the moose horns, which I wore with pride as the players had a good chuckle. I will gladly wear those things if it means a Rockets victory.
• I met Zak Stebner’s family at the restaurant afterwards. It was nice to meet Ward Stebner (Zak’s father) face-to-face for the first time this season. We’ve exchanged e-mails, so it was nice to finally meet.