Rigby no ordinary rookie

• When I asked readers of this blog to vote on which rookie they were most excited about watching this season, Carter Rigby received a significant number of votes. If Saturday night's home debut was any indication, the 17 year-old is going to become a fan favourite. Rigby scored twice, added an assist and got into a first period fight in a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Giants. The Penticton resident, who was acquired in a WHL trade with Prince George prior to the start of the regular season, played along side Shane McColgan, who chipped in with three assists as the Rockets improved to 2 and 0 on the season.
  
• Defenceman Damon Severson had a goal and two assists in the win. Severson had three-two point games last season. The 17 year-old's rifle from the blue-line opened the scoring. Two of Severson's three points came on the power play yet he was also guilty of giving up the puck which resulted in a shorthanded goal by Jordan Martinook.
• The Rockets scored four times in the second period to take a 5-1 lead into the third. The lopsided score had the home team come out flat while the Giants roared out of the gates to make it a two goal game before Rigby's second of the game put things out of reach for the visitors.
  
• The Giants dominated the third period with 18 shots on goal. The Rockets only had three.
• Forward Jessey Astles had a solid fight with Giants enforcer Wes Vannieuwenhuizen. Astles threw some hard punches that the 19 year-old was able to handle courtesy of a solid chin.
• Giants forward Brendan Gallagher had a terrific effort considering his day started at 1:45 am BC time when he left Montreal. Arriving at around noon in Kelowna, the 19 year-old had a pre-game nap before rejoining his junior team after participating in five pre-season games with the Montreal Canadiens. Gallagher scored once, hit a post and had two other quality chances to score but was denied by Rockets goaltender Adam Brown.
• The defensive core contributed seven assists in the win. Severson, Myles Bell and Kevin Smith each had two helpers.
  
• Sixteen year-old Jesse Lees earned his first career point, an assist, on Rigby's second period goal.
• Rookie Tyson Baillie earned an assist, giving him points in every game he's played this season. Baillie has an 8 game point streak if you include his six game streak in pre-season plus his two game point streak during the regular season.
  
• The Rockets raised a BC Division banner to the rafters Saturday night. It was the teams 13th banner since they entered the league in 1991.