52! A new franchise record

• Don Hay has respect for Kelowna head coach Ryan Huska. The feeling is mutual. That may be the reason why Hay returned the game puck to Huska following the Kelowna Rockets record breaking 52nd win of the season Saturday night. Huska, noting that it was the Vancouver Giants head coaches one thousandth game in the WHL, promptly handed it back to the veteran bench boss. Huska's Rockets concluded a dream regular season with a 5-2 win over the Giants, winning their 52nd game of the season and breaking the team record of 51 wins set back in 2002-2003.    
• The Rockets finish the season as only one of three teams with 50 or more wins. Portland (56 and counting) and Edmonton (51) also hit the plateau. The Rockets ended the season with 108 points, one point shy of the 109 the team put up in 2002-2003.
• The 2002-2003 team had a defense comprised of Josh Gorges, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith and Mike Card. Brett Palin and Tomas Slovak, who is one of the best European d-man the team has developed, also patrolled the Rockets blue line that season. Those are some impressive names. In fact, eight of the players on the 2002-2003 team played in at least one NHL game. Blake Comeau, Troy Bodie and Cam Paddock were also on that team.  
• The win was significant in more ways than just setting a new franchise record. The 52 wins is one better than the Edmonton Oil Kings, meaning the Rockets finished in second place in the overall WHL standings. Both the Rockets and Oil Kings each earned 108 points this season but the Rockets clinch second because of more wins.    
• The Rockets ended the regular season with 309 goals, the second most in the WHL. Only two teams will score over 300 goals this season. The Rockets and Portland Winterhawks were both able to accomplish the feat.
• The Rockets allowed just 178 goals against. That was the third lowest total in the WHL behind Edmonton and Portland.On average the team allowed 2.47 goals against.
• Jordon Cooke tied for the league lead in wins with 37. Not bad for a first year starter. 
• Myles Bell was the teams leading scorer with 93 points. His 38 goals led the team as did his 55 assists.
• The Rockets will face the Seattle Thunderbirds in round one of the WHL playoffs. Game one is this Friday at Prospera Place with game two the following night. Game three and four are back in Seattle (Kent) next Tuesday and Wednesday night.