When your jaw drops to the floor

Shocked.

Amazed.

Dumbfounded.

Jake Lee's third period goal had me....speechless. That's not good news for a broadcaster at anytime, but what can you say when a player who has a career high 5 goals ends up taking matters into his own hands and scores a highlite reel goal? 

"What happened there," is all I could come up with as my jaw dropped to the floor. 

Stunning would best describe how the 19 year-old skated with the puck and weaved in and out of defenders before snapping the puck blocker side on startled Giants goaltender Trent Miner. 

What has only shocked me more - in the last few days - was my teenage boys making their own beds!! 

• Lee's goal tied the score and 3. What made it so impressive is someone had to step up after Kaedan Korczak was ejected from the game after getting into a fight with rookie Colton Lankow. So, who delivers when the teams top d-man is sitting in the dressing room? As a veteran of over 200 WHL games, Lee did what few have been able to witness during his time wearing Kelowna Rockets colours. Maybe this was the type of flash and dash that had Seattle Thunderbirds scouts taking the Sherwood Park, Alberta product in the first round of the 2016 WHL bantam draft?
• Lee's goal was the most timely. It came late in the game with his team down 3-2. It marked only the second time this season the Giants have lost when leading after two periods. Both losses have come to the hands of the Rockets.
• How about Turner McMillen's goal? Wow. A shorthanded beauty to say the least. The 18 year-old found a second gear to break away from a Giants defender before firing the puck - on a breakaway - high to Miner's blocker side. It was McMillen's first career goal. Could it have been anymore spectacular? No! I loved the celebration when Trevor Wong leaped into the air to congratulate McMillen. That's why we play these games folks. Pure, unadulterated jubilation. In a year that has sucked, those two hugging in mid-air was magical in my eyes. 
• The game winner was ugly. Yikes. Alex Swetlikoff's shot seems to hit a Giants defender, then goes off Mark Liwiski and into the back of the net. It was a glorious gift and another example of - no shot is a bad shot. 
• A slow start for the Rockets in this one. I said it on the broadcast, if I was the Rockets, I'd be happy being down 2-1 after 20 minutes. The home team looked slow despite leading on the shot clock 9-6. The Rockets have traditionally been quick starters this season, but Vancouver was more desperate. I thought the G-Men seemed to look fatigued in the third period as their best players didn't have the jam or execution we are used to seeing.
• The Rockets discipline was better. The G-Men had just 4 power play chances and the Rockets PK was a perfect 4 for 4.
• The power play is coming around too. Two goals on three chances. Impressive. 
• Five fighting majors between these two teams in three games. The hate is real.
• The win was the Rockets 6th in 7 games. The Giants have lost four straight. While it doesn't mathematically eliminate Vancouver from winning the BC Division and catching first place Kamloops, this loss against Kelowna did some significant damage to their chances.
• The theory is the winner of the BC Division will be granted that honour on winning percentage. I don't like it, but what can you do? The Rockets can't play as many games as the other teams after losing eight of them due to COVID-19. Is it fair that a smaller sample size allows the Rockets to have a better winning % than Kamloops or Vancouver at seasons end? No. But is it fair that we've been sequestered in our homes, can't eat indoors at restaurants and can't have fans in the stands while hoards of people shop at Costco? Everything is whacked people. Nothing is normal anymore. 
• If you think you are a good team, you've got to show it. I am sorry, but you have to beat Kamloops. You have beaten every team but them in this shortened season. Show me you can beat them, not twice, but even once will do. Do that and I can swallow this winning % argument if indeed that plays a factor in the end. The chance to beat the Blazers starts tonight. Having played terrific hockey, there is no better time to face their arch nemesis.  

Win tainted by trips to the box

It’s been a problem in these parts for sometime now. 

If Kris Mallette has any say in it, which he clearly does as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets, like a good mechanic, he will do his best to fix it.

Undisciplined penalties.

It’s been a common theme with the hockey club for no less than three years. Maybe longer? It isn’t smart hockey. It’s hockey that will result in loses and ultimately early exits from the playoffs if it isn’t eradicated.

Last night at Prospera Place, the Rockets allowed the one win Royals to hang around for a possible third period comeback by going to the penalty box - time and time again. Fortunately for the road team - the Rockets were the visitors in this one despite playing at home - the Royals fired blanks in the final frame and rookie goaltender Nicholas Cristiano was forced to make 16 saves in the process.

Oh, the score ended up being 5-1, but this continued aggressive play after the whistle needs to stop. You can bet Kris Mallette, who was an enforcer in his day as a player, will make it happen. Even Mallette realizes, this isn't a quick fix though.

• Positives? Lots. Let’s start with 16 year-old rookie Nicholas Cristiano. Getting his first career start, could it have gone any better for him? He gets run support (baseball analogy) from David Kope 26 seconds in and made two stops early in the game to gain some confidence. I thought he played well. Looked composed. Tall but skinny, he was square to pucks and had his goal posts help him out twice. I hope he is the goalie of the future, because I am not sure who is after Roman Basran and Cole Schwebius age out next season. You need a young goalie to emerge. Let’s hope Cristiano is that guy.
• David Kope wears sweater #18. He reminds me so much of alumnus Cam Paddock. Kope, like Paddock, isn’t very physical. That said, Kope puts up points like ‘Pads’ did.  The 20 year-old had 1+2=3 last night and collected his 100th career point in the process. Kope leads the team in scoring. Enough said.
• Mark Liwiski had a goal and an assist. His assist to set up Kope’s goal was one of beauty. The 19 year-old separates the puck from the Royals defender by knocking him on his rear, then slides it over to Kope and it’s in the back of the net. In the third period he gets over aggressive in the crease after a goal mouth scramble and takes a bad penalty. That’s an older guy that needs to be smarter.
• Why were the shots so close last night? Penalties. I would love to see what the shot volumes were 5 on 5. I’d suggest the majority of the shots the Royals administered towards the net were with a Rockets player sitting in the box.
• Scott Cousins scored his first career goal. It was an ugly one on a horrible turnover inside the Royals zone. The likeable 17 year-old will take the gift wrapped goal.
• How did Turner McMillen not score last night? With a yawning cage and his eyes wider and brighter than that full mood Monday night, McMillen hit the goal post. I double clutched on the radio getting ready to yell - scooooores - before it amazed me by grazing the iron.
• The Rockets have now out-scored the opposition 33-11 in the games they’ve won this season. In those 6 wins, five times they’ve opened up the scoring.
• The Royals have lost 10 straight. Playing a lot of rookies is a factor, but look at the Rockets roster. Kris Mallette is winning games with a lot of players that are wet behind the ears too. For Dan Price it could be worse. The team lost 11 in a row in 2012-13.
• You don’t often get many clear indicators of how good your group truly is until the rubber hits the road. It hits the road - big time - when the Rockets play the elite in three consecutive games. Vancouver is here Thursday with a home and home series with Kamloops Friday and Saturday. Playing undisciplined hockey like they did against the Royals will make for an agonizing three in three. Play smart, you can prove to yourself that indeed - winners of 5 of their last 6 - this Rockets team is for real. 

Are the Rockets a top tier team?

Photo of Kris Mallette taken before pandemic

I had to ask the question, even though I knew what the answer would be. In a pre-game interview with Kelowna Rockets head coach Kris Mallette, we talked about what appears to be two tiers in the BC Division. The first tier is comprised of elite teams like Kamloops and Vancouver. The second tier is Prince George and Victoria. Where do the Rockets fit into the mix with only a handful of games under their belt? Mallette didn't hesitate when asked where his team belongs. "Absolutely", in believing his team should be considered a top tier team. "I know our team can compete". The likable coach wasn't just blowing smoke. His team went out and did it, earning a 4-3 win last night over the hard charging Vancouver Giants. Mark Liwiski scored the game winner 5 minutes into the third period. From there, goaltender Cole Schwebius held the fort and puck management and defending were rock solid. Was it the biggest win of the season for the Rockets? In my opinion - darn tootin'.

• What made the win so impressive? No excuses, but the Rockets were playing the second game of back-to-backs. The statistics show the team having a day between games is far fresher and typically come out on the winning end.
• The Rockets put four pucks past Trent Miner. Remember, coming into last nights game, the 20 year-old had a goals against average (1.18) that was the best in the WHL with four shutouts.
• The Twitter police were out in full force last night. I suggested on the broadcast that Miner was indeed 20. A Giants fan quickly attempted to call me out before deleting the tweet as Miner turned 20 in early February.  
• Two of the Rockets four goals came from defencemen. Kaeden Korczak's goal was massive to tie the score at two, especially after surrendering a shorthanded goal from Justin Sourdif after having the luxury of three consecutive power plays. 
• The Rockets were down 3-2 heading into the third. Again, statistically the percentages works against you when trailing heading into the final period. Striking twice in the opening five minutes was impressive. Jake Lee takes matters into his own hands with a nice individual effort to tie the score and then Liwiski pots his 5th on a lost face-off by hurrying to a loose puck and chipping it, blocker side, on Miner. Liwiski is now tied with Trevor Wong for the team lead in goals. I didn't see that coming.
• How about Kris Mallette throwing out rookie Turner McMillen on the ice in an effort to protect a one goal lead late in the game? What does that say about McMillen? What does that say about Mallette having the confidence to throw the 16 year-old out there. Wow!!
• Kaeden Korczak was the first star last night. Sure his goal was huge, but his defensive play was the reason why he was one of the best players on the ice. His bread and butter at the NHL level will not be about scoring. It won't. If he wants to earn a paycheck at that level, he must be able to defend. While the Rockets are benefitting from having his calm presence back on the blue-line, it must be Christmas morning for rookie John Babcock. The 16 year-old is Korzy's d-partner. 
•  Tyson Feist is really growing on me as a player. I really thought his skills were limited last season. He could fight and looked like a 6 or 7th d-man. Something happened though. I don't know what it is, but he is showing way more offensive flair that I anticipated. Not without his fair share of warts as a player, he competes hard and is getting power play time. Feist is also getting a lot of his shots through to the net from the blue-line. I would say the 20 year-old (turned 20 in January) has been a pleasant surprise after I considered him a small piece when he was acquired in a trade with Regina at last years trade deadline. 
• Dillon Hamaliuk has elevated his play. How? Shooting the puck! A team high 6 shots last night and 12 in his last three games. Any wonder why he has goals in back-to-back games? Hammer's best work is from in-tight. Not much flash and dash in his game. Good hands and a bull like mentality makes him an impactful player. 
• Odd man rushes. When the Rockets have had one, more times than not, the puck carrier has shot it. Love it. Nothing worse than trying to pass the puck in an effort to make a pretty play. If the defenceman is cutting off the shooting lane, blast it on net and get the rebound. To be honest, I can't remember a two-on-one this season where the Rockets puck carrier hasn't shot it. Again, love it. 
• Props to the officiating staff last night. Sure, sure, the teams also dictate how the game is called, but Jeff Ingram and Mark Pearce stayed out of the way. They didn't over-officiate the game. Four minor penalties were called. FOUR!!! Beautiful. Could their have been more? Maybe, but they would have been 'ticky-tacky'. It was the quickest game of the season. Two hours and 12 minutes and the game was complete.
• In the Rockets five wins this season, they have out-scored  the opponent 28-11.
• The Rockets host Victoria Tuesday night. Ok, technically the Royals are the home team, but you get what I'm putting down. 

Sometimes you're the windshield....

A Douglas Photo credit

 Sometime you're the windshield. Sometimes you're the bug.

The Kelowna Rockets are finding that out in the opening five games of this abbreviated season.

After scoring 14 goals in back-to-back wins against Prince George and Victoria, the rubber hit the road last night in a 6-2 loss to the Kamloops Blazers. Specialty teams and a lack of discipline were factors in the setback. Kamloops scored five goals with the extra man and were never in true danger of losing this one. Whenever the Rockets appeared to be challenging for a come-back-bid, an untimely penalty got in the way. They didn't do themselves any favours either, going 0 for 5 with the extra man, dropping their overall record to 3-2-0-0. The Blazers are an impressive 8-2-0-0. 

• Mark Liwiski and David Kope provided the scoring for the visitors, who were out-shot and outplayed in the opening period. The Blazers built up a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes. Thankfully, the Rockets came alive in the second period and turned the tables, but coming back from that deep hole against the defending BC champs doesn't come easy. Cole Schwebius gave his team a chance with back-to-back breakaway saves on leading scorer Connor Zary to make it interesting.
• Liwiski and Kope now have goals in back-to-back games. Liwiski's was the teams fourth shorthanded goal in five games while Kope's marker was one where he deflected the puck in mid-air after a quick wrister from the blue-line by Tyson Feist.
• Who's is taking full advantage of this abbreviated season? I'd guess d-man Jake Lee is taking it seriously. They all do, obviously, but Lee has turned his play up a notch. I think he was terrific last night and is making great decisions with the puck. Undrafted, Lee needs to show urgency if he wants to play this game professionally. I really like what I've seen from him - specifically on the penalty kill.
• Lee played in his 200th career game last night. 65 of them have been played in Kelowna Rockets colours after a trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
• Alex Swetlikoff played in his 100th career game.  He was good at the face-off circle, winning 11 of 18 draws but was quiet on the offensive zone. 
• The best Rocket last night? I sure liked rookie d-man John Babcock. The 16 year-old is a stocky player that knows his limitations. I thought he played a solid game against a quick, quick team. Babcock was a +2 and had two shots on net.
• The best Blazer? Everyone will say Connor Levis after his four goal effort. Sure, he was good, but d-man Mats Lindgren caught my attention. The first round bantam pick passed my eye test. Head Coach Shaun Clouston played him a ton (isn't that what this season is designed for?) and he made some real nice plays. Who is the last, real, real good - young - Blazers d-man to take the WHL by storm? Maybe Lindgren is the man? Watch and wait if he delivers. 
• The Blazers played this one without Logan Stankoven and Orrin Centazzo. That's a lot of fire power out of that lineup. I still think the Blazers are the best team in the BC Division hub. It may not look like it on paper, but if this was a 'real season' they would be fighting for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. While many feel sorry for the Rockets not being able to host the 2020 Memorial Cup, how would you like to be the Blazers at the peak of their cycle, yet essentially playing for next season? The Blazers would have needed to add a player or two - via trade - to only increase their chances for a long playoff run, but the core is intact for championship success.  
• The Rockets will face the Blazers an additional time. The WHL announced another game between the team teams has been added after being missed when the Rockets were tangling with COVID. The two teams will meet Friday April 30th. The additional game means the Rockets will miss 8 games, not 9, when they were shut down for two weeks.   
• I've eaten McDonalds as a post game meal in Kamloops twice in the last 4 days. I may have to visit Weight Watchers when this season is over. That, or do my own version of Super Size Me!!

Road team wins at home! What?

This COVID-19 world has turned everything upside down.

No fans in the building.

A 24 game season.

No playoffs.

Home teams are playing in their own arena, yet they are considered the visitors.

Rookie's are rock'n it and the Kelowna Rockets are scoring goals like its 2015. 

Eighteen year-old Dylan Wightman scored his first career WHL goal, then lit the lamp again in the third period in a 7-2 win over the lowly Victoria Royals. Wightman, a listed player, also chipped in with an assist for a three point night and first star honours. Overager David Kope also had a three point night (1+2=3) as the Rockets won back-to-back games for the first time this season while handing the Royals their 6th consecutive loss. Victoria has been out-scored 32-14 over that stretch.

• How good was Andrew Cristall's power play goal last night? A one timer from the lower portion of the face-off circle was one of beauty. If he scores more goals like that, we may need to call Cristall the 'pistol'. A nice pass from Jake Lee set up the best goal of the night.
• It was nice to see the Rockets power play click. Two chances and two goals. 
• Mark Liwiski showed some good hands last night. His second goal of the game was a nice net drive, before cutting to the middle and chipping the puck over the glove of Royals goaltender Adam Evanoff. Liwiski has 4 points in his last two games. Not bad for a player four penalty minutes shy of 200 for his career.
• Alex Swetlikoff sat this one out after serving a one game suspension for a high sticking major against Prince George Saturday. The 19 year-old will play in his 100th career WHL game tonight in Kamloops.
• Rookie d-man Will Irvine made his WHL debut. He went through the rookie lap prior to the pre-game warm-up and then took a spill at the blueline as his teammates took to the ice. Irvine also earned his first point, an assist on Wightman's second goal of the game.
• Dillon Hamaliuk came out firing last night. He led the team with 8 shots on net. 
• Rookie John Babcock earned his first career point - an assist on David Kope's opening goal just 2:31 into the opening period.
• Jake Lee plays in his 200th career game tonight in Kamloops.
• I like the Rockets willingness to go to the 'paint' to score goals. How many have they scored his season by going into the dirty areas to poke the puck past the goaltender? A greater emphasis or desire has resulted in the team putting up 14 goals in back-to-back games. Wightman's first goal....Trevor Wong's fifth of the season and Liwiski's opening goal last night all came from in-tight. 
• A spirited tilt between Tyson Feist and Cage Newans. I wasn't surprised at Feist's flurry with his gloves off, but Newans impressed in the lengthy bout.
• The Rockets and Royals meet two more times. Next Tuesday they clash before closing out the season May 12th.

Eight was great!

Trevor Wong - Shoot the Breeze Photo

If you are my age, you remember the TV sitcom - Eight is Enough. 

Last night at the Sandman Centre - 8 was enough for the Kelowna Rockets. 

Second year forward Trevor Wong, wearing sweater #8, was the best player on the ice in a 7-5 win over the Prince George Cougars. Wong scored four goals in the road win, tying him with Alex Swetlikoff for the team lead in points (4). The 17 year-old now leads the hockey club in goals. 

The four goal effort by a Rockets player doesn't happen often. Reid Gardiner had a four goal game in an opening round playoff series against the Portland Winterhawks in 2017. Myles Bell also had four goals against Kamloops in 2014. 

Wong prospered in a positional change. Playing centre, the likable smallish forward had success with Jake Poole and Dillon Hamaliuk as linemates. Poole collected two assists while Hamaliuk earned a helper in Wong's second period goal, collecting his 100th point in the process. 

Wong is no stranger to finding the back of the net. Much hype and pressure was put on his shoulders when he chose the WHL and was selected in the 1st round of the bantam draft - 18th overall. 

His rookie season was one filled with struggle. Just 6 goals and 14 points in 58 games had him playing second fiddle to rookie of the year nominee Pavel Novak. 

 A new season. 

A new position. 

A new coach. 

Let's see what Wong can do moving forward after taking 37 games to score 4 goals last season.

• Again, rookie Nolan Flamand impressed me. I am not sure if its his low centre of gravity or if his lower body resembles that of a tree trunk, but he looks to be hard to push off the puck. Maybe his edges are so good, but he seems to really be good on his skates. The part that sucks about this season is I don't see these players up close and out of their hockey gear to see how they are put together - physically. All I do know is Flamand really impresses me with his overall game. He is routinely around the puck. The fact that he is a Saskatchewan boy only earns him greater brownie points in my book.
• Scott Cousins made his WHL debut last night and didn't disappoint. He didn't look out of place after missing the first two games of the season. Earning an assist on Trevor Wong's laser beam - wrister - on a two-on-one, Cousins had the luxury of getting in his rookie lap prior to the pre-game warmup. The fact that the Prince George resident made his debut against the Cougars only added to a great evening.
• Andrew Cristall is doing what we hoped. When first round picks in the WHL bantam draft are few and far between for this franchise, which had to mortgage the future for championship success, you need to hit on players like Cristall. The 16 year-old scored his first goal of what is hoped to be a great junior career for the Burnaby product. If he shoots more, look for goals to follow. He has one shot on goal this season. That one shot found the back of the net. Ok, it was actually a tip of a puck in mid-air, but you get the idea.
• A small sample size, but the best second year player in my mind is d-man Elias Carmichael. I really like his offensive awareness. A second round draft pick from 2018, I have noticed him several times making nice outlet passes and getting the puck through to the net for tips or rebounds. I am not sure about his defensive game. I will be watching that closer to see if he is a liability in his own end, but mark me down as someone who's impressed by what he has shown us in the opening three games.
• Mark Liwiski and Dillon Hamaliuk really set the physical tone last night. I love how both players play with reckless abandon. I thought both made solid contributions by playing their role to perfection.
• Tyson Feist made his 2021 debut and ended the evening with a +5 rating. 
• It was the Rockets first win in Kamloops since February, 2019. That snapped a winless streak of 7 games. 
• The Rockets power play needs some work. But lets be fair here. The team had 19 days off dealing with COVID-19. It didn't create much last night and ended up surrender two shorthanded goals against.   
• Despite the loss, Prince George has 4 wins in its opening 10 games. It took them 22 games to win 4 times last season. 
• Alex Swetlikoff received a 5 minute major and game misconduct after getting his stick high into the chicklets of a Cougars d-man late in the second period. Prince George was able to score only once on that extended power play.  

"I can attest to it because I got it"

Kris Mallette isn't shying away from the subject. 

The Kelowna Rockets head coach openly admits he got COVID-19. 

"I had the constant headache. I had a small cough that was annoying. I had some aches and pains in my lower back and lower abs which were probably attributed to the coughing". 

While busy fighting off the virus, Mallette wanted to make sure his two daughters and wife didn't get sick. 

"I think the most alarming thing for me was, I had a day where my heart rate was elevated beats-per-minute were 35 plus my normal resting heart rate. That was an interesting day to say the least." 

Now symptom free, Mallette and his team should be back at practice - today - for the first time since seven staff members and players tested positive two weeks ago. 

"This virus doesn't pick or choose and it can also infiltrate a team environment or just anyone very, very quickly. I can attest to it because I got it," Mallette added.

"They did nothing wrong"

Shoot the Breeze Photo

 "They did nothing wrong."

Kelowna Rockets General Manager speaking exclusively to AM 1150 following several positive cases of COVID-19 last week involving players and coaches.

"The COVID came into us through a member of the hockey operations staff which is on the coaching side of it. Unfortunately, it was brought in through their and spread. These players have done everything we have asked them to do in guarding against it. The billets have been remarkable."

A staff member tested positive last Tuesday with two coaches and four players getting COVID a day later.

"It looks like what we will do (once allowed to play again) is pick up what was left in the regular season and then make up a couple of games in the gaps, but their just aren't many gaps when you are playing 24 games in 48 days", Hamilton added.

Those who avoided COVID-19 last week will be tested today, with results expected on Tuesday.

If all goes well, the team is hoping to be back on the ice to resume their schedule on Saturday April 17th. 
 

"Interior Health has been unbelievable. They have communicated with the players that has been basically in lockdown and the coaches and players that have been sick, so they have done and great job and we just need to follow the line and do what we are suppose to do like everyone else," Hamilton said.