Gentleman let the meeting begin...

The Western Hockey League's heavy hitters converge on Kelowna for two days of league meetings Tuesday and Wednesday. It's the first time in forever that the October league meetings have been held outside of Calgary, the centre of the university for the WHL, considering the league offices are located there. GM's will gather Tuesday with league governors getting together on Wednesday. House cleaning issues are part of the equation as rosters had to finalized on October 10th, but low attendance across the league will likely be discussed. I'll speak to WHL Vice-President of Hockey Richard Doerksen Tuesday night on our broadcast and gather some of the issues that were debated among the 22 GM's.

Rockets 'gobble up' another victory

• The Kelowna Rockets celebrated the Thanksgiving long weekend by gobbling up a 7-1 win Saturday night over the Prince George Cougars. After the Cougars opened the scoring on a first period penalty shot, the Rockets would score the next seven goals.
• The win was the Rockets 6th straight, just two wins shy of the teams impressive 8 game winning streak to end last years regular season.
• If Brandon McMillan keeps playing like this he won't be around at Christmas. McMillan had a two goal night to pace the Rockets attack. He has Canadian world junior team written all over him if he continues to play like this.
• What makes the win impressive is six different players were involved in the scoring. The scoring by committee is the only way this team will have success this season. No one man will win them a hockey game. I guess you can use the old adage 'strength in numbers'.
• The Rockets again scored twice on the power play, but the key goal came in the second period even strength when Spencer Main made it 3-1. Just prior to Main's goal, the Rockets killed off a Cougars 5 on 3 power play. Had the Cougars scored, it would have been 2-2. Main's goal gave the home team a two goal cushion.
• What was going on with referee Matt Kirk? Kirk was the only one calling penalties last night as official Ryan Thompson became a spectator. Kirk's questionable call resulting in a penalty shot for the Cougars was the start of a rough night for the veteran official, who was far too proactive. Remember - less means more.
• I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cougars head coach Dean Clark before Saturday's game. I could have lobbed soft ball questions his way, but we talked about coaching and his time away from the game. I think the interview is worth sharing on this blog. I'll post the audio on Monday.
• It may be premature, but happy birthday to Rockets goaltender Adam Brown. Brown turns 18 on Monday. Brown is draft eligable this season.

Rockets win on Renfrew

• The Kelowna Rockets extended their winning streak to five games with a 2-1 win Friday night in Vancouver. Shane McColgan and Lucas Bloodoff scored power play goals in the teams 5th win of the season. The Giants lone goal came off the stick of forward James Henry.


• Shane McColgan earned the Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, an assist and a fight. McColgan's third period scrap left him with a bloody nose, yet he was all smiles as he skated onto the ice when he was named the games third star.


• McColgan's power play goal in the 3rd period was the game winner. I like the fact that he looked and then pointed at the Rockets bench after he scored the goal. It was a non-verbal "there we go boys".


• The Rockets defensive core deserves a pat on the back for their performance. While six d-men were dressed, rookies Antoine Corbin and MacKenzie Johnston saw limited action. Aaron Borejko, Collin Bowman, Curt Gogol and Colton Jobke saw the bulk of the ice time with Brandon McMillan seeing a few shifts back of the blue line in the 3rd period. The Rockets allowed just 3 shots on the first period and five shots in the third period as they nailed down the win.


• Defenseman Curt Gogol is starting to grow on me. The increased ice time has shown a significant improvement in his overall play. He's physical, plays it simple and is limiting the number of mistakes he makes back there.


• The Vancouver Giants are a much different team without Evander Kane and James Wright, but the same could be said about the Rockets and the loss of Tyler Myers. Regardless of who was involved in Friday's game, a win in Vancouver is always big.


• A problem with our phone line at Pacific Coliseum had us dropping in and out of our broadcast Friday night. I hope you were able to battle with me through the interruptions that often forced us to have significant amounts of dead air. New phone lines are being installed in the building for the Winter Olympics so we are paying the price as the bugs are worked out.


• The Rockets made a trade with the Swift Current Broncos Friday. The Rockets picked up 18 year-old goaltender Chad Ketting for a conditional 7th round draft pick.
• Twenty year-old goalie Mark Guggenberger is now scheduled to have surgery for an athletic hernia. Guggenberger will be out for six weeks following surgery.


• Congrats to former Rockets Colin Long and Ryley Grantham for scoring their first professional goals Friday night. Long's San Antonio Rampage beat Grantham's Abbotsford Heat 6-5 in overtime.

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Giants are meeting for the second time this season. These two teams clashed on opening night, with the Giants using a shorthanded/penalty shot goal in a 6-5 overtime win. Following tonight’s game, these two teams meet again October 24^th in Kelowna. The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won four straight, having out-scored the opposition 24-11. During the streak the Rockets have averaged 6 goals per game. Following tonight’s game the Rockets host Prince George tomorrow night before entertaining the Tri City Americans on Tuesday.

Looking Back: The Kelowna Rockets return to Pacific Coliseum for the first time since last years WHL Western Conference final. The Rockets beat the Giants in six games, winning game one in Vancouver (4-2) before dropping game two (4-3 in OT). The Rockets won game five in Vancouver by a 1-0 score. Mark Guggenberger made 25 saves in the win while Ryley Grantham scored the lone goal.

‘Giant’ Undertaking: The Rockets were just 1-3-0-0 in four regular season games at Pacific Coliseum last season. The only win was a 6-2 victory February 20th. The Rockets were 3-2-0-0 in 2007/08 and 0-3-1-0 in 2006/07. Since the start of the 2005/06 season the Rockets are a combined 6-10-1-0 in 17 regular season games at the ‘Rink on Renfrew’.

What a difference a year makes: Stepan Novotny leads the Rockets with 8 goals and 6 assists for 14 points in just 7 games. Novotny had just one point – a goal – in his first seven games last season. Novotny has registered a point in six of his last seven games. The only game where Novotny has been held off the score-sheet was in a 6-1 loss in Tri City September 19th.

‘Power’ to the people: The Rockets have scored eight power play goals (8/22=36.4%) in their last four games. The Rockets have scored a power play goal in six of the seven games this season. The Rockets were 0/8 in a 4-1 loss in Kamloops September 25^th.

Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in all six games he’s played this season. McMillan has 2+9=11 this season. Stepan Novotny has points in 6 of the 7 games this season. Shane McColgan is riding a four game point streak (2+5=7). Mitchell Callahan has points in three of his last four games (2+1=3). Kyle St. Denis has six points in his last three games (4+2=6). Rookie Brett Bulmer has points in three of his last four games. Bulmer has 3+3=6. Lucas Bloodoff has goals in three of his last five games.

Game Day Tidbits: The Rockets are 4-2-1-0 after seven games this season. Last year the Rockets were 3-4-0-0 after seven games…The Rockets have scored 31 goals in seven games this season after scoring 22 times in the teams first seven games one season ago…The Rockets have allowed 27 goals against this season after surrendering 26 goals after seven games last year…Seven of Stepan Novotny’s eight goals this season have been scored on home ice. Novotny has 27 career goals, 17 of which have been scored at Prospera Place…Goaltender Adam Brown has played in all seven games this season…Three of the Rockets next four games are on home ice…Ryan Huska coached in his 150^th WHL game last Saturday in Chilliwack. Huska has 89 regular season victories…The Rockets acquired 19 year-old Tyler Matheson from Saskatoon September 28^th for a 7^th round draft pick in 2010…Kyle Verdino played in his 100^th career game Wednesday night against Medicine Hat…The Rockets have participated in 27 shootout games since the new format was implemented for the start of the 2005/06 season. The Rockets are 12 and 15…The last time the Rockets played a game on October 9^th was back in 2004, when they recorded a 2-1 overtime victory over Red Deer. Blake Comeau scored the game winner at the 3:07 mark of the extra session.

Rockets Next 5 Games:

vs. Cougars Oct 10th

vs. Americans Oct 13^th

vs. Tips Oct 17th

@ Tri City Oct 23^rd

vs. Giants Oct 24

Willie on WJ's

They can't all be Picasso's

• In the game of hockey sometimes you play good and you lose and sometimes you play bad and you win. Let's just say the Kelowna Rockets 6-5 shootout win Wednesday night over the visiting Medicine Hat's was no Picasso. The Rockets built up a 3-0 first period lead only to see the Tigers score three times in a span of 49 seconds to tie the game at three. The Rockets would need a goal from rookie Cody Chikie in the shootout to register their 4th straight win.
• After a terrible start, the Tigers got better as the game wore on. After struggling on three power play chances in the first period the Tigers regrouped in the 1st intermission and got right back into the game with three quick goals. Not only did the Tigers score four times in the second period, but they fired 17 shots on Rockets goaltender Adam Brown in the middle frame. Instead of a blowout for the home team, the two teams were tied at 4 heading into the final frame.
• Much like the Rockets, the visitors were not without their miscues on defense. Rockets forwards Brandon McMillan and Kyle St. Denis were both able to score shorthanded goals as the Tigers power play struggled, going 0 for 6.
• The two goals from Brandon McMillan extended his point streak to a career high 6 games. It was McMillan's first goals since the 19 year-old scored in the final game of the regular season last year against the Spokane Chiefs. McMillan ended Wednesday's game with three points.
• Spencer Main had a goal and an assist for a career high two point game.
• Adam Brown will admit he struggled Wednesday night, yet he made some big saves down the stretch when the game was on the line. Brown had no chance on the tying goal from Tigers leading scorer Bretton Cameron with 16 seconds left in the third period and made some solid saves in the shootout, allowing just one goal on 6 shooters.
• Rockets d-man Kyle Verdino left in the second period after crashing into the corner boards feet first. Verdino appeared to hurt the same ankle that he broke in a car accident this summer. Tigers forward Joey Frazer was given a 5 minute major and game misconduct for a hit that warranted a penalty, but in my opinion, not a game misconduct. In saying that, I thought a two minute minor that Tigers forward Kale Kessey was issued in the first period on a vicious hit on Rockets d-man Curt Gogol behind the Rockets net deserved far more than a 2 minute minor for charging.
• It looks like 17 year-old Tyler Bunz has won the #1 goaltending duties away from veteran Tiger Ryan Holfeld. The twenty year-old didn't even make the trip with the team which tells you his days with the Tigers are over. GM/Coach Willie Desjardins has to be pleased with overagers Bretton Cameron, Tomas Kundratek and Mark Isherwood.
• The game featured former teammates with the Swift Current Broncos battling it out as WHL assistant coaches. Rockets assistant Dan Lambert and Tigers assistant Darren Kruger were teammates with the Swift Current Broncos in 1989, the year the team won the Memorial Cup. Kruger was 20 at the time. Lambert was just 18.
• Jeff Finley was seen in the scouts room before Wednesday's game. Finley was an assistant coach to Ryan Huska last season before deciding to leave the organization to become a scout with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings.
• Check back later today when I post my conversation with Willie Desjardins on coaching Canada's entry at the WJHC.

Game notes vs. Tigers on Wednesday

• Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Tigers are meeting for the first of just two times this season. The two teams get re-acquainted with one another when the Tigers again visit Prospera Place on January 30th. These two teams are meeting for the first time since January 30/09 when the Rockets skated away with a 10-1 win. The last time the Tigers won in Kelowna was January 14/06 in a 4-0 win. Matt Keetley made 27 saves in the shutout. The Rockets have won three straight games after back-to-back victories over the Chilliwack Bruins on the weekend. The Rockets out-scored the Bruins 13-6 in the two games. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Vancouver Friday night before hosting Prince George on Saturday.
• What a difference a year makes: Stepan Novotny leads the Rockets with 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points in just 6 games. Novotny had just one point – a goal – in his first six games last season. Novotny has registered a point in five of his last six games. The only game where Novotny has been held off the score-sheet was in a 6-1 loss in Tri City September 19th.
• ‘Power’ to the people: The Rockets have scored seven power play goals (7/18=39%) in their last three games. The Rockets have scored a power play goal in five of the six games this season. The Rockets were 0/8 in a 4-1 loss in Kamloops September 25th.
• Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Brandon McMillan has points in all five games he’s played this season. McMillan has 8 assists. Stepan Novotny has points in 5 of the 6 games this season. Shane McColgan is riding a three game point streak (2+4=6). Mitchell Callahan has goals in back-to-back games and is riding a modest three game point streak (2+1=3). Kyle St. Denis has five points in his last two games (3+2=5). Rookie Brett Bulmer is riding a three game point streak. Bulmer has 3+3=6. Lucas Bloodoff has goals in three of his last four games.
• Game Day Tidbits: The Rockets have scored 25 goals in six games this season. That’s the second most goals scored per game in the WHL behind only the Portland Winterhawks. The Rockets average 4.1 goals per game while the Hawks average 4.7 goals per game…In case you were wondering, the Rockets have scored 25 goals in six games, 6 more than at the same time last year….The Rockets have allowed 22 goals against this season after six games, three more than at the same time last season…Six of Stepan Novotny’s seven goals this season have been scored on home ice. Novotny has 26 career goals, 16 of which have been scored at Prospera Place…Goaltender Adam Brown has played in all six games this season…Four of the Rockets next five games are on home ice…Ryan Huska coached in his 150th WHL game Saturday night in Chilliwack. Huska has 88 regular season victories…Cody Chikie scored his first WHL goal in last Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Blazers. Chikie has played 15 games with the Saskatoon Blades over the last two seasons, yet is still considered a WHL rookie…The Rockets acquired 19 year-old Tyler Matheson from Saskatoon September 28th for a 7th round draft pick in 2010...Rookie defenseman Colton Jobke is wearing the same number that Shea Weber wore when he broke in with the Rockets as a 17 year-old rookie. Weber wore #6 before eventually switching to #2... Kyle Verdino plays in his 100th career game tonight. Verdino is still looking for his first WHL goal. In case you are wondering, the longest wait for a Rockets defenseman before scoring a goal goes to Brett Palin. It took 163 games before Palin scored his first WHL goal.

Like father like son

Chilliwack Bruins GM/head coach Marc Habscheid isn't breaking new ground by coaching his son Zach at the WHL level, but it is somewhat unique. I spoke to Marc and Zach about the father/son-coach/player relationship.

Marc, tell me about acquiring Zach from Swift Current and how you see him evolving as a player?

"I treat him like everybody else. Probably a little bit harder on him than everyone else. He knows the deal. After I got the job and acquired his rights in Chilliwack he looked at me and said, dad where would I play if I don't make the team? He know he has to earn his strips and if he's not good enough he won't play and if he's good enough he will play. Like any of my players, if he needs a kick in the pants he will get that, if he needs a pat on the back he will get that too."

Does Zach use you as a resource because of the success you've had? Why wouldn't he listen to you?

"Because he's a teenager (chuckle). He's like other teenagers. Dad's don't no nothing if they are the head coach or they have played or whatever. Dad's just don't know that much. He's a good kid though. He listens, but he's like any teenager."

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Zach tell me about playing for your dad?

"It's unique. It can be frustrating at the same time because a lot of people think he gives me a lot of favours, which he doesn't, and I don't expect any at all. Saying that, it's fun and exciting at the same time."

What were your thoughts this year of making the Chilliwack Bruins?

"I knew it would be hard from the start. Back in Swift Current it wasn't easy there. I had high expectations for myself and I was expecting to make the team because I had a really good off season and I had a great year last year."

Your dad was a forward as a junior and NHL player, so why did you move to defense?

"I didn't have the hands he used too (chuckle). I was always a big guy on the ice so I thought I would move back to the point as it would work more in my favour."

Did you remember much about your dad's playing career?

"I think I know more about his success as a coach. I've been around it, but as a player he accomplished a lot but I wasn't around for that. I will never forget the night the Rockets won the Memorial Cup. I still remember the countdown, and when the Rockets scored to make it 2-1 with seven minutes left in the third period. It was the longest seven minutes of my life."

Heigh-Ho Heigh-Ho it's 3 wins in a row

• Head coach Ryan Huska celebrated his 150th WHL game behind the Kelowna Rockets bench Saturday night with a 7-2 win over the Chilliwack Bruins. After a scoreless opening period the Rockets took over, scoring four times in the second period and three times in the final frame for their 3rd win of the season.
• After going winless in their first 3 games (0-2-1-0), the Rockets have now won three straight. Rookie Brett Bulmer scored twice and added an assist as the Rockets improved to 3-2-1-0.
• Eleven Rockets found the score sheet Saturday night with rookie Jessey Astles scoring his first WHL goal. Astles goal opened the scoring.
• Five of the Rockets seven goals were scored by first year players.
• The Rockets seven goal outburst on the road matched a similar result last season when the Rockets beat the Cougars in Prince George (Nov 21 2008) by a score of 7-3.
• Brandon McMillan extended his point streak to five games. McMillan has 8 assists in those five games. McMillan has enjoyed a 5 game point streak three times in his career.
• McMillan was fortunate to escape injury after Bruins forward Randy McNaught blasted him into the side boards halfway through the opening period. McNaught was given a 2 minute minor for boarding, but it looked like a charge from where I was sitting. Either way McNaught also sat for an extra 5 minutes when he took part in a scrap with Tyler Matheson, who engaged with McNaught after the hit was made. McNaught was trying to stir up a hornets nest early in the game when he attempted to send Rockets rookie d-man Colton Jobke through the end boards about four minutes into the game.
• Just over 31 hundred fans took in the game in Chilliwack Saturday night. I can't believe that many people were actually in attendance, but if that was the paid attendance, I'll buy it.
  The Rockets have not lost in regulation time to the Bruins in 11 games.
• Kyle Verdino will play in his 100th WHL game Wednesday against Medicine Hat. Verdino is still looking for his first career goal.

Defensive miscues provide no lack of goals

• Kyle St. Denis scored three times as the Rockets beat the Chilliwack Bruins 6-4 Friday night. It was St-D's first career hat trick. St. Denis has had three-two goal games but never a three goal effort. The 19 year-old was due after failing to score in the Rockets first four games.
• Linemate Shane McColgan had a career high three points. McColgan had a goal and two assist playing on a line with Brett Bulmer and St. Denis. McColgan simply gets better every time I see him.
• Defensive miscues were the name of the game, with both teams struggling in that department. It made for entertaining hockey, but this game won't go down as a defensive gem.
• Rave reviews from Rockets Head Coach Ryan Huska when speaking of rookie defenseman Colton Jobke. Huska says the 17 year-old has been the teams "best defenseman". With Tyson Barrie out with an injury, Jobke is eating up huge minutes and is rising to the challenge. What has me concerned is if Jobke is the best defenseman, what does that say about some of the veterans?
• These two teams didn't come out passive with no less than four fighting majors in this game. The most spirited tilt of the evening was when Curt Gogol and Randy McNaught came flying out of the penalty box's after serving two minute minors and began trading punches at center ice. Was that fight pre-meditated? Ya!
• It was great to see Bruins GM/Head Coach Marc Habscheid before the game. We go way back so the reunion of sorts with an extended talk before game time was nice. Habscheid hasn't lost his sense of humour though, telling me during our coaches interview that he missed me like a 'root canal' during his time with Hockey Canada and the Boston Bruins. Or was he joking? :)
• Zach Habscheid, the son of Bruins Head Coach/GM Marc Habscheid earned his first career WHL goal with a seeing-eye slap shot in the 3rd period. Zach must have been doing cart wheels inside considering he watched many a game at Prospera Place and now found himself on the ice facing the very team he watched as a kid. What made the goal even more special was the fact that his mom Erin was also in attendance.
• I spoke to Zach before the game and found it interesting that he is being billeted out by the team. It's probably a wise decision that he be treated like any other player rather than heading home with the coach after every practice or game. I'll feature a transcript with both Zach and Marc Habscheid on their father/son-player/coach relationship on Monday.

Rockets game notes vs. Bruins

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Bruins are meeting for the first of eight times this season (4 at home and 4 on the road). These two teams clash tomorrow night in Chilliwack before meeting again November 6th at Prospera Place. The Rockets and Bruins met 8 times last season, with the Rockets going 6-0-0-2. The Rockets were 3-0-0-1 at home last season against the Bruins, out-scoring them 17-6. The Rockets have not lost in regulation time to the Bruins in 9 games. The last time the Bruins earned two points against their BC Division opponent was February 9, 2008 in a 4-1 win in Kelowna. The Rockets are coming off a 5-0 win last Saturday over the Kamloops Blazers. Stepan Novotny had two goals and an assist in the team’s first win of the season. Adam Brown made 23 saves for his 3rd career shutout. Brown’s two other shutouts came against the Bruins last season. Following a home-and-home series against the Bruins, the Rockets host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday.

Welcome Home Haber: Marc Habscheid was hired as the head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on November 29, 1998, just a day after the Rockets were blown out 7-0 by Moose Jaw. Habscheid’s first win behind the Rockets bench would come in his first game, a 5-3 victory over Red Deer. Habscheid was only 4 regular season games shy of 300 behind the Rockets bench when he left the team following a Memorial Cup championship in 2003-2004. Habschied coached 296 regular season games with the Rockets, winning 184 times. That’s a winning percentage of .622.

More on Marc: Did you know Habscheid was drafted in the 6th round of the 1981 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers? The Oilers used their first pick that year to select goaltender Grant Fuhr. In the 1981 draft the Winnipeg Jets selected Dale Hawerchuk first overall. Habscheid scored 64 goals with the Saskatoon Blades during the 1981-82 season.

Sabre-toothed Tyler: Nineteen year-old defenseman Tyler Myers will start the season with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. Myers made the Sabres 23 man roster and has 9 games to prove he can play at that level or be returned to the Rockets. Myers was the Sabres first round pick in the 2008 NHL draft.

Long Gone: The Kelowna Rockets have lost last years leading scorer Colin Long to the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage. Long signed a pro deal on Thursday. The Rampage is the farm team of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes.

Game Day Tidbits: All six of Stepan Novotny’s goals this season have been scored on home ice. Novotny has 25 career goals, 16 of which have been scored at Prospera Place…Tyson Barrie, Mitchell Chapman and Max Adolph were all injured in last Fridays 4-1 loss in Kamloops…Forward Evan Bloodoff had knee surgery last Friday and will be sidelined for close to 6 months…Defenseman Kyle Verdino returned to the Rockets lineup last Saturday in a 5-0 win over the Blazers are suffering a broken hand and ankle in a serious car accident this summer in Arizona…Goaltender Adam Brown has played in all four games this season…Brandon McMillan has earned a point in the three games he’s played this season. McMillan has four assists in three games …The Rockets face a BC Division opponent in 4 of their next 5 games. The only non-division game is October 7th when they host the Medicine Hat Tigers…Five of the Rockets next seven games are on home ice…Ryan Huska will coach his 150th WHL game behind the Rockets bench Saturday in Chilliwack. Huska has 86 regular season victories…Cody Chikie scored his first WHL goal in Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Blazers. Chikie has played 15 games with the Saskatoon Blades over the last two seasons, yet is still considered a WHL rookie…The Rockets acquired 19 year-old Tyler Matheson from Saskatoon on Monday for a 7th round draft pick in 2010. Matheson is making his Rockets debut tonight.

By the Numbers: The Rockets are playing their 1013th regular season game tonight based in the city of Kelowna. The Rockets played their 1000th regular season game against the Rebels in Red Deer February 27/09. The Rockets are celebrating their 19th season as a franchise after being granted an expansion team for the start of the 1991-92 campaign. Tonight’s game is #1301 in Rockets history (Tacoma/Kelowna combined).

Calling 'Long' distance

Here is my conversation with San Antonio Rampage forward Colin Long.

Colin Long 'officially' signs

Colin Long officially signed with the Coyotes today. Congrats. Let the pro career begin.