Hot 'Bunz'

No question the Rockets' had their chances last night against the Tigers.
The audio highlites tell the story.
Medicine Hat goaltender Tyler Bunz was good and lucky!

Peaks and valleys par for the course

• The Kelowna Rockets were looking at moving into sole possession of first place in the BC Division with a win Saturday night. The Medicine Hat Tigers had other ideas. Linden Vey scored twice and added two assists leading the Tigers to a 5-2 win. Vey was credited with the game winner in the second period before scoring an empty netter with five seconds left in regulation time.
• The Tigers scored three of their five goals on the power play with Vey's empty netter coming shorthanded. The visitors special teams were 'special' while the Rockets struggled on both the power play and penalty kill. The Rockets were 1 for 6 with the man advantage including going 0 for 4 in the third period when they were attempting to mount a comeback.
• A rough night for the officials with Derek Zalaski and Matt Thurston making several weak calls. Two terrible calls resulted in power play goals by the Tigers. Jessey Astles gets called for charging while Tyson Barrie takes a tripping minor in the second period. Zalaski calls the penalty on Astles after he clearly misses a hit and runs into a Tiger defenceman's stick. The Barrie penalty comes after Tigers forward Linden Vey losses his balance close to the net and simply falls down.
• The Rockets also lost Spencer Main and Geordie Wudrick for essentially 17 minutes after both were involved in fights after taking exception to hits on fellow teammates. Both received instigator penalties, plus five minute majors for fighting and 10 minute misconducts.
• As poor as the officiating was in this game, the good teams are able to work through those struggles. The Rockets just weren't resilient enough after an emotional win the night previous against Portland. It seemed like the harder they tried to pull themselves out of the funk the more fractured their game became.
• The Rockets found themselves down 2-0 early in the second period before defenceman Tyson Barrie took matters into his own hands with a nice individual effort. Barrie streaked around a Tigers defenceman and appeared to deke around goaltender Tyler Bunz on the forehand. At the last second, Barrie goes to the back hand to make it a one goal game.
• I was really impressed with the Tigers power play. Using five forwards the majority of the night, the puck movement was quick and crisp. Wacey Hamilton was often the trigger man with one timers.
• The Rockets close out a four game home stand Wednesday against Prince George. It's a chance for the Rockets to move into first place with a victory.
  

Nothing short of outstanding

• Adam Brown left an old friend behind before suiting up Friday night against the Portland Winterhawks. But donning a new set of goalie pads and shelving his old, well worn ones didn't hurt one bit. Brown made 43 saves with his brand new pair of Reebok's in a 5-3 win over the Portland Winterhawks. Brown proved that he is indeed one of the best goaltenders in the WHL and the equipment he uses has little to do with his spectacular play.

• Brown's best save may have come in the second period with a nice glove hand stop off of Hawks forward Nino Neidereitter. The 19 year-old had the lower part of the net labeled only to see Brown's glove get in the way.
  
• No question this was the best game we've witnesses at Prospera Place this season. The opening period was especially entertaining as the two team's combined for 30 shots on goal. Portland had 19 after one period and had a 3-1 lead because of it. The Hawks received a late first period break when Neidereitter's shot after a face-off win appeared to glance off of Rockets defenceman Kevin Smith before going over the glove of Brown.
  
• The Rockets ability to erase that two goal deficit and score four unanswered goals in the teams 23rd win of the season was awfully impressive. While Brown was the best player on the ice, the Rockets received outstanding efforts from all 18 skaters. Zach Franko and Geordie Wudrick had two goals while Tyson Barrie ended the night with three assists.
• Franko's game winning goal late in the second period was spectacular. The 17 year-old drives hard to the net on the forehand and then at the last second goes to the back hand and roofs the puck over the glove of Hawks goaltender Mac Carruth. Franko's goal makes it 4-3 with 1:50 left to go in the second period.
  
• Winning board battles was a pivotal part in the Rockets success. I thought Colton Sissons and Mitchell Callahan were extremely good in going to the dirty areas and making life difficult for the visitors. Geordie Wudick and Evan Bloodoff were also tough to play against. Wudrick was in on four (2+2=4) of the Rockets five goals.
• The Hawks passing is nothing short of amazing. Their skill level allows their defenceman to make long lead passes that are tape-to-tape. For my money they are the best passing team in the league.
• Net front presence was the story for the Rockets. They weren't scared to go hard to the net which was evident by a Evan Bloodoff goaltender interference penalty in the first period and Geordie Wudrick knocking the mask off of Mac Carruth in the second period during a goal mouth scramble.
  
• Brett Bulmer played like a 2nd round pick Friday night against the Hawks. He was dangerous with the puck and often times controlled the play.
  
• Tyson Barrie's three point effort moved him past the 200 point plateau for his career. Barrie now has 201 points.
• The game featured seven power play chances in the first period alone. The final 40 minutes featured just three power plays - two for the Rockets and one for the Hawks.
• The Rockets win snapped a seven game losing streak against the Hawks. It was the first win since March of 2009, when the Rockets were victorious 6-2.
• This game showed just how scary the Rockets can be when they play an intense, in your face game. This is another reason to be excited about the playoffs in late March.
  
• The photo of Zach Franko being closely guarded by Hawks d-man Brett Ponich is provided by photographer Marissa Baecker.
  

Rockets game notes vs. Hawks

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets face the Portland Winterhawks for the final time this season. The Rockets have lost the first three games by scores of 5-1, 4-2 and 6-1. Overall the Rockets have been out-scored 15-4 in the seasonal series. In fact, the Rockets are riding a seven game winless streak against the Hawks (0-6-0-1). The last win over Portland came March 11/09 in a 6-2 victory. Mikael Backlund scored twice while Jamie Benn scored his 44^th goal of the season in the victory. This is the second game of a four game home stand. The Rockets host Medicine Hat tomorrow night before welcoming Prince George on Wednesday. The Rockets then play three straight games south of the border in Seattle, Spokane and Tri City next weekend. The Rockets have allowed the 3^rd fewest goals against in the WHL (117). Only Medicine Hat (112) and Kootenay (115) have allowed fewer.

Rockets recent game: Spencer Main (2+1=3) and Tyson Barrie (1+2=3) each had three points in a lopsided 8-1 win over Kamloops last Saturday. The Rockets scored 5 times in the third period in the team’s 22^nd win of the season. The Rockets were 2 for 6 on the power play while allowing one goal on five Blazers man advantages. Adam Brown earned the win in goal.

Who’s Hot: Shane McColgan has 6+6=12 in his last eight games but had his seven game point streak snapped last Friday against the T-Birds. McColgan has goals in four of his last seven games…Mitchell Callahan has 5+6=11 in his last thirteen games…Brett Bulmer has 4+8=12 in his last nine games. Tyson Barrie snapped a career high ten game goal scoring drought Saturday. Barrie has points in six of his last nine games (1+11=12)…Geordie Wudrick has fifteen goals in his last eighteen games.

Who’s Not: Max Adolph has no goals in his last 24 games. Kevin Smith has one goal in his last 24 games.

Closing in on personal bests: Forward Spencer Main has one fewer goal than he did all of last season. Main is two points shy of the career high 19 he recorded as a 17 year-old. Kevin Smith has 7 fewer points than he had all of last season. Max Adolph has six fewer points than a year ago. Colton Jobke has one fewer point than the seven he had as a 17 year-old.

This and That: Mitchell Callahan and Shane McColgan are tied for the team lead in multiple point games with ten. Tyson Barrie is next with nine followed by Brett Bulmer with eight multiple point games…Evan Bloodoff has six more goals and 19 more points than a year ago….Jason Siebert is missing his 17^th straight games after undergoing surgery on his wrist….Mitchell Callahan has not taken a penalty in the last eight games….Adam Brown is third all-time on the Kelowna Rockets list of games played by a goalie. Brown has played 123 games, 6 fewer than second place Kristofer Westblom. The franchise leader is Kevin Swanson with 167 games played… The Rockets are 3 for 36 on the power play in their last six games (8.3%)…The Rockets have allowed the fewest amount of goals against on the road in the WHL this season (54)….The Rockets have scored 35 more goals at home than on the road. The Rockets have played 21 games at home and 20 times on opposition ice…The Rockets are the only team in the WHL this season that have not lost in overtime or the shoot-out…Geordie Wudrick has 22 goals this season in 40 games. Last season, Wudrick scored 19 goals in 38 regular season games after being acquired from Swift Current…The Rockets have allowed only six power play goals against in their last thirteen games. The Rockets are 53 for 59 over that period…The Rockets have been involved in fifteen-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 10-5-0-0 in those fifteen-one goal games…Adam Brown has started twenty-seven of the last 31 games…The Rockets franchise played in its 1400^th regular season game December 14^th in Medicine Hat. The team has 720 regular season wins….Zak Stebner (309) is one of three Rockets with over 300 penalty minutes in their career. Mitchell Callahan (415) and Geordie Wudrick (343) are the others….The Rockets were 8 and 10 in 18 games this season without Tyson Barrie in the lineup. Barrie missed seven games at the start of the season with a hip injury and eleven games as a member of Team Canada… Second year forward Shane McColgan has been named to the CHL Home Hardware NHL/Top Prospects game this month in Toronto. Forty of the top players eligible for this summer’s draft will participate in the two day event (Jan 18-19) at the Air Canada Centre. McColgan will play for Team Orr…McColgan is rated 102^nd among WHL players for this summer’s draft. Zach Franko and Jessey Astles are also rated….Brett Bulmer has one more goal than all of last season….Evan Bloodoff plays in his 250^th career game tonight.

Meeting Myers

Rockets fan Dorothy Fabian and her hubby Kevin are relaxing down in Arizona this winter. While there, they happen to watch the Sabres face the Phoenix Coyotes. Here Dorothy is seen with her mom and some real tall guy in the middle. I am not sure who he is?

Adam Brown moving up the list

Brown moving up: Adam Brown is closing in on Kristofer Westblom for second place on the all-time list for games played by a Kelowna Rockets goaltender. Brown has played 123 career games, which is 6 behind Westblom's 129.

1) Kevin Swanson: 167 regular season games played.
2) Kristofer Westblom: 129 regular season games played.
3) Adam Brown: 123 regular season games played.
4) Derek Yeomans: 116 regular season games played.
5) Kelly Guard: 115 regular season games played.

Did you know that only two Rockets have failed to register a fighting major this season, and no, European forwards Gal Koren and Andreas Stene are not on that list? Those two players are Zach Franko and Colton Heffley.

Did you know that Mitchell Callahan and Shane McColgan are tied for the most multiply point games this season. Callahan and McColgan each have ten multiple point games this season. Tyson Barrie has nine followed by Brett Bulmer (8) and Geordie Wudrick (7).

Did you know that rookie Jason Siebert has missed 16 games after undergoing surgery on his wrist.

Did you know that Tyson Barrie will play the fewest games he's ever played in one season? If Barrie plays in the remaining 31 regular season games he will dress in just 55 games this season.

No deals by Rockets didn't mean no movement

With 31 games left in the regular season and the roster finalized now that the trade deadline has come to an end, the Kelowna Rockets are poised to make a push for a BC Division pennant. While General Manager Bruce Hamilton didn't pull the trigger on a deal at the deadline, it wasn't as if he was quiet this season in molding his team. The trade the Rockets made in early December acquiring Zak Stebner was a significant one. Pulling the trigger to add a veteran defenceman who has won a WHL title would have come at a much higher price had Hamilton waited until yesterday to pull off a deal. Let's look back at the player moves that were made this season:

• Acquired Zak Stebner from the Tri City Americans.
  
• Traded Antoine Corbin to Prince Albert Raiders.
• Released overage d-man Brendan Wall.
• Released 18 year-old's Codey Ito and Shaun Ashim.
• Released Kyle St. Denis.

Not one call

Calling it the quietest trade deadline he has ever sat through, Kelowna Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton was content with what happened on arguably the most interesting day for fans and the media.
Only eight trades were made on Monday, including the Saskatoon Blades acquired Team Canada star Brayden Schenn.
Hamilton told me this afternoon that he did not receive one phone call from a GM asking what it would take to acquire Tyson Barrie.
Not one.
Hamilton says history shows they don't trade these type of players and it is clearly understood among his colleagues.
The Rockets general manager says it is invaluable that Damon Severson and other young defenceman on his team play with Barrie.
You can't argue with that philosophy.
Once top draft picks Jesse Lees and Madison Bowey have their season's come to an end, how much will Barrie's value be to these emerging d-men?
Shea Weber mentored Luke Schenn. Luke Schenn mentored Tyler Myers. Myers mentored Barrie.
Now Barrie can follow a similar path with these two 15 year-old d-men.
You can't argue with that pattern of success.

One last thing.
I still don't understand why fans/some media don't understand why the majority of the deals come out in one fell swoop once the deadline is over. Does it not make sense for a WHL general manager to keep his trade close to his chest in the fear of tipping off his competitors, who may then attempt to go out and make an equal or better trade? After the deadline is over the team announces the trade and his competitors are left with no recourse.
Sounds like common sense to me.

Rockets keep quiet

The Kelowna Rockets were quiet at the WHL trade deadline.
No moves were made.
Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton told me Saturday night he would not trade Tyson Barrie and he stood firm on that promise.
Barrie would have been of interest to several teams but is of extreme value to the team he has played for over the last four seasons.
Man, am I hungry for pizza all of a sudden!

Three Rockets ranked

NHL Central Scouting has released its mid-season list of the North American player eligible for this summers draft.
Shane McColgan is ranked 102nd.
Zach Franko is rated 105th and Jessey Astles is a pleasant surprise at 192nd.
Astles fighting prowess, or eagerness to get involved physically is the main reason why he's being mentioned. That should be a cue for him to continue to do exactly what he is doing.

Eakin deal prank

Ryan Switzer is a radio broadcaster in Swift Current. Switzer pulled a prank with a Cranbrook resident this morning telling him he was a part of the Cody Eakin deal.

www.swiftcurrentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=50&Itemid=131

The calm before the storm?

It is trade deadline day.
No question it is exciting for the fans, media and even the players with the possibility of improving their team.
The way the trade deadline is covered by the media has changed significantly over the years thanks to technology.
In the 80's and mid 90's, radio broadcasters would be feverishly working the phones calling all of their contacts in an effort to get the latest information. It seemed as if the media were as busy as the league's general managers in finding out which player was going to another team and what the asking price was.
Now, thanks to the Internet, it's just a click away.
If you are expecting any league broadcasters to break a trade today prior to it being announced, think again.
Unless you are looking at getting into sever **** with the team you call games for, it's best to wait patiently for a press release to be issued and then follow up with an interview.
The last thing a general manager needs on a day like this is a media hungry amateur calling him and asking, "have you made a trade yet, have you made a trade."
Like the game itself, times have changed, including the way the media covers trade deadline day.
It's not as much fun as it used to be, but it's just the way it is.

If the Rockets make a trade, check out my Twitter on the right side of the page. That will be the quickest way for me to post the deal.

Barrie leaving Rockets

• Defenceman Tyson Barrie is off to Victoria. The Kelowna Rockets captain will spend a couple of days at home relaxing after spending three intense weeks with Team Canada. Barrie will return Thursday in time for the Rockets home game against the Portland Winterhawks Friday night. Oh, did you think I was suggesting Barrie was being traded? Mitchell Callahan will also head home for a few days.
  

• Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton does not trade away his best players, especially the ones that have had a long track record of playing in the organization from day one. Like Brandon McMillan last season, it's doubtful Hamilton would trade his captain.
  

• The only marquee player the Rockets have ever traded at the deadline was Brett McLean. McLean was sent to the Brandon Wheat Kings. McLean had 47 goals in 1998-99, but played just five playoff games with the Wheat Kings, who were upset in the opening round by Red Deer.

• Had Hamilton moved McMillan last season at the deadline, would the Rockets have been one of four teams out west playing in early April? The Rockets were a goal away from sending their second round playoff series with the eventual Western Conference champion Tri City Americans back to Kelowna for game six. Instead of trading away McMillan, Hamilton tweaked his team by adding overage defenceman Dallas Jackson.

• Of the 15 deals made at the WHL deadline last season, the Rockets were involved in four of them. The Rockets acquired Jackson from Prince George for a third round pick and 20 year-old forward Tyler Halliday; sent Curt Gogol to Saskatoon for the rights to Colton Sissons and a third round pick; acquired Shaun Aschim from Prince Albert for a 6th round pick and sent Kyle Verdino to Swift Current for a 5th round pick.

• Like you, I will be watching with interest as the trades are announced at 2 p.m local time. Much like last season, I don't anticipate trades being announced until after the deadline is over.