Thurkauf and Soustal shouldn't accept second fiddle status

Calvin Thurkauf/Tomas Soustal make impact  

A strong European presence on a WHL roster that can make an impact was on display last season when German born Leon Draisaitl joined the Kelowna Rockets at the trade deadline. Draisaitl was the key driver in leading the team to a league championship and within a goal of winning the Master Card Memorial Cup.
This season, GM Bruce Hamilton didn't have to land that big fish because he already had two of them in his back pocket. Fresh off World Junior Hockey experiences with Switzerland and the Czech Republic respectively, Calvin Thurkauf and Tomas Soustal returned to the Rockets this weekend brimming with confidence. How can you not after competing and holding your own against the best players in the world in your age group?
Both imports are no shrinking violets either. Thurkauf and Soustal play an in-your-face game that resembles more of a North American style than a European one. Both are big bodied forwards who are tough to play against. Unlike some players with a big frame but are faint of heart, Thurkauf and Soustal play with both power and a high skill set. The two have combined for 43 points in 59 games this season. While not daunting numbers, the sky is the limit for two players that still, in my opinion, don't realize how much of an impact they can make in their first and second seasons respectively. And let's be honest, sometimes you don't know what you have until its gone, which was the case when the two were in Finland.
With both out of the line-up for ten games, the first thing you noticed was the lack of depth at the forward position. For a good portion of December, the Tyson Baillie, Kole Lind and Dillon Dube line was doing the bulk of the scoring. What was also clearly evident was a lack of size at the forward position, an aspects of great value that can't be overlooked. Size that plays big, which Thurkauf and Soustal do, make them an even greater influence/impact on the game.
Selecting players in the CHL Import Draft has been a weakness for the organization over the years, but clearly the impact that Thurkauf and Soustal have made can't be understated. Both 18, they still have no less than another year ahead of them in Kelowna, which should excite fans considering these two will only get better with age.

Rockets/Tips game notes

Shoot the Breeze Photography

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play game two of a three game home stand tonight when they host the Everett Silvertips. The Rockets host the Tri City Americans tomorrow night before traveling to the Island for back-to-back games against the Victoria Royals next weekend. This is the third of four meetings between the Rockets and Tips this season. The Rockets are 0-1-1-0 in the first two games, losing last week 2-1 in overtime at home before suffering a 3-1 loss in Everett New Year’s Day. The Rockets are coming off a 5-4 win against the Victoria Royals Saturday night. Dillon Dube scored twice in the win while Nick Merkley had 1+2=3 in the team’s 28^th victory of the season. The Rockets have won 23 of their last 32 games overall (23-7-1-1) and are 14-2-1-0 on home ice and 14-8-1-0 on the road. Overall; the Rockets have points in 21 of 26 games (19-5-2-0). The team has won 9 of its last 14 games.

Whistle out – Herringer in: The Kelowna Rockets announced this week that 20 year-old goaltender Jackson Whistle will spend in the neighbourhood of two to three weeks on the injury list with a lower body injury. Nineteen year-old Michael Herringer will be forced into full time duty. Herringer has started back-to-back games for the Rockets and will make a third straight appearance tonight against the Tips. Herringer made three consecutive appearances from September 27^th to October 3^rd. Last season, when Whistle suffered an appendectomy, Herringer started four consecutive games while sharing duties with third string goaltender Josh Morrissey. Whistle missed a total of 10 games from February 7^th to February 27^th.     

Baillie in elite company: Twenty year-old Tyson Baillie will play in his 300^th career regular season game tonight for the Kelowna Rockets. Baillie is one of nine players to accomplish the feat by playing all five seasons with the organization. Here is a list of the players that dressed in over 300 games, all with the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets franchise. 

1) Jason Deleurme (1993-1998) 341 games
2) Tyler Mosienko (2000-2005) 338 games
3) Brett Palin (2000-2005) 324 games
4) Cam Paddock (1999-2004) 323 games
5) Gavin McLeod (1996-2001) 321 games
6) Ryan Cuthbert (1998-2003) 319 games
7) Brett McLean (1994-1999) 308 games *
8) Ryan Wade (1994-1999) 304 games
9) Tyson Baillie (2012-2016) 300 games and counting 
*Traded in 20 year-old season yet recorded 300+ games with Rockets before dealt to Brandon

This and That: The line of Tyson Baillie, Kole Lind and Dillon Dube have combined for 133 points this season…Can you name the only arena the Rockets have failed to visit this season? Answer at the bottom of ‘This and That’…13 of the Rockets next 19 games are on home ice…Two former members of the Kelowna Rockets have made the NHL All-Star team. Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators is making his 5^th appearance while Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars is making his second trip (NHL All-Star games was cancelled on lockout year and wasn’t played in Olympic year). Benn was first named an all-star in 2011-2012…January is a busy month for birthdays. Devante Stephens turned 19 (Jan 2), Jordan Borstmayer turns 18 (Jan 9), Travis Crickard turns 29 (Jan 11), Riley Stadel turned 20 (Jan 16), Kris Mallette turns 37 (Jan 19), Michael Herringer turns 20 (Jan 26), Tanner Wishnowski turns 19 (Jan 28) … Nine of Justin Kirkland’s 13 goals have been scored on the road this season….Jackson Whistle has started 25 of the last 34 games…The Rockets receive relief from the schedule maker when they play 9 of 10 at home from January 19^th to February 8^th….Cole Linaker has 98 career points …Answer to trivia: The Rockets have failed to visit the Seattle Thunderbirds. They will do that with games January 31^st and February 9th.

Who’s Hot: Dillon Dube has 17 goals this season. The 17 year-old’s next goal will be a career high. Dube had 17 goals last season….Dube has 3+2=5 in his last four games… Nick Merkley has 1+3=4 in his last two games…Kole Lind has 5+3=8 in his last 5 games…Tyson Baillie had his six game point streak snapped last Wednesday night. Baillie had 6+4=10 over that stretch….Tyson Baillie has points in 25 of his last 30 games……Justin Kirkland has points in 10 of his last 16 games. Kirkland has 5+12=17 over that period.

Tyson Baillie; take a bow

Tyson Baillie - Shoot the Breeze Photography

300!
Three hundred regular season games can only be attained one way in the Western Hockey League. A player must dress for a full five seasons and stay relatively health along the way. Such is the case with fifth year forward Tyson Baillie, who will reach that milestone Friday night when the Kelowna Rockets host the Everett Silvertips. "Kelowna is probably the best place to play junior. It would be awesome to be known as a guy that has played a lot of games here and has been healthy and contributed every season", Baillie told me before the puck dropped on his overage season. Baillie, a third round bantam pick in 2010, is one of only nine players to play 300+ games wearing only Kelowna/Tacoma Rockets colours. The Fort, Saskatchewan resident has been a point machine over his career, collecting 119 career goals and amassing 278 career points. Baillie has a career +95 rating. Known in these parts as 'Tyson Time' when the most important part of the season rolls around, the playoffs, Baillie is at his best with 23+30=53 in 46 career WHL playoff games. Only Tyler Mosienko has recorded more playoff points (55) than Baillie over five seasons wearing a Kelowna Rockets uniform.
Congratulations to Tyson Baillie on this major accomplishment. Take a bow on Friday!!

Here are the list of the players that have worn a Kelowna/Tacoma Rockets jersey for 300+ games over a five year span.

1) Jason Deleurme (1993-1998) 341 games
2) Tyler Mosienko (2000-2005) 338 games
3) Brett Palin (2000-2005) 324 games
4) Cam Paddock (1999-2004) 323 games
5) Gavin McLeod (1996-2001) 321 games
6) Ryan Cuthbert (1998-2003) 319 games
7) Brett McLean (1994-1999) 308 games *
8) Ryan Wade (1994-1999) 304 games
9) Tyson Baillie (2012-2016) 300 games and counting 
*Traded in 20 year-old season yet recorded 300+ games with Rockets before dealt to Brandon

Thank goodness this stretch of games is over!

• The Kelowna Rockets coaching staff and players can breathe a sigh of relief. This excruciating portion of the Western Hockey League schedule has finally ended for the defending champions. They knew it would be tough sledding when Rourke Chartier, Nick Merkley, Calvin Thurkauf and Tomas Soustal headed overseas for the World Junior Hockey Championships following a home game December 5th. But adversity came in a variety of forms over the last month. A massive illness gripped the team in the early portions of the Eastern Division road trip that I have never witnessed. Oh, did I mention a significant injury to forward Rodney Southam in Moose Jaw December 16th made matters even worse. Severely short-staffed, the team had to call in affiliate players Alex Uryga and Connor Bruggen-Cate and was forced to use rookie defenceman Danny Gatenby and Brayden Chizen as forwards. It was a gong show! After the Christmas break, suspensions were handed out to both Justin Kirkland (three games) and Riley Stadel (one game). While the team was attempting to keep their head above water, the post Christmas schedule had them playing five games in seven nights before finally getting some relief following a 5-4 win over the Victoria Royals Saturday night. Following a December 5th win against Portland, the last game Chartier, Merkley, Soustal and Thurkauf dressed for the Rockets, the team managed a 6-4-1-0 record in 11 games. Not great but not bad considering they hold a slim four point lead on Lethbridge for first place in the WHL standings. Face it, the Rockets were ripe for the picking with the line-up they iced over that stretch. Most teams would be crippled. Only Brandon, Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Everett could beat them in regulation time. The Rockets managed to score just 28 goals in those 11 games (2.55 per game) which is well under the teams average goals per game. The team surrendered 31 goals against (2.82 per game). The good news is everyone outside of Southam should return to the line-up next Friday when they welcome the Everett Silvertips to Prospera Place. This week long break couldn't have come at a better time!!      

Rockets nine game winning streak ends in overtime

Shoot the Breeze Photography

• Are the Everett Silvertips the best fore-checking team in the Western Hockey League? You likely won't get an argument from the Kelowna Rockets. The Tips used relentless pressure from its forwards in the offensive zone in a 2-1 overtime victory Wednesday night at Prospera Place. Dawson Leedahl scored the game winning goal 2:27 into overtime, snapping the Rockets nine game home ice winning streak. The Tips fore-check pressure didn't come occasionally, it was a constant. What was encouraging is the young Rockets d-core adapted to the pressure and faired remarkably well. Dealing with the pressure resulted in the forwards having to make a total commitment to defense and it likely wore the depleted home team down as the game went along. 
• With six regulars out of the line, or essentially two of your top lines unable to contribute, the Tips wore down the home team by out-shooting them 20-6 in the third period. Goaltender Jackson Whistle, named the first star, made 20 saves in the third period to send the game into overtime. The fact that the Rockets were playing short staffed against a determined Tips team makes you think that one point in the O.T loss was a pretty good consolation prize.
• The Rockets had a chance to bury the Tips early but manufactured little in the way of scoring chances in three consecutive power plays. A third power play chance, awarded early in the second period,  didn't even register a shot on goal when Tips d-man Noah Juulsen was fingered to the penalty box on a debatable interference infraction.
• Few scoring chances in the first period led to a two goal outburst 25 seconds apart in the second. Dillon Dube scored his 15th goal of the season with a nice wrist shot past Tips goaltender Carter Hart before the visitors tied the game a short time later when Graham Millar, the pride of Penticton, found the back of the net and the two teams were back on even terms.  
• Should we be surprised these two teams settled things in overtime. In four meetings last season, two of the games were decided in overtime. 
• Justin Kirkland was serving game two of a three game suspension while Riley Stadel was serving a one game suspension for a hit Monday against the Kamloops Blazers. 
• The Tips are now 4 and 0 in overtime. The Rockets are 1 and 2 in the extra period.
• The Rockets end off the 2015 calender year with a record of 51-16-5-0.  
• These two teams meet again in Everett on Friday to ring in the New Year. 

Lind 'lights the lamp' in one goal win

Kole Lind - Shoot the Breeze

Kole Lind proved that he can score goals in the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League. The Shaunavon, Saskatchewan resident scored 45 times with the Saskatoon Contacts last season. Now the 4th round WHL bantam pick is proving he can score at the next level. Lind scored three times Monday night in a 3-2 home ice win over the Kamloops Blazers. Lind, who has the luxury of playing on a line with league leading scorer Tyson Baillie and set up man Dillon Dube, scored his 11th, 12th and 13th goals of the season in the Rockets 13th home ice win. Lind was named the first star for his efforts. The well spoken forward has been named the first star in three of the last six games after collecting a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win Sunday in Kamloops before scoring a highlite reel goal and collecting two assists in Swift Current on December 15th.

A typical tight hockey game between the Rockets and Blazers. It has been the theme over the course of the seasonal series. The Blazers are no push over. They are a good hockey team that will win more games then they lose in the second half of the season. The reason? The Blazers work hard and don't quit. Collin Shirley has been excellent this season and they have one of the best coaches in the game guiding them into battle. It all adds up to a winning formula. In four of the Rockets five wins against the Blazers this season, those games have been decided by a single goal. The two teams don't meet again until March 4th.

The Rockets played this game without five regulars. The Blazers asked for supplementary discipline on forward Justin Kirkland after a hit Sunday on Kamloops defenceman Dallas Valentine. With Kirkland suspended Monday night, the team also played the game without Rourke Chartier, Calvin Thurkauf, Tomas Soustal and injured forward Rodney Southam. The Blazers also played shorthanded without Gage Quinney, Valentine and  Patrik Maier (World Juniors).

The biggest surprise on the night was the two starting goaltenders. I didn't think the Blazers had one with starter Connor Ingram single handedly dominating the crease in Kamloops this season.  Jackson Whistle also took the night off after carrying the mail for the Rockets for the majority of the season. Michael Herringer was solid, making 37 saves in the one goal win. Blazers backup Dylan Ferguson was no slouch either at the other end of the ice.

How good is Blazers d-man Dawson Davidson? Yikes. I remember how well he played as a 16 year-old affiliated player last season. Now 17, Davidson is crafty with the puck and reminds me a bit of Tyson Barrie. I don't see him enough to evaluate his defensive game, but what Davidson does around the puck at such a young age is impressive. That's a solid 3rd round bantam pick.

Joe Gatenby was great on the blue line last night. It can't be understated. I would have given him a star in the building. The 18 year-old was especially good at getting into shooting lanes and blocking shots. What Gatenby has done in the first two games after the Christmas break has surprised me. Gatenby's set up of Kole Lind's one time goal Sunday in Kamloops was impressive and his slap pass to Tyson Baillie in the third period last night showed Gatenby's offensive awareness. 

You have to love Don Hay. Early in the third period, a gate/door malfunction at the Blazers bench resulted in a five minute delay. The off-ice maintenance crew were called in to address the problem. At one point, the door to the bench was literally pulled off its hinges in an effort to fix it. Hay didn't stand idly by though. The 61 year-old, at one point, had the entire door in his hands in an effort to aid the off-ice crew in making the necessary repairs. Hay, if given the chance, may have taken the power drill into his own hands if he was asked. I thought it was pretty cool that Hay, wearing his Sunday best, humbled himself enough to get involved in the minor repair. It honestly speaks volumes for the character of the man. How can you as a player not follow Hay's lead? Wow! 

The Rockets have won 9 straight games on home ice. The last loss came way back on October 30th. It matches the longest home ice winning streak of the season, set earlier by the Seattle Thunderbirds, who won 9 straight home games between October 3rd and November 27th. Last season the Rockets also won 9 straight homes before it was snapped in early November.

How about the crowd? It was a sellout as 62 hundred strong welcomed the Rockets back to Prospera Place after a seven game absence.

Up next is a date with the Everett Silvertips Wednesday night. The Tips have allowed a league low 74 goals against this season. The league record for fewest goals against in a season is held by the 2003-2004 Kelowna Rockets. That season the team allowed an astonishing 125 goals against. 

Rockets game notes vs. Blazers

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets close out the first half of the season (36 games) tonight when they face the Kamloops Blazers. The Rockets also play the final game of seven consecutive on the road. The team just completed a six game in nine night Eastern Division road trip prior to the Christmas breaking by winning three of six games. The team earned wins in Regina, Moose Jaw and Swift Current and suffered losses in Brandon, Prince Albert and Saskatoon. Following tonight’s game the Rockets return to Prospera Place for the first time since December 5^th when they host the Blazers in the back end of a home and home series between the two BC Division rivals. After these two games against the Blazers, the Rockets won’t see them for another 27 games when they collide on March 4th. The Rockets have won 20 of their last 27 games overall (20-6-0-1) and are 12-2-0-0 on home ice and 13-7-1-0 on the road. Overall; the Rockets have points in 17 of 21 games (16-4-1-0). Overall, the team has won six of its last nine games but has lost two straight.

Home Ice Success: The Rockets are riding an eight game home ice winning streak. The team’s last loss at Prospera Place was October 30^th against the Prince George Cougars (2-1 L).  In seven of those eight games, the team has scored four or more goals. In those eight home ice wins, the team has allowed three or more goals only once when beat Lethbridge 5-3.

Oh Canada! Rourke Chartier is in Finland representing Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships. The Rockets have been well represented at the World Juniors. Madison Bowey, Josh Morrissey and GM Bruce Hamilton came home with a gold medal last year from the prestigious tournament. Other notable players from the Rockets that have played for Canada include: Jamie Benn, Tyler Myers, Brandon McMillan, Tyson Barrie, Luke Schenn, Blake Comeau, Shea Weber, Josh Gorges, Chuck Kobasew, Brett McLean and Robb Gordon. Chartier is the 14^th player from the Rockets to play for Team Canada.

Seasonal Series vs. Blazers: Outside of one game, two of the three between the Rockets and Blazers have been decided by a single goal. The Rockets were a 4-3 winner on September 25^th and squeezed out a 4-3 overtime win in their last visit to Kamloops on November 18^th. Back on September 26^th the Rockets earned a 7-3 victory at Sandman Centre. 

 

Whistle Racking Up Winning Record: Twenty year-old Jackson Whistle is going after his 86^th career win in a Kelowna Rockets uniform this evening. Here are the franchise leaders:

1)     Adam Brown: 107 wins

2)     Jordan Cooke: 92 wins

3)     Jackson Whistle: 85 wins

4)     Kelly Guard: 83 wins

This and That: Tyson Baillie is playing in career game #295 this evening….Jackson Whistle played in five of the six games on the Eastern Division road trip. The only game he did not start was a 6-3 victory in Swift Current….Tyson Baillie’s hat-trick December 15^th in Swift Current was the first of his WHL career in his 291^st career game…The Rockets are rated as the 5^th best team in the country after being ranked 4^th best for four consecutive weeks in the CHL Top 10 rankings….Tomas Soustal is playing for the Czech Republic at the World Junior Hockey Championships.…Calvin Thurkauf is representing Switzerland at the World Junior’s….The Rockets play 12 games in December with 7 of those 12 on the road…Three members of the Rockets have been rated by NHL Central Scouting. Lucas Johansen and Dillon Dube are rated as ‘B’ prospects for June’s draft in Buffalo. Tomas Soustal, who was not selected last year, is ranked as a ‘C’ prospect…Rookie Gordie Ballhorn leads the Rockets with a +17 ratings….Nine of Justin Kirkland’s 12 goals have been scored on the road this season….Jackson Whistle has started 23 of the last 29 games…The Rockets receive relief from the schedule maker when they play 9 of 10 at home from January 19^th to February 8^th….Cole Linaker has 96 career points…Lucas Johansen is playing in career game #98. 

Who’s Hot: Tyson Baillie has points in 22 of his last 25 games……Justin Kirkland has points in 9 of his last 14 games. Kirkland has 4+12=16 over that period…Cole Linaker has points in 7 of his last 13 games.  Linaker has 4+5=9 over that stretch…Dillon Dube has 12+16=28 in his last 21 games….Lucas Johansen has 11 more point this season as he did all of last year.

Notes, quotes and anecdotes

• Santa seems to visit the Kelowna Rockets during every pre-Christmas road trip. The team holds its 'Secret Santa' in a hotel banquet room where Christmas dinner is served and players buy gag gifts which they share with team-mates. Some of the gifts are inside jokes that I don't even get, while others are funny but inappropriate for this blog. The ones I will mention is Tyson Baillie unwrapping a gift that was leaking of water. It turned out, Baillie is the proud owner of a new gold fish. Rookie Cal Foote was given a white t-shirt with black sharpie writing on it that had in big bold letters 'Nice Guy #52' on it. I guess his team-mates are making fun of his polite demeanour. The shirt is appropriate. Foote is respectful to others and Adam and Jennifer, Cal's dad and mom, deserve major credit for guiding him as a person first and a hockey player second. Assistant Kris Mallette is always in the Christmas spirit by dressing up in some festive outfit while presiding over the event.

• 

  AC Kris Mallette playing the role of elf at Secret Santa

  I'm feeling old. I met Kole Lind's dad the other day. Man, he looked young. It is painful that now I look older than the players parents. It was awfully nice of Ashley and Marcia to invite the team to their Shaunavon home for a home cooked meal.       
• I was really impressed by Swift Current Broncos Jake DeBrusk when I met him last week. I had to ask DeBrusk the white elephant in the room question of the trade rumours where the Broncos may move him to a contending team before or at the trade deadline. "I have been hearing a lot of stuff these days. While I am here I am focusing on the Swift Current Broncos. I know it is a possibility, but when I am on the ice, I am on the ice giving it my all.", DeBrusk told me. DeBrusk added, "Every player in the WHL wants to win a Memorial Cup and I am no different". 
• Speaking of the Swift Current Broncos, a high five to 'Butter', head athletic trainer Jamie LeBlanc. 'Butter', as he is known in WHL circles, always treats our team well when we arrive at the IPlex in Swift Current. Always with a smile on his face, he is happy to help visiting teams coming into town. It is quite impressive considering 'Butter' is a one man show. Most teams carry both an athletic therapist and equipment guy. LeBlanc...I mean 'Butter'....can do the job of two men! Great guy. Merry Christmas to him and his family.
• I've made this Saskatchewan road trip many times over my 21 years in the WHL.  I have never seen this group of players so sick. Did they get flu shots? If they didn't...get them. If they did, avoid doing it next season. Sickness like this affects personal and team performance. I don't like to make excuses, but many players were playing excessively ill and playing short-staffed only made matters worse. As a broadcaster, I never get a flu shot. I am around the players and on the bus enough to get sick if I am not careful. My only plan to fight sickness are two things, washing my hands before I eat and taking vitamin C at the first sign of symptoms. Knock on wood, but I think it works! After saying that, I will probably get severely ill in January. 
• How can Saskatoon have less snow than Kelowna? When I was there last week, you couldn't find a white flake on the side-walk.   
• Gas in Saskatoon was 87.9 cents a litre. While on the road trip, I heard the price went up 12 cents a litre in Kelowna. How does that work?
• Drinking Starbucks in Swift Current. It felt like a dream. I lived in Swift Current for 32 years of my life where getting a latte was unheard of. Not any more! I remember in the 80's my father going to the Pioneer Coop coffee shop in the Wheatland Mall and getting a cup of 'Joe' for 75 cents. My latte at Starbucks costs five times as much. 
• I am thinking of Ryan Huska and his family at Christmas. The winningest coach in Kelowna Rockets history is spending the festive season in California. Tough gig. 
• On the prairie road trip, so many great interviews involving former Rockets now playing in Prince Albert and Saskatoon. I loved Jesse Lees' comment when I asked him about the trade from PA to Kelowna last December. The 20 year-old's honesty was refreshing. "That (the trade) was probably one of the hardest things I have had to do in my life. I was there since I was 16. I pretty much grew up there and matured into the person I am now. It was tough with the team we had and you could see the run they went on last year. I was happy for them but their was also that disappointment that I wasn't there for it". 
• Austin Glover, also traded to Prince Albert in the Josh Morrissey/Gage Quinney deal, had some good comments when reflecting on the trade on December 10, 2014. "It was weird seeing the bus (Rockets bus) drive in to Prince Albert. The trade caught me by surprise. It was my first game back after spending a month injured, so my focus was more about getting back in the line-up and getting my feet wet again. It has worked out good for me. I am thankful for the opportunity I have been give here", Glover added.    
• If you are a Eastern Division team, the travel for the most part is a breeze. A good example was the bus ride from Moose Jaw to Saskatoon. It took us a little over 2 hours. Let me point out that the road conditions were excellent and so driving at the posted speed limit was common place with no delays. Outside of games in Vancouver and Kamloops, the Rockets leave a day in advance of playing an opponent in the Western Conference. 
• Speaking of driving...a high five to Kelowna Rockets bus driver Rick Windsor for the job he did on the trip getting us from city to city. No problems, outside of a small detour in Prince Albert, we made it flawlessly to every arena on time. Impressive, considering neither Windsor or any of the coaching staff (Ralph/Mallette/Crickard) had ever experienced the Saskatchewan road trip as a staff member.
• Our stop in Moose Jaw allowed assistant coach Kris Mallette to reflect on his 19 and 20 year-old season spent in the city of 33 thousand. Mallette was traded from Kelowna to Moose Jaw in a three team deal where the Rockets landed goaltender Kevin Swanson. Mallette was involved in 32 fighting majors in the old Moose Jaw Civic Centre (ie: the Crush Can) before it was demolished recently with the completion of Mosaic Place. Mallette says his junior career came to an end the way it started with a fight. The now 36 year-old fought Red Deer's Stephen Peat in his final game in a Warriors uniform. Peat was as tough as they come. Don't believe me? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhYFAGo3diA
• The Brandt Centre in Regina is still one of my favourite buildings to call a game. Great sight lines and the Western Pizza in the media room.....SO GOOD!!!
• Best player on the trip? I thought Reid Gardiner was very good in Prince Albert. Gardiner played hard and has high end skill. I thought he competed extremely hard.   
• How is Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton spending Christmas? Hamilton is overseas visiting his son Curtis. Curtis Hamilton is playing with Sparta Praha in the Czech Republic. Hamilton is a team-mate of former Kamloops Blazers defenceman Marek Hrbas.
• I wanted to wish all of those that stop by and read my blog on a semi regular basis a Merry Christmas. Blog's are not what they once were with the development of Twitter, but it gives me a chance to inform fans of what is going on with the Kelowna Rockets without being forced to condense it into 140 characters. We will talk to you December 27th from Kamloops as the Rockets and Blazers renew acquaintances in what will be an exciting second half of the season. 

Three wins on 'roady' not good enough for coaching staff

Courtesy Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club

• The Kelowna Rockets learned several lessons as they concluded an epic six game in nine night Eastern Division road trip. Teams won't take pity on them even with five regulars out of the line-up. The Western Hockey League leaders also learned they aren't good enough to win unless a determined effort is evident throughout the entire line-up. Despite building up a 2-0 first period lead in Saskatoon Saturday night, the Kelowna Rockets found themselves on the losing end of a 5-3 decision to close out the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule. The Blades had more 'want' with four-second period goals for only their 5th home ice win of the season against a team that - on paper - should have skated away with a win, fatigue or no fatigue. Kelowna Rockets assistant coach Travis Crickard, on the AM 1150 post game show said, "I felt embarrassed the way we came out in the second period in the way we played. Was it the worst period we have played all season? The answer was yes, probably top three". The Rockets ended the road trip with back-to-back losses for the first time this season after losing the previous night in Prince Albert by a 3-1 score. The team ends the Eastern Division road trip with 3 wins and 3 losses after winning three of first four games on the road trip through Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
• Cal Foote was ejected from the game in the second period after receiving a 5 minute major and game misconduct for a check to the head. The Blades would go on to score a power play goal - the game winner - with 5 seconds left in Foote's penalty while Justin Kirkland was also serving a penalty. The coaching staff suggested after the game that Foote's penalty didn't play a major momentum shift in the game.
•  Tyson Baillie scored twice in Saturday's loss, but what became clearly evident on the road trip was the hockey clubs inability to find secondary scoring. Baillie scored five goals on the road trip and collected points in five of the six games (5+4=9). Line-mate Dillon Dube also had five points in six games (2+5=7) while Kole Lind, the third element on that line collected six points (1+5=6) in the six games. From there, the drop off was clearly evident.
• Crickard added on the post game show, "Our record, I could blame on fatigue, but I was really disappointed in our players willingness to grind out games and grind out wins." Crickard was referring to the teams success last season prior to Christmas on a similar trip to Alberta, where the team was winning despite making a trade with the Prince Albert Raiders that saw Austin Glover and Jesse Lees leave the team after the first game of the road trip. Other players were forced into new roles and the team was able to, as Crickard suggested, grind out wins."When I think of this trip and the body of work from some of our players, especially depth guys who are put into roles that give them the opportunity to show the coaching staff, show their team-mates what they can do for the team, I just saw a bunch of guys that were happy to throw on a Kelowna Rockets jersey".   
• The team scored 16 goals in the six games, with the Baillie, Dube, Lind line scoring half (8) of those goals. Justin Kirkland, a 19 year-old forward looking at signing an NHL contract, had three points during the trip (2+1=3) while 20 year-old Cole Linaker, after scoring once and collecting an assist in the opening game against Regina, failed to earn a point in the five remaining games. Lucas Johansen, who sits 8th in team scoring, had points in four of the six games (2+3=5) and was a consistent offensive contributor on the road swing. Johansen had a solid trip despite battling the flu bug.
• This was a chance for third and fourth line players to pick up the slack with Rourke Chartier, Nick Merkley, Tomas Soustal and Calvin Thurkauf attempting to make their respective major junior teams for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships. Tanner Wishnowski had just two points (1+1=2) with his lone goal in Swift Current coming into an empty net. Tate Coughlin had just a single assist on the trip. It was unfortunate that players that had the opportunity to step up didn't.     
• The team was held to one goal in three of the six games. That is rare for a hockey club that at one point lead the league in goals scored. The Rockets lost 5-1 in Brandon, fell 3-1 in Prince Albert and earned a hard fought 1-0 win in Moose Jaw thanks to Jackson Whistle's first star performance.
• Of the 16 goals scored in the six games, four were on the power play and two were empty net goals (Baillie/Wishnowski). The power play went a respectable 4/22 (18%) while the penalty killing unity allowed 5 goals on 24 kills. 
• Mitch Wheaton, playing the first game against his former team-mates since being traded to the Blades this summer, collected two assists in Saturday's win. That wasn't bad for a player who had just 6 assists in 32 games heading into a clash with his former team.
• The Rockets participated in the 4th 'Teddy Bear Toss' of the season in Saskatoon Saturday night. They were also treated to the same event in Regina and Brandon on the road swing. The Rockets also had a similar promotion against the Portland Winterhawks back on December 5th.
• Despite the 3-3-0-0 road trip, the team remains in first place in the WHL standings with 25 wins in 35 games. The Rockets have the most wins (25), fewest losses (9) and most points (51) which is good enough for a three point lead on the upstart Lethbridge Hurricanes.
• The team concludes a portion of their schedule where they play 7 straight games on the road when they visit the Kamloops Blazers December 27th for the 'unofficial' second half of the season. 

Whistle wins battle of the goatenders

Jackson Whistle kicking one aside in Moose Jaw

• Often times, gutsy, greasy road efforts are rewarding. The Kelowna Rockets pulled off one such win last night in Moose Jaw. It makes any coach proud especially when players dig deep in order to win. With more than a handful of players ill, the Rockets played a smart, strategic game in a 1-0 victory over the home town Warriors. Playing without four regulars, the team received excellent goaltending from Jackson Whistle in the 27 save shutout performance. Dillon Dube had the lone goal, a power play one timer in the second period, and that's all the road weary Rockets would need. Blocking shots, playing smart and taking what the opposition gave them allowed the team to win for the third time in four attempts on this Eastern Division road trip. With two games left, tomorrow night in PA and Saturday in Saskatoon, the finish line is visible and the team needs to remain focused for 120 more minutes.
• The game in Moose Jaw was all about a goaltending battle between Whistle and Warriors netminder Zach Sawchenko. I knew life would be tough for the Rockets forwards against Sawchenko, who really impressed me when he represented the WHL at Canada/Russia Series in Kelowna back in November. Sawchenko was at his best last night and made several solid stops, specifically with his glove hand.  He made many saves look easy when they weren't. You have to remember, Sawchenko is only 17 and is clearly a hopeful to represent Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships down the road. If I was a NHL team, I would draft him in a heartbeat. I think he is that good. 
• Whistle isn't as technically sound as Sawchenko, but his battle level may be better. Whistle just makes saves including a laser beam that hit him in the mask in the second period off a wrist shot from Warriors leading scorer Dryden Hunt. Whistle now has 9 career shutouts and never disappoints when he is in goal. 
• Forward Rodney Southam was hurt when he was hit by a third period slap shot from team-mate Justin Kirkland. 
• Scouts I have spoken with on this road trip are watching Dillon Dube and Lucas Johansen like a hawk. Many are coming away saying they like both players, with many asking me about Johansen specifically. I think Johansen has been excellent on this road trip, and despite sickness, is getting better every chance I see him. Johansen also carries himself like a pro. Certain players have that mature, confident demeanor and Johansen has that in spades. A solid communicator, I can't see how scouts wouldn't come away impressed when speaking with him. As for Dube, the draft eligible player has had good jump on this road trip with 2+4=6 in the four games.
• Jonathan Smart logged a significant amount of ice time in last night's win and didn't wilt under the pressure. I thought the 16 year-old handled himself wonderfully. That is one of the most interesting observations one came make on a road trip like this. You witness players either struggle with added responsibility or step up and play above expectations. Smart did just that last night. 
• The game in Moose Jaw worked in the Rockets favour on so many levels. It took just two hours and five minutes to play. That my friends is a short and tidy game. For a team playing its fourth game in six nights, that is exactly the time line you are hoping for. The game featured very few scrums after the whistle and just four penalties. The Rockets power play had just one chance and scored. 
• The Rockets are now 3-1-0-0 in the four games, having out-scored the opponent 12-11. 
• The team will stay in Saskatoon over the next three nights, busing into Prince Albert for Friday's game and then returning to the 'Bridge City' to face the Blades Saturday night.  In Saskatoon today, the wind is blowing lightly making it feel colder than it really is. A temperature of -8 with little to no snow in the down town core is a welcome sign.      

Character win where Baillie and Lind shine

Kole Lind - Southwest Booster

• A character test for the Kelowna Rockets last night. The end result? More than just a passing grade for the defending WHL champions. Playing without four significant forwards, the Rockets dug out of a two goal deficit and earned a 6-3 win over the Swift Current Broncos. It wasn't necessarily a bad start for the Rockets, but a bad bounce that saw a puck go off a defenceman's skate and the Broncos had a quick 1-0 lead. The game wasn't even four minutes old. But instead of saying, 'here we go again', the Rockets scored the next five goals on their way to their 24th win of the season. Tyson Baillie ended the night with three goals while Kole Lind, essentially playing in his own backyard, had a goal and an assist and was named the first star.
• More on Lind in a moment. Tyson Baillie's three goal effort against the Broncos was the first hat-trick the 20 year-old has recorded in his career. It took the point producer 291 games to finally accomplish the feat. It is hard to believe it took Baillie that long considering the 266 points he put up prior to Tuesday's three goal effort. Sure, two of Baillie's three goals weren't exactly terrific, with one going in off a defender and another one into an empty net, but his power play one timer in the second period was a goal scorers goal.
• If you walked anywhere around the Credit Union I-Plex Tuesday night, you either ran into someone wearing a Kelowna Rockets sweater or someone wearing #16 with 'Lind' on the back. Kole Lind had a massive cheering section on hand for the game and the rookie forward delivered. Lind's lone goal came on a great individual effort to tie the score at two. It should be good enough to make the WHL plays of the week. In fact, I can guarantee it will. It was that good. Lind skated up ice with the puck from in front of his own net, made a nice move around a Broncos defenceman, cut towards the net on the forehand before tucking it past goaltender Landon Bow. 
• A nice touch to see Lind's grandpa come up to the broadcast booth and shake my hand before the game.
• Despite battling illness, I thought Lucas Johansen was the Rockets best defender. Johansen makes excellent reads with the puck and did a great job of escaping danger when a Broncos forward tried to paste him into the corner boards with a solid hit. Johansen plays a smooth, calm game and was a really bright spot for a d-core that paid the price by blocking shots and playing with more snarl in their game.
• Of the nine goals scored in the game, no less than six were either bad bounce goals or empty netters. Baillie and Riley Stadel each had fortunate bounces go in while the Broncos had two of three goals either go off a Rockets defenceman's skate or shin pad.  
• You can see why Broncos 20 year-old Jon Martin has 26 goals. Martin works hard, isn't scared to throw his big frame around and loves to shoot the puck. Receiving the third star, I agreed with his selection as the hardest Broncos forward to play against shift after shift.
• I thought Boston Bruins first round pick Jake DeBrusk had a very quiet game. I honestly expected more. With the Broncos trailing by two goals, head coach Mark Lamb put DeBrusk with Jon Martin and it seemed to make DeBrusk more lethal in the offensive zone. The 19 year-old, who is the centre of trade rumours and will most likely be dealt at the trade deadline, was a pleasure to speak with before the game. You can tell he has a pro mentality about him. Pencilled with the right line-mates, DeBrusk's 42 goals from last season are no fluke.    
• A small Tuesday crowd at the Credit Union I-Plex. Just 17 hundred 68 fans took in the game which is below the season average of 1938.
• Up next is a date with the Moose Jaw Warriors. This indeed will be a match-up of the top two scoring 20 year-old's in the WHL. Tyson Baillie leads the league in scoring with 54 points, nine more than Moose Jaw's Dryden Hunt. 

Rockets vs. Broncos

Shoot the Breeze Photography

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play game three of an Eastern Division road trip tonight against the Swift Current Broncos. It is the lone meeting of the season between the two teams. Last season, in Kelowna, the Rockets were a 4-0 winner (Oct 7/2014). In the Rockets last appearance in Swift Current (Dec 10/2013), Ryan Olsen scored once and added an assist in a 4-2 win. The Rockets are 1-1-0-0 on the road trip after a 4-3 win in Regina Friday night and a disappointing 5-1 loss in Brandon Saturday night. Lucas Johansen had the lone goal in the teams 7^th setback of the season in a rematch of last season’s WHL final. The Rockets have won 18 of their last 23 games overall (18-4-0-1) and are 12-2-0-0 on home ice and 11-5-1-0 on the road. Overall; the Rockets have points in 15 of 17 games (14-2-1-0). Following tonight’s game, the Rockets are in Moose Jaw (Wednesday), Prince Albert (Friday) and Saskatoon (Saturday December 19^th). Overall, the team has won four of its last five games.

Eastern Division Roady Results:

2013-2014: 6-0-0-0=12 points

2011-2012: 2-2-2-0=6 points

2009-2010: 3-3-0-0=6 points

2007-2008: 3-1-2-0=8 points

2005-2006: 6-0-0-0=12 points

Home Ice Success: The Rockets are riding an eight game home ice winning streak. The team’s last loss at Prospera Place was October 30^th against the Prince George Cougars (2-1 L).  In seven of those eight games, the team has scored four or more goals. In those eight home ice wins, the team has allowed three or more goals only once when beat Lethbridge 5-3.

Oh Canada! Nick Merkley and Rourke Chartier are off to Finland. Hockey Canada made several cuts on Sunday and Merkley and Chartier will fly with the team to the World Junior Hockey Championships. The Rockets have been well represented at the World Juniors. Madison Bowey, Josh Morrissey and GM Bruce Hamilton came home with a gold medal last year from the prestigious tournament. Other notable players from the Rockets that have played for Canada include: Jamie Benn, Tyler Myers, Brandon McMillan, Tyson Barrie, Luke Schenn, Blake Comeau, Shea Weber, Josh Gorges, Chuck Kobasew, Brett McLean and Robb Gordon. If Merkley and Chartier stick, they will be the 14^th and 15^th players from the Rockets to play for Team Canada.

 

Whistle Racking Up Winning Record: Twenty year-old Jackson Whistle is going after his 85^th career win in a Kelowna Rockets uniform this evening. Here are the franchise leaders:

1)     Adam Brown: 107 wins

2)     Jordan Cooke: 92 wins

3)     Jackson Whistle: 84 wins

4)     Kelly Guard: 83 wins

This and That: The Rockets have just three players on their roster (excluding Rourke Chartier from Saskatoon) from Saskatchewan in their line up on this road trip. Kole Lind is from nearby Shaunavon while Rodney Southam is from Saskatoon and Jordan Borstmayer is from St. Brieux…Riley Stadel returned to the line-up Friday night after missing 14 games with an UBI…For a third consecutive week the Rockets are rated as the 4^th best team in the CHL Top 10 rankings….Tomas Soustal will attend the Czech Republic’s training camp in an effort to earn a spot on its World Junior team…Calvin Thurkauf will represent Switzerland at the World Junior’s….The Rockets play 12 games in December with 7 of those 12 on the road…Three members of the Rockets have been rated by NHL Central Scouting. Lucas Johansen and Dillon Dube are rated as ‘B’ prospects for June’s draft in Buffalo. Tomas Soustal, who was not selected last year, is ranked as a ‘C’ prospect…Rookie Gordie Ballhorn leads the Rockets with a +17 ratings…Rodney Southam is two goals shy from his career high 7 goals he scored last season…Cal Foote turned 17 on Sunday….Eight of Justin Kirkland’s 11 goals have been scored on the road this season….Jackson Whistle has started 20 of the last 25 games. 

Who’s Hot: Tyson Baillie has points in 18 of his last 21 games……Justin Kirkland has points in 7 of his last 10 games. Kirkland has 3+11=14 over that period…Cole Linaker has points in 7 of his last 9 games.  Linaker has 4+5=9 over that stretch…Dillon Dube has 11+13=24 in his last 17 games….Lucas Johansen has 9 more point this season as he did all of last year.

WHL championship rematch disappoints

•  The 2015 Western Hockey League final between the Kelowna Rockets and Brandon Wheat Kings didn’t live up to its hype. Sadly, the rematch didn’t either. After sweeping the Wheat Kings last May for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, would the rematch be a better indication of how these two teams are essentially mirror images of one another? Nope! Like the league final, Saturday night’s game was one sided, but this time the Wheat Kings looked, and were, the superior team. A dominant first period saw the short staffed Wheat Kings own the puck for essentially the entire period. Honestly, it was that bad and arguably the worst period by the Rockets this season. Fortunately, despite chasing the play, the visitors only trailed by two goals after the opening period.
  ·  The game was essentially over after the Wheat Kings scored its third goal, 2:27 into the second period. Head Coach Brad Ralph contemplated pulling starter Jackson Whistle after that goal, but didn’t hesitate when the Wheat Kings made it 4-0 two minutes later. This loss wasn’t on Whistle. The support the veteran goaltender received in front of him was not exemplary of a first place team. The commitment to protecting the front of the net looked average at best and the Wheat Kings exploited the fact with four tip-in goals. That’s right, no less than four of the five goals saw a Wheat Kings player standing in front of the net and able to get a stick on a puck that was in midair. Rockets forwards were slow in getting into shooting lanes and defenceman were unable to tie up sticks. It wasn’t pretty.
  · For a third consecutive game the Rockets were involved in a Teddy Bear Toss game. Unlike what we saw in Kelowna and Regina, the collection of the stuffed toys was lengthy and prolonged the inevitable result. At games end, it is best to just walk away from it and hope it is a one off.  With four more games left on this road trip, it is best to move on and put in a solid effort Tuesday against the Swift Current Broncos. 
  ·  As mentioned earlier, this game was a rematch of last season’s WHL final, but with massive changeover in junior hockey year after year, so many of the players that made an impact in May's series didn’t play in the rematch. In fact, 18 players that dressed for game four of the 2015 WHL championship didn’t play in last night’s rematch. Both teams were missing nine players’ aside.
  ·  The two best d-men wearing Kelowna Rockets colours were Cal Foote and Gordie Ballhorn. Outside of those two, it was tough to pick a player on the blue line that was above average.
  · Trailing 5-0, the Rockets appeared to get better in the second half of the game, but that may have been deceiving. With a significant lead, the Wheat Kings urgency level dropped significantly and the visitors managed to out-shoot them 26-16 over the final 40 minutes. That may have been the result of six power play chances where the team was unable to record even a single goal.  Oddly, the only goal they would score against Wheat Kings Jordan Papirny came when Lucas Johansen beat the 19 year-old goaltender with a wrist shot high over his right shoulder with eight minutes left in the game. The shorthanded goal was the team’s second of the season.
  · The goal that told me the Rockets were in a heap of trouble on this night was the 2-0 goal from Tanner Kaspick. The Wheat Kings forward was allowed three whacks at the puck at the side of the net with goaltender Jackson Whistle flat on his belly with his right leg flush on the ice. Whistle forced his leg to the right post but no one was able to a) push Kaspick away by plowing him over by initiating contact  b) tying up his stick so Kaspick was unable to will the puck into the net with no less than three pokes at it.  It wasn’t like the Rockets were outnumbered in that situation either. They had three players in the general vicinity but Kaspick was still able to score.
  ·  A positive? Rookie defenceman Brayden Chizen was in his first career WHL scrap. It was a positive sign for a player that is extremely rough around the edges. If Chizen can use his size and power to his advantage, he could be a tough player to play against. Like Zdeno Chara, who played one season with the Prince George Cougars in 1996-97, the defender was anything but smooth on his skates but in time turned into a pretty good player. Chizen just needs time and good coaching in order to become a formidable force on the Rockets d-core.