Bulmer leads Rockets to exhibition Win

• The Kelowna Rockets earned a 3-2 exhibition win over the Kamloops Blazers Saturday night at Prospera Place. The win improved the Rockets record to 2 and 2 in the pre-season heading into next Friday's game against the Vancouver Giants.
• Brett Bulmer's goal at the 1:43 mark of the third period was the game winner, as the Rockets out-shot the Blazers 31-24.
• If stars were handed out in exhibition, Bulmer would have been given top honours for his goal and assist. Bulmer's battle level was high throughout the night. He's a keeper!
• Bulmer played a good portion of the game with Spencer Main and Shane McColgan.
• Main wore the 'C' on this night. Great to see.
• McColgan was the most dynamic player on the ice. In a game that featured few veterans, McColgan often times controlled the game with his speed and tremendous passing ability. The Hermosa Beach, California resident also scored a nice goal speeding down on right wing. The 16 year-old appeared to lose his balance, dropping to his knees, yet somehow snapped a low shot past a startled Blazers goaltender Jon Groenheyde.
• Speaking of Groenheyde, he was solid. The South Surrey, BC resident faced 15 shots in the third period, making a nice toe save on McColgan from in tight. The Blazers goaltending will not be a problem this season. LeClerc? Groenheyde? Pick your poison, you can't go wrong.
• Rockets rookie forward Max Adolph was awarded a penalty shot at the 9 minute mark of the third period in a 3-2 game. Adolph was unable to beat Groenheyde after mishandling the puck and the veteran goaltender then poking it away with his stick for good measure.
• The Rockets dressed overage players Jonathan Milhouse and Kevin Kraus. Both are familiar with the WHL. Milhouse spent time with both Everett and Portland while I remember Kraus playing in Kamloops and Tri City. Kraus played last season with the Vernon Vipers.
• Notables in attendance Saturday night included Montreal Canadiens defenceman Josh Gorges. Gorges was joined by former Rockets Brett Palin and Carsen Germyn.
• I ran into former Rockets alumnus Jason Deleurme during the intermission. J.D isn't sure if he will be headed back to Europe or if he will look for a possible AHL tryout in North America at months end. When I asked him if he was thinking about retiring he told me, "No way".
• I had a chance to watch the game from the stands, which is a treat for me considering the amount of games I witness from the broadcast booth.

Rockets Win!

More later.

Rockets Jersey Rated

The Hockey News has again rated the jersey's of the 22 teams in the Western Hockey League, and the Kelowna Rockets jersey is rated only better than Prince Albert and Kootenay. The Ice were dead last. The Brandon Wheat Kings get the bragging rights of having the best jersey (according to Hockey News) followed by Seattle and Medicine Hat. All 22 teams will unveil new Reebok jerseys next week which will be more form fitting, falling in line with what you see in the NHL.
No matter what the ratings may say, my general impression is jersey sales are strong among fans of the Kelowna Rockets, which in the end, is the only thing that matters.

FYI

Things That Make Me Go Hmm....

• I am often amazed at the maturity level of the new faces breaking into the Western Hockey League. Often times these 16-17 year-olds speak with the confidence and clarity of someone who has more years under their belt. Seventeen year-old rookie Antoine Corbin is one of those players that impressed me during a conversation we had Thursday afternoon following practice. It may have something to do with the Montreal, Quebec resident leaving home at a relatively early age. Corbin played two seasons ago in Caronport, Saskatchewan before playing last year at Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton. I am not sure Corbin has earned a spot with the Rockets this season, but the fact that 12 veterans are attending NHL training camps allows him to play in more exhibition games in an effort to show he can play at this level.
• Speaking of maturity beyond his years, look no further than 15 year-old rookie defenceman MacKenzie Johnston. Sure, sure, MacKenzie is from Swift Current - my hometown - so he doesn't need to impress me to get in my good books, but he too left home at a relatively young age and it shows. Johnston played bantam hockey in Wilcox, Saskatchewan at 14 before returning home to play his 15 year-old season with the Swift Current Legionnaries. Johnston is a well spoken kid, who won't turn 16 until October. That's right, he can't even drive yet. Johnston told me today he isn't worried about being home sick now that he has landed in Kelowna. The reason? His X-Box has arrived from home. For the record, Johnston's mother Norma was my swimming instructor back in Speedy Creek.
• Chilliwack Bruins gm/coach Marc Habscheid has an inside track on Johnston. Habscheid helped Swift Current Legionnaries head coach Regan Darby last season.
• It's down to three goaltenders attempting to fill two spots in the Rockets goal. Veterans Mark Guggenberger and Adam Brown and joined by rookie Patrick Fairclough. Brown has played in all three exhibition games to date.
• It appears 17 year-old Colton Jobke has earned a spot on the team this season. After spending a season with the Penticton Vees, Jobke is attempting to earn a spot on a Rockets' blue line that has lost just one d-man, 21 year-old Tysen Dowzak. That number could change to two with the potential loss of Tyler Myers. Jobke's claim to fame? His cousin is Boston Red Soxs outfielder Jason Bay. Jobke and Bay were born and raised in Trail, B.C.
• The Kelowna Rockets are getting set to unveil a new website. No official date of the launch of the new website has been announced but it should be up and running before the start of the regular season September 17th. One of the best major junior websites around is owned by the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights. If the Rockets' website can come anywhere close, it will be a hit with the fans.
• The NHL has a quota for the number of veterans that must play in an exhibition game in an effort to keep the level of play at a high level. Should the WHL have a similar rule in place to make sure the level of play - even if its pre-season - does not deteriorate at the expense of its fans.
• He just can't stay away. AM-1150 colour analyst Gord McGarva will be at Saturday night's Rockets exhibition game against the Blazers, but he won't be in the broadcast booth. McGarva has been asked to help out in the time keepers booth, a job he held for several years prior to joining me on the radio last season. McGarva assures me that he will be back in the broadcast booth for the home opener on September 17th. If he doesn't arrive 10 minutes before the buffet is served 30 minutes before warm-up, I'll be concerned.

Audio Blogging

Rockets Win!

The Kelowna Rockets improved their exhibition record to 1 and 2 with a 2-0 shutout win over the Vancouver Giants Wednesday night.
Adam Brown earned the shutout in goal, making 36 saves.
Kyle St. Denis and Spencer Main scored for the Rockets, who host Kamloops Saturday night.
One of the interesting aspects of the game was a fight involving 16 year-old Rockets forward Shane McColgan and Giants defenceman Matt Strong.

The Russians Are Coming!

Prospera Place in Kelowna will host one of six games during the Canadian Hockey League Super Series.
The Super Series enables the Canadian world junior team a chance to evaluate talent against the Russian National Junior Team during a six game cross Canada series.
The Kelowna game will be played November 26th.
Look for Tyler Myers and Brandon McMillan to play in that game. Both Rockets' participated in Team Canada's evaluation camp this summer.
The Super Series will make two stops in BC.
The other game will be played in Victoria November 25th.

Audio Blogging With Stepan Novotny

Almond Injured

He's worked his heart out all summer long to get into the best shape of his life and now Cody Almond is limping into Minnesota Wild training camp. Almond, who isn't expected to be back with the Rockets this season, suffered a knee injury last week during training camp. The injury came just days before the 20 year-old heads off to Minnesota. Almond will meet with the Wild's medical staff to review an MRI later this week . Almond told me Monday he anticipates being out of action for about 4 weeks.

Almond is one of 12 Rockets attending an NHL training camp. Tyler Myers (Buffalo), Evan and Lucas Bloodoff (Coyotes), Colin Long (Coyotes), Tyson Barrie (Colorado), Collin Bowman (Ottawa), Mitchell Callahan (Detroit), Brandon McMillan (Ducks), Kyle St. Denis (Dallas), Stepan Novotny (Oilers) and Jamie Benn (Stars).

Following In the Footsteps of Cuthbert, Moen and Flichel

It looks like MacKenzie Johnston will be calling Kelowna home this winter.
The 16 year-old from Swift Current, Saskatchewan played midget hockey with his hometown Legionnaries last season, dressing for 39 games, scoring once and adding 3 assists.
Johnston was never drafted by a WHL team, but Rockets scout Lorne Frey liked him so much when he attended training camp two years ago after playing bantam hockey in Notre Dame, he listed the defenceman.
Frey has had success pulling players out of southwest Saskatchewan in the past. Look no further than Marty Flichel (Hodgeville), Travis Moen (Stewart Valley) and Ryan Cuthbert (Swift Current).

Bye Bye Benn

The end of August also means the end of the WHL career for Jamie Benn.

The 20 year-old forward officially heads down to Dallas Monday for Stars training camp.

The Victoria B.C resident will most likely participate with the Stars in the Traverse City tournament (September 6-10) with other NHL prospects before heading to main camp with Dallas in early September.

Benn spent a few days in Kelowna last week tuning up for pro camp by working out with the Rockets, a team that he spent two successful seasons with.

Benn's departure is one of many the Rockets will be experience over the next week as 7 players attend pro camps across North American.

If you missed it on the weekend the Rockets lost a pair of games to Chilliwack in exhibition action. The scores were 4-2 and 2-1. The Rockets face Kamloops in a pair of tuneup games this weekend.

Quick Note

• The Rockets roster against the Bruins tonight has Adam Brown and Patrick Fairclough as the two goaltenders. Jamie Benn, Tyler Myers, Colin Long and Cody Almond won't play in tonight's exhibition game. All four may not see any exhibition games considering they are attending NHL training camps shortly.
• Brandon McMillan told me Thursday he is moving back as a forward this season. McMillan says the team that drafted him, Anaheim, would like to see him develop there in possibly his final season in the WHL. McMillan played the majority of last season as a defenceman after the Rockets failed to acquire a veteran presence on the blue line at the trade deadline.