Merkley follows in bantam draft prospects footsteps

A dynamic young player makes his Kelowna Rockets debut tonight in Red Deer. Fifteen year-old Nick Merkley will be in the line up as the Rockets look for their 6th straight win against a Rebels team that is as red hot as the Rockets are right now. Merkley was the teams 1st round pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft and is a high end forward with loads of offensive potential. The Rockets organization are no strangers in letting their prospects get their feet wet at the WHL level by playing them on an Alberta road trip. Two years ago Madison Bowey made his debut in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. Jesse Lees was given the same luxury when the then 15 year-old made his debut in Calgary against the Hitmen. Shane McColgan, the teams first round pick in 2008, made his debut in Red Deer as a 15 year-old in December 2008. Merkley will wear sweater #10.     

Rockets use scoring punch and physical force in road win

• There is strength in numbers. The Kelowna Rockets proved that Friday night in a 5-2 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Rockets out-scored, out chanced, out hit and fought their way to their 5th straight win and 22nd victory of the season. Myles Bell, Damon Severson and Zach Franko each had two point nights, helping their team improve to 3-0-0-0 on a Central Division road trip.
• The Rockets dominated the territorial play but the Tigers kept hanging around. Out-shot 14-4 in the first period, the Tigers only found themselves down 1-0 after 20 minutes. A Jacob Doty goal, his 3rd of the season, 55 seconds into the second period and it was a tied hockey game. It wasn't until Henrik Nyberg scored in the third period to give the Rockets a 4-2 lead that you felt the Tigers had no hope of snatching a win away despite being badly outplayed.
• The Rockets power play struck for two goals on seven chances. The prettiest goal came from Damon Severson, who was named the first star for a second straight game. Severson took a picture perfect pass from Zach Franko and roofed a shot high over the shoulder of Tigers goaltending Cam Lanigan.
• Colton Heffley doesn't fight often but that didn't deter him from swinging fists with Tigers tough guy Jacob Doty. Doty doesn't fight like he used too (Doty had 16 fighting majors last season) but he can still chuck them. Heffley showed character and determination by not backing down. The 18 year-old didn't win the fight, nor did he lose it. What he earned was even more respective from his teammates for the gutsy effort.
• Tigers forward Hunter Shinkaruk returned to the line up Friday after being cut Thursday from the Canadian World Junior team. Whether he was rattled from that experience or not, the potential first round pick in this June's draft was a non factor. You won't often say that about this dynamic player.
• The Rockets played arguably their most physical game of the season by laying out some huge hits. Myles Bell, Madison Bowey and Henrik Nyberg led the charge in beating the Tigers down physically.
• The miss call of the night came late in the third period when Tigers d-man Ty Stanton put Cole Martin in a headlock and did his best WWE impression by hammering Martin's head to the ice. I am not sure what referee Nathan Wieler was doing, but he made no call on what appeared to be an attempt to injure. Maybe Wieler was out of breath after blowing his whistle constantly over the first 40 minutes? Martin wasn't injured on the play, but that's not the point. The point is an obvious infraction like that has to be called regardless of the score or time of the game. If the Rockets pursued supplementary discipline, which they rarely do, Stanton would be suspended.
• Myles Bell hit the century mark with his 100th career assist.
• Tyson Baillie scored his 11th goal of the season, surpassing his previous career high of ten goals.
• Rockets 1st round pick Nick Merkley took the pre-game warm up. The 15 year-old was wearing #10. The Calgary resident will make his WHL debut Saturday in Red Deer.
• Don't look now but Cole Martin has a five game point steak. You'd be right. It's his longest point streak of his career.
• The Rockets are one point back of Spokane for third place in the Western Conference. 

Rockets game notes vs. Tigers

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets look for 5^th straight win tonight when they visit the Medicine Hat Tigers. This is the second and final meeting of the season between the two teams. Back on October 24^th the Tigers earned a 4-3 shootout win. The Rockets fired a season high 58 shots at the Tigers net. Zach Franko and Myles Bell each had a goal and an assist in the loss. During the Rockets four game winning streak they have out-scored the opposition 19-9 and have gone 6 for 14 on the power play (43%) over that stretch. Overall, the Rockets have four regulation losses in their last twenty-two games (17-4-0-1) with setbacks to Tri City (3-2) twice by the same score, a 5-3 loss in Edmonton October 27^th and a 4-2 setback in Seattle December 1^st. The Rockets have won fourteen of their last seventeen games overall. The Rockets are playing the third game of five straight on the road over six days. The Rockets beat Kootenay 3-1 Tuesday night and Lethbridge 3-1 Wednesday night. The pre-Christmas schedule concludes with games Saturday in Red Deer and Sunday in Calgary. Five of the Rockets seven losses on the road this season have been decided by a single goal.    

Hard to Win in the ‘Hat’: The Rockets are 2-7-0-3 in their last 12 stops in Medicine Hat dating back to the start of the 2003-2004 season. One of those two wins came in a shootout victory. In fact, in three of the last four games in Medicine Hat, the Rockets and Tigers have been forced to a shootout.      

This and That: The Rockets are 21-9-1-1 after 32 games this season. Last season after 32 games the team was 13-15-3-1. The team essentially has 14 more points than they did at this point last season….Madison Bowey was named to the roster for the upcoming CHL-NHL Top Prospects game. Last season two members of the organization participated in the game. Damon Severson and Colton Sissons showcased their skills and were both 2^nd round draft picks this summer by New Jersey and Nashville…Tyson Baillie has 10 goals, the same number he registered all of last season….Baillie has four goals in his last three games…Cole Martin has three career WHL goals. All three have been game winners…Jordon Cooke has played in the exact same number of games (25) he appeared in all of last season….The Rockets won their 12^th straight home game Saturday night with a 7-2 win over Prince George.  The team record is 18 straight wins in 2002-2003 season…Myles Bell hit the 150 point mark in his WHL career with an assist Tuesday night against Kootenay…Bell and line-mate Dylen McKinlay are the only two Rockets to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 18 of their last 24 games with one game being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have allowed ten power play goals against in their last seventeen games….The Rockets have twelve power play goal in their last nineteen games (12 for 59 over that span)….The Rockets have twenty-one wins in 32 games this season….In the Rockets 21 wins, Myles Bell as earned 35 points (13+22=35). Of the 102 goals scored by the team in those twenty-one wins, Bell has been in on 35 of them….Bell has 18+27=45 after 32 games; the same number of points as his career high 45 set with the Regina Pats as a 17 year-old….. The Rockets have scored 106 goals in their last twenty-four games....Jordon Cooke was named the CHL/Vaughn Goaltender of the Week for October 22-28th. Cooke had two wins last week which included a shutout and a save percentage of .967…Ryan Olsen played in his 150^th career WHL game Nov 3^rd against visiting Prince George…Ryan Huska recorded his 200^th WHL regular season victory November 24^th against the visiting Saskatoon Blades…The Rockets are 13 and 2 after 15 home games this season…Madison Bowey (10), Mitch heaton (22) are rated among the top skaters in the WHL by NHL Central Scouting for June’s draft. Jackson Whistle is ranked 7^th among WHL goalies…Austin Glover (Team Western), Rourke Chartier (Team Western) and Riley Stadel (Team Pacific) will all play at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in late December in Quebec. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 72-28 on home ice this season…The Rockets have scored the second most goals in the WHL (130). Only Portland has scored more (144)…The Rockets have the best winning percentage on home ice in the WHL.

Who’s Hot: Myles Bell had 16 points in November (8+8=16). Bell has 20 points in his last twelve games. Colton Sissons is riding a seven game point streak (1+7=8). Ryan Olsen has (8+4=12) in his last twelve games. Zach Franko has 3+9=12 in last ten games. Tyson Baillie has 4+7=11 in last thirteen. 

Man Games Lost to Injury = 88 games lost

J.T Barnett: 21 games lost     Mitchell Chapman: 32 games lost

Carter Rigby: 12 games lost   Zach Franko: 2 games lost

MacKenzie Johnston: 17 games lost   Jordon Cooke: 2 games lost

Colton Sissons: 5 games lost

T'was the final night before Xmas, Kelowna Rockets style

Derailing the 'Cane Train'

• J.T Barnett picked a perfect time to score his first game winning goal as a member of the Kelowna Rockets. The 20 year-old's back hand shot squeezed through the legs of Hurricanes goaltender Ty Rimmer on a first period power play, leading the Rockets to a 3-1 win. It was Barnett's fourth goal of the season and came less than a minute after teammate Carter Rigby opened the scoring on a blast from just inside the blue line. 
• The coaching staff were hoping for a better start Wednesday night and the players delivered. The Rockets had some sustained pressure inside the Hurricanes zone, yet didn't manufacture a lot of quality chances. Oddly enough, it was the Hurricanes that had two tremendous chances, none better than a Jay Merkley shot from the slot that Jordon Cooke snared out of mid air. I am not sure if Cooke reads my drivel on this blog, but last week I was semi critical of his play. If he is indeed making me eat my words, good on him. Cooke has been nothing short of solid in these first two games of this Central Division road trip.
• Speaking of Cooke, he now has appeared in 25 games this season. That is the exact number of games he appeared in last season as a back up to Adam Brown. Oddly enough, he has allowed the same number of goals (63) as he did after 25 appearances last season. The only difference this year is he has played more minutes as the teams starter. 
• The Rockets were clearly back on their heels in the third period when the Hurricanes put on the pressure and had a distinct territorial advantage. I counted four goal posts hit in the final period by the Hurricanes while fellow broadcaster Pat Sidlecki counted six. Regardless, the Hurricanes hit the 'skinny red guys' several times in an effort to tie the game at two.
• An empty net goal by Colton Heffley sealed the win, but the Rockets could have avoided trouble earlier but missed on two gorgeous scoring chances. Ty Rimmer robbed Carter Rigby with a huge blocker save in the second period while Cody Fowlie found daylight on a breakaway chance in the third period but lost the puck on the backhand.  Had the Rockets scored on those two chances, it  would have been lights out early for the Hurricanes.        
• The Rockets penalty killing unit continues to be the story this season. The team killed off all four power play chances the Hurricanes were granted. That is no small feat for a Lethbridge team that has the second most power play chances of any one in the WHL. On top of that, the Hurricanes have one player tied for the league lead in power play goals. Russell Maxwell has 9.     
• I thought it was a much improved game by Rigby. He was physical and did a good job of separating the man from the puck and getting it on his stick. But one solid game won't cut it. Rigby needs to play with determination every time he's in the line up, not teasing us with an occasional glimpse of brilliance. He played hard last night and it showed. Like any player at this level, if you don't put out you look pretty mediocre.      
• The Rockets are 12 games above the .500 mark after 32 games. That is 21 wins in 32 games. Last season after 32 games the Rockets were 13-15-3 and 1. The Rockets have 8 more wins, 6 fewer losses and 14 more points than at this point last season.
• The Rockets are now 2 and 0 on a Central Division road trip. Back in 2003-2004, the Rockets were also involved in a road trip that featured five games in six nights. The team was on an Eastern Conference road trip prior to Christmas and won all five games.
• I know many of you Rockets fans watched the game on TV last night. From a radio perspective, the game is painfully slow. The amount of stoppages is ridiculous and the amount of needless talking that I had to do last night to fill (kill) time was crazy. Essential 13 minutes and 30 seconds is wasted on TV commercial breaks during the periods alone. 
• The Kamloops Blazers are staying at the same hotel as the Rockets are in Medicine Hat. This is the second time this has happened. If I'm not mistaken, it happened last year too. Not sure how well this would have gone over in the 80's, but we are now a peaceful bunch.

Unlikely source scores winner

• "The last time I scored two goals in a season it was pee-wee". Those were the words of defenceman Cole Martin after helping his team earn its 20th win of the season. Martin scored about six minutes into the third period to break a 1-1 tie, helping the Rockets to a 3-1 win last night over the Kootenay Ice. Martin now has two goals this season, a career high after scoring just once as a rookie. Martin now has three career Western Hockey League regular season goals. All three have been game winners. 
• Tyson Baillie's game has come alive at just the right time. Playing on a line with 20 year-old's Dylen McKinlay and Cody Fowlie, Baillie scored twice in last night's win and now has four goals in his last two games.
• It was a slow start for the Rockets last night. Generating just four shots in the opening frame pretty much tells you the story. The Rockets had a good first shift and spent some significant time in Kootenay's zone but came away empty handed. Jordon Cooke had to make a few solid stops to keep his team close before they exploded with three unanswered goals in the third. 
• Cooke's best save came when his team was leading 2-1. Cooke robbed Ice forward Erik Benoit of a sure goal when he made a desperation save by diving across and getting his left arm on the puck and deflecting it wide. Cooke was on his 'A' game last night and it was his best showing this month. Cooke was named the games first star.
• Rockets forward Dylen McKinlay found himself in a spirited scrap with Ice forward Austin Vetterl in the first period. The tilt erupted out of no where when I saw McKinlay throwing rights with Vetterl doing all the catching. McKinlay doesn't fight often - it was his first fighting major with the Rockets - but the 20 year-old can handle himself quite nicely thank you.   
• Myles Bell had an assist, giving him 150 points in his WHL career.  The 19 year-old is one shy of 100 assists for his career heading into today's game in Lethbridge.
• Best player/players for the Ice? I sure liked Benoit and Jaedon Descheneau was a close second. Both players can skate. Descheneau is a 1995 born player but receives a lot of ice time. 
• Ryan McGill looks angry. The Kootenay Ice coach looked pissed off every time I looked at the Ice bench. I guess I would be too with 9 wins this season. We used to have some good talks when I was interviewing him as a young radio broadcaster with the Swift Current Broncos. They say we do get crankier as we get older though.
• On the polar opposite of the spectrum, it was nice to run into Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth in the second period intermission. Great guy who always has time to talk. You've probably read a lot - thanks to me during an interview two seasons ago - about Chynoweth being sour over low attendance numbers at Kootenay home games. He had a point. The Ice haven't missed the playoffs in Cranbrook and the banners are a clear sign of success. I've read recently that fans in Kootenay are suggesting the Ice don't promote themselves anymore in the community like they used too. But can I say one thing about Chynoweth that others may not be aware of? Name me another WHL GM that is seen standing on the concourse during the intermission talking with their fans? Tuesday night, Chynoweth was mingling with the paying public, something many in his position wouldn't lower themselves into doing. Chynoweth is chatting with me for a few minutes and periodically saying hi to those that walked by him. If that isn't impressive public relations work folks, I don't know what is. 

Back on the bus

The Kelowna Rockets are back on the bus today making their way to Cranbrook for the start of a Central Division road trip which starts Tuesday against the Kootenay Ice. The Rockets play five games in six nights, which includes stops in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Calgary. The team will be minus captain Colton Sissons, who is recovering from injury and has been sent home to Vancouver for the Christmas break.

Rockets notes vs. Cougars

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets look for their 12^th straight home ice win tonight against the visiting Prince George Cougars. This is the 5^th meeting of the season between the two teams. The Rockets are 3-1-0-0, having out-scored their BC Division rivals 18-11. The Cougars have not scored a goal in Kelowna in two visits, losing 3-0 and 5-0. The last Cougars goal at Prospera Place came last season from Troy Bourke, who scored into an empty net in a 3-1 win. Overall, the Rockets have four regulation losses in their last nineteen games (14-4-0-1) with setbacks to Tri City (3-2) twice by the same score, a 5-3 loss in Edmonton October 27^th and a 4-2 setback in Seattle December 1^st. The Rockets have won eleven of their last fourteen games overall. The Rockets head out on a five game road trip before Christmas next week with stops in Kootenay (Tues), Lethbridge (Wed), Medicine Hat (Fri) Red Deer (Saturdday) and Calgary (Sunday).       

Team Canada Calls Kelowna: Captain Colton Sissons was named to the training camp roster for the Canadian World Junior team. Sissons is unable to participate because of injury. Sissons was trying to become the 12^th player in the organization to play for Canada at the WJHC. The Rockets have been well represented on Team Canada, with 17 players, coaches and medical staff. Current assistant coach Dan Lambert played for Canada at the 1989 tournament in Alaska.    

This and That: The Rockets won 18 straight home games during the 2002-2003 season…Myles Bell is two points shy of 150 for his WHL career…Bell and line-mate Dylen McKinlay are the only two Rockets to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 16 of their last 21 games with one game being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have allowed eight power play goals against in their last fourteen games….The Rockets have seven power play goal in their last fifteen games (7 for 49 over that span)….The Rockets have eighteen wins in 29 games this season….In the Rockets 18 wins, Myles Bell has earned 33 points (13+20=33). Of the 89 goals scored by the team in those eighteen wins, Bell has been in on 33 of them….Bell has 18+25=43 after 29 games; two points shy of his career high of 45 points set with the Regina Pats as a 17 year-old….. The Rockets have scored 93 goals in their last twenty-one games....Jordon Cooke was named the CHL/Vaughn Goaltender of the Week for October 22-28th. Cooke had two wins last week which included a shutout and a save percentage of .967…Ryan Olsen played in his 150^th career WHL game Nov 3^rd against visiting Prince George…Ryan Huska recorded his 200^th WHL regular season victory November 24^th against the visiting Saskatoon Blades…The Rockets are 12 and 2 after 14 home games this season…Madison Bowey (10), Mitch heaton (22) are rated among the top skaters in the WHL by NHL Central Scouting for June’s draft. Jackson Whistle is ranked 7^th among WHL goalies…Austin Glover (Team Western), Rourke Chartier (Team Western) and Riley Stadel (Team Pacific) will all play at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in late December in Quebec. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 65-26 on home ice this season…The Rockets are one of six teams in the WHL with over 100 goals scored this season (117). Last season the team scored 217 times....Zach Franko had 3+4=7 after 26 games last season. This season the Winnipeg resident has 12+17=29 after 27 games.

Who’s Hot: Myles Bell had 16 points in November (8+8=16). Bell has 19 points in his last ten games. Colton Sissons is riding a seven game point streak (1+7=8). Ryan Olsen has (8+3=11) in his last ten games. Zach Franko has 3+9=12 in last eight games. Tyson Baillie has 2+7=9 in last eleven games. 

Man Games Lost to Injury = 78 games lost

J.T Barnett: 21 games lost     Mitchell Chapman: 29 games lost

Carter Rigby: 12 games lost   Zach Franko: 2 games lost

MacKenzie Johnston: 14 games lost   Jordon Cooke: 2 games lost

Colton Sissons: 1 game lost

Three Stars:

Myles Bell leads the Rockets in three star-balloting with 9. Bell has been named the second star a team leading six times…Jordon Cooke has been named a star 7 times, with a team leading three – first star appearances. Zach Franko has also been named a star 7 times.        

Getting away with a win with a less than stellar effort

• It only made sense that Kelowna Rockets forward Dylen McKinlay would be credited with Wednesday night's game winning goal. Why? Because it was ugly, much like the Rockets effort in a 6-5 home ice win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos. McKinlay's game winner came in the third period after he was pushed into the net and line mate Cody Fowlie fired a shot that struck the startled 20 year-old and went past Broncos goaltender Eetu Laurikainen. The goal was one of four the Rockets would score in the third period to extend their home ice winning streak to 11 games. 
• The first period was as bad a period as we've seen at Prospera Place this season. You can thank the visitors for that with a text book road game. Greasy, slow with no flow and few scoring chances. It was tough to watch. The two teams combined for just 12 shots with 19 year-old Adam Lowry getting his first of three on the night on a goal that appeared to go off his skate and past Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke. Cooke attempted to play the puck behind the net but it was quickly centered and went off Lowry's skate blade and into the net. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick would score a shorthanded goal (penalty shot) and a power play goal to help his team build up a 3-1 second period lead. It looked like Swift Current would win their first game of a BC Division road trip but the Rockets had other ideas.
• The biggest goal of the game likely came when 16 year-old Broncos rookie d-man Brycen Martin took a slashing penalty with under two minutes to play in the second period. With Martin's team up 3-1, Rockets leading scorer Myles Bell found teammate Ryan Olsen at the side of the net with a perfect pass and the home team went into the dressing room down by one. It was Olsen's 15th goal of the season and team leading eighth on the power play. Olsen had 15 goals all of last season. 
• The Rockets gave up two shorthanded goals. It marked the second time this season that has happened. The Rockets lost 3-2 in Tri City in late November when Justin Feser scored a pair of goals while the Rockets were enjoying the power play.
• I am not often critical on Jordon Cooke, but I thought the 19 year-old goaltender had a rough game. I thought Broncos goaltender Eetu Laurikainen was better, but failed to make a crucial stop on J.T Barnett in the third period. Barnett's goal beat the Finnish goalie to tie the game at 3. The 19 year-old rookie made two huge saves though against Colton Heffley in the second period and another nice left pad save against Henrik Nyberg in the third. Both saves are WHL Plays of the Week material, especially the desperation save against Heffley in the second period.
• It marked the first time this season the Rockets have come back after trailing after 40 minutes. 
• Despite giving up two shorthanded goals, the Rockets killed off a crucial 5 on 3 in the second period when Cole Martin was tagged for tripping and Mitch Wheaton went to the box for shooting the puck over the glass. The Broncos owned the second best power play heading into Wednesday's game but manufactured little on that ideal opportunity. The visitors would score shortly after though as Martin took another penalty 16 seconds later.
• The Rockets played the game without captain Colton Sissons, who is out with an upper body injury.
• With their 12th win on home ice this season, the Rockets own the second best home winning percentage in the WHL. Only Portland's is slightly better. The Rockets have 12 home ice wins. Portland and Kamloops have 13 but have played more home games than the Rockets have.  
• Broncos 1st round pick Glenn Gawdin made his WHL debut, but outside of warm up, I don't think he saw the ice. If he did, I didn't notice him. 
• While it is obvious that Adam Lowry was the best Bronco, I sure liked the play of d-man Reece Scarlett. I thought he made good decisions and blocked a lot of shots. Graham Black is a minus three at games end but he too had a lot of try in his game. 
• The Rockets are now 5 and 0 against teams in the Eastern Division, with wins over Swift Current, Saskatoon, Brandon, Moose Jaw and Regina. The only team we haven't seen is first place Prince Albert.

Game notes vs. Broncos

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets look for their 11^th straight home ice win tonight against the visiting Swift Current Broncos. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 46-12 over that stretch. This is the only meeting of the season between the Rockets and Broncos. They met December 9/2011 in a 4-3 shootout loss in Swift Current. Zach Franko, MacKenzie Johnston and Brett Bulmer scored in the loss. The Broncos last appearance at Prospera Place was December 8/2010 in a 4-1 win. The Broncos erupted for three-third period goals in the win. Cody Chikie scored in a losing cause. Overall, the Rockets have four regulation losses in their last eighteen games (13-4-0-1) with setbacks to Tri City (3-2) twice by the same score, a 5-3 loss in Edmonton October 27^th and a 4-2 setback in Seattle Saturday night. The Rockets have won ten of their last thirteen games overall. The Rockets host Prince George Saturday night before heading out on an Alberta road trip before Christmas.    

Team Canada Calls Kelowna: Captain Colton Sissons has been named to the training camp roster for the Canadian World Junior team. Main camp is next week in Calgary. Sissons is trying to become the 12^th player in the organization to play for Canada at the WJHC. The Rockets have been well represented on Team Canada, with 17 players, coaches and medical staff. Current assistant coach Dan Lambert played for Canada at the 1989 tournament in Alaska.   

This and That: The Rockets won 18 straight home games during the 2002-2003 season…Myles Bell is four points shy of 150 for his WHL career…Bell and line-mate Dylen McKinlay are the only two Rockets to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 16 of their last 20 games with one game being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have allowed seven power play goals against in their last thirteen games….The Rockets have six power play goal in their last fourteen games (6 for 45 over that span)….The Rockets have seventeen wins in 28 games this season….In the Rockets 17 wins, Myles Bell has earned 31 points (13+18=31). Of the 83 goals scored by the team in those seventeen wins, Bell has been in on 31 of them….Bell has 18+23=41 after 28 games, the same total number of points he had all of last season…The Rockets have scored 87 goals in their last twenty games....Jordon Cooke was named the CHL/Vaughn Goaltender of the Week for October 22-28th. Cooke had two wins last week which included a shutout and a save percentage of .967…Ryan Olsen played in his 150^th career WHL game Nov 3^rd against visiting Prince George…Ryan Huska recorded his 200^th WHL regular season victory last Saturday against the visiting Saskatoon Blades…The Rockets are 11 and 2 after 13 home games this season…Madison Bowey (10), Mitch Wheaton (22) are rated among the top skaters in the WHL by NHL Central Scouting for June’s draft. Jackson Whistle is ranked 7^th among WHL goalies…Austin Glover (Team Western), Rourke Chartier (Team Western) and Riley Stadel (Team Pacific) will all play at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in late December in Quebec. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 59-21 on home ice this season…The Rockets are one of six teams in the WHL with over 100 goals scored this season (111). Last season the team scored 217 times....Zach Franko had 3+4=7 after 26 games last season. This season the Winnipeg resident has 11+16=27 after 26 games.

Who’s Hot: Myles Bell had 16 points in November (8+8=16). Bell has 17 points in his last nine games. Colton Sissons is riding a seven game point streak (1+7=8). Ryan Olsen has (7+3=10) in his last nine games. Zach Franko has 2+8=10 in last seven games. Tyson Baillie has 2+5=7 in last ten games. 

Man Games Lost to Injury = 78 games lost

J.T Barnett: 21 games lost     Mitchell Chapman: 28 games lost

Carter Rigby: 12 games lost   Zach Franko: 2 games lost

MacKenzie Johnston: 13 games lost   Jordon Cooke: 2 games lost

Three Stars:

Myles Bell leads the Rockets in three star-balloting with 9. Bell has been named the second star a team leading six times…Jordon Cooke has been named a star 7 times, with a team leading three – first star appearances. Zach Franko has also been named a star 7 times.       

Trade Winds Blow: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Filip Vasko to the Red Deer Rebels last Wednesday for a 6^th round bantam pick. It marks the 8^th player move the team has made this season. Four players have been acquired since September (McKinlay, Whistle, Barnett, Fowlie) and four have been sent elsewhere (Vasko, Ferguson, Moar, Coyle.)