Regan's Rant

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Commish isn't ruling out reducing # of games in WHL

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

A few thoughts and connections between Rockets/Americans

Americans last line of defence - Eric Comrie

It will be interesting to see what the attendance figure will be when the Kelowna Rockets open the playoffs Saturday night against the Tri City Americans. If you look at games one and two last year against Seattle, 5,467 fans took in game one before 5,578 showed up for game two. While less than a thousand short of a sell out, they were solid crowds for late March. The smallest crowd of the 2013 playoffs was in round two against Kamloops when 4,584 watched game two.
What Kelowna Rockets captain was drafted by the Tri City Americans in the bantam draft? Answer at the bottom of the article.
You can forgive the Rockets for feeling a sense of deja vu heading into Saturday's opening game against the Tri City Americans. The Rockets had 50 more points than the Americans during the regular season. Against Seattle last year in round one the difference was also 50 points.
19 year-old Kelowna Rockets forward Ryan Olsen is a draft pick of the NHL's Winnipeg Jets from 2012. Americans goaltender Eric Comrie (pictured right) is also a pick of the Jets from 2013. Comrie was taken in the second round. Olsen is a 6th rounder.
The Rockets and Americans have only selected first overall once each in the WHL bantam draft. That my friends is a good thing. The only time the Rockets picked first overall was in 1991 - their expansion year - when they took Adam Smith. The Americans only first overall selection came in 2003. They picked a Winnipeg kid named Jonathon Toews. Ya, that Jonathan Toews...the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. Toews never played a game in the WHL but GM Bob Tory had to pick the high profile player with the outside hope he would choose major junior hockey. My generally feeling is it were today, now with the Americans outstanding track record in tact, Toews may have spent some time in an Americans uniform.
Rockets assistant coach Dan Lambert and Americans head coach Jim Hiller were both selected in the 1989 NHL entry draft. Lambert was taken in the 6th round by Quebec and Hiller was selected in the 10th round by the LA Kings. Lambert would play 29 games in the NHL. Hiller would play 63 in the show.
Did you know Americans GM Bob Tory rents his Edmonton home to Oil Kings head coach Derek Laxdal? You do now.
What two current WHL head coaches were once head coaches with the Americans? Don Hay of the Vancouver Giants and Don Nachbaur of the Spokane Chiefs.
The Americans drafted Liam Gorges back in 2005. Liam is indeed the cousin of former Rockets captain Josh Gorges.
The Rockets will play their 190th WHL playoff game Saturday night since re-locating from Tacoma for the start of the 1995-96 season.
This is the 35th playoff series the Rockets have been involved in since moving to the Okanagan.
The Kelowna Rockets have been involved in a game seven six times in those 35 playoff series. Only eight times has a series ended in a four game sweep.
Lucas Bloodoff was drafted in the 6th round by the Americans in 2004 WHL bantam draft. Bloodoff would go on to captain the Rockets in 2009-2010 and was a member of the 2009 WHL championship team.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Playoff Primer: Rockets/Americans

Rourke Chartier accepting awards

Playoff experience. Is it a big deal? If it is the Kelowna Rockets have a significant advantage heading into game one of their Western Conference quarter final series Saturday night against the Tri City Americans. The Rockets have 235 games of playoff experience. The Americans by comparison have just 171 games under their belt. The Rockets top forward when it comes to playoff experience is Colton Heffley (25). Damon Severson has 25 games of playoff war scars on the blue line. The Americans most experienced playoff performer is Mitch Topping who has 29 games with Tri City and the now defunct Chilliwack Bruins.
Rourke Chartier, pictured to the right, is hungry for a long playoff run. The 17 year-old was hurt in game three of an opening round playoff series with Seattle when he was hit by defenceman Evan Wardley. Chartier never returned from the back injury.
These two teams met four times in the seasonal series with the Rockets winning all four games. The Rockets out-scored the Americans 20-5 including 12-1 at home. Jordon Cooke played in three of the four games but surprisingly 16 year-old Evan Sarthou played in three of the four meetings for the Americans.
The story in the seasonal series was the Rockets ability to score in the first period. In four games the Rockets out-scored the Americans 9-0.
Outside of the 7-0 win in the final meeting of the season where the Rockets went 4 for 4 on the power play, the Americans were a perfect 9 for 9 in the three other games on the penalty kill.
The Americans give up a lot of shots. In the four games, the Rockets out-shot them 186-83. That is an average of 47 shots on goal per game the Americans goaltenders were facing.
This series features two of the top goaltenders in Jordon Cooke (Rockets) and Eric Comrie (Americans). Again, Cooke has more playoff experience with 11 games played while Comrie has just one game after appearing in a relief appearance against Spokane in the 2011 post season. Don't forget Comrie didn't participate in the playoffs last season after he was shutdown in February to undergo hip surgery.
This series features several Tri City Americans that have connections with Kelowna or the general area known as the Okanagan. Jessey Astles is a former player with the Rockets. Astles was taken in the 6th round by Lorne Frey back in 2008, the year the team picked Shane McColgan in round one and Jordon Cooke in round four.
Tri City forward Parker Bowles is a former member of the Okanagan Midget Rockets. Justin Marrek is a West Kelowna resident and Lucas Nickles is from Salmon Arm.
These two teams were separated by 50 points in the WHL standings. The Americans were in a similar position in the 2012 playoffs when they too enjoyed a 50 point difference on the 8th seeded Everett Silvertips in round one. The Americans would win in a four game sweep but game four was decided in overtime.
Marek Vrdon has just six WHL playoff games of experience but has 3+3=6 in those six games.
The story in last seasons playoffs was the play of Tyson Baillie. In my opinion the teams playoff MVP, Baillie had 8+8=16 and was the teams leading scorer. When it came to clutch goals, Baillie was the man. All indications he will be ready for Saturday night's opener.
This is the fifth playoff meeting between the two teams and the second time they have met in round one. In 2010, The Americans beat the Rockets in five games in round two.Three of the five games in the series were decided by a goal. The series was tied at one win apiece before the Americans won three straight including the series clincher in Tri City in overtime.
The Rockets met Tri City in the second round of the 2009 playoffs. The series went 6 games with the Rockets advancing to the Western Conference final against Vancouver. Many forget the Americans won the first two games on home ice before the Rockets won four straight.
The Rockets were so decimated by injuries in last seasons opening round playoff series, Nick Merkley and Justin Kirkland both made their WHL debuts. Even 16 year-old Dalton Yorke dressed after MacKenzie Johnston went down in the opening round series to Seattle. Merkley was 15 at the time while Kirkland had just completed his 16 year-old season of midget hockey. Even 16 year-old Austin Glover had a chance to dress in 7 playoff games with the loss of captain Colton Sissons in the second to last game of the regular season.
The Rockets are in a much healthier situation this year than last season as they enter the playoffs. Carter Rigby and Mitch Wheaton were out with shoulder injuries before the puck even dropped.
Jackson Whistle saw action in one playoff game last season. It was in game three of the Rockets-Blazers series. Cooke was yanked after the first period and Whistle ended up taking the loss in a 5-4 overtime setback.
The Rockets played in 11 playoff games last season. Of those 11, seven were decided in overtime.
These two battled in the 2004 post season again in round two. It went six games with the road team winning the first four games before the Rockets won games #5 and #6. In the 1996 playoffs the two teams met in round one with the Americans winning in six games.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Now we're Cook'n. Jordon Cooke named MVP

Cooke cooling off because he was so hot! - Shoot the Breeze Photography

Jordon Cooke is the Kelowna Rockets Most Valuable Player. The 20 year-old picked up the award at the teams annual year end banquet at the Kelowna Community Theater Sunday afternoon. Cooke is the 6th goalie to win the award behind Kevin Swanson, Shane Bendera, Derek Yeomans, Kelly Guard and Adam Brown. Cooke had the second most wins (39) and second best goals against average (2.28) in the WHL this season. Cooke also won the Humanitarian Award for his work in the community.
Damon Severson captured the Top Defenceman award for a second straight season. Severson had a career high 61 points in his 19th year-old season. Severson is one of several players to win the award twice (Tyson Barrie/Luke Schenn), with Scott Hannan winning it three straight years.
Rourke Chartier was the big winner (audio conversation above). The 17 year-old was named Top Defensive Forward, Top Scholastic Player (which he also won last season) and Sportsmanlike Player of the Year. The Saskatoon resident had just eight penalty minutes in 72 games. Chartier also registered just eight penalty minutes in his rookie season.
Nick Merley was named the Rookie of the Year. Merkley scored more points than any 16 year-old in the WHL this season (25+33=58).
Cole Martin was the plus-minus winner. Martin had the top +/- in the entire WHL at +61. The 19 year-old Texan is the first player in Kelowna Rockets franchise history to win the league award. What makes his +61 so impressive is he never scored a goal and collected just 21 assists.
Jackson Whislte was the Most Improved Player. Whistle lost just four times in 22 appearances in his second season in the WHL.
The Top Scorer for the second straight year was Myles Bell. Bell had 42 goals, which was four more than last season. The 20 year-old had 77 points, 13 more than Ryan Olsen.

A banner season indeed!

Huska at the Helm - Shoot the Breeze Photography

You will have to excuse the Kelowna Rockets record book if it looks a little banged up. You would too if you were assaulted as many times as it was during the 2013-2014 Western Hockey League regular season. The Rockets set new records for points (118) wins (57), fewest losses (11) and most road wins (29). The 29 road victories tied at WHL record that was set last season by the Portland Winterhawks. Those impressive totals came about as the team wrapped up the regular season Saturday night with a 5-3 home ice win over the Vancouver Giants. The win, the teams 28th at Prospera Place, fell three shy of the team record of 31 set last season and accomplished during the 2002-2003 season.
Nick Merkley tied a franchise record for goals by a 16 year-old. Merkley scored his 25th Saturday night tying him with Shane McColgan for the most goals by a first year player.
Madison Bowey ended the season with 21 goals, which is now the franchises best for a d-man. The previous record was 19 goals set by Tyson Barrie in the 2009-2010 season. Barrie was the team scoring leader with 72 points. Bowey ended his season with 60.
Myles Bell won the team scoring title for a second consecutive season. The 20 year-old had 42 goals and 77 points. Bell led the team in power play goals (10) and game winning goals (9). The last player to win back-to-back scoring titles was Shane McColgan in 2010-2011 and again in 2011-2012.
Three players enjoyed playing in all 72 games this season. Bowey, Cole Martin and Rourke Chartier accomplished the feat. Last season only 20 year-old Dylen McKinlay played in all 72.
Cole Martin led the team with a +61 rating. That smashes the previous club record of +55 set by Dylen McKinlay last season.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play their final road game of the regular season tonight in Vancouver against the Giants. A win will tie the WHL record for road wins, which is 29, set last season by the Portland Winterhawks. The Rockets are coming off a 4-1 victory in Kamloops Wednesday night which allowed the club to clinch the Western Hockey League regular season title for a third time in franchise history. Ryan Olsen scored twice while Nick Merkley and Tyrell Goulbourne added singles. The Rockets are 5-1-0-0 in the seasonal series against the G-Men with five of the six games decided by two goals or less. The Rockets have won twelve of their last fifteen games overall. The Rockets close out the regular season tomorrow night at home against this same Vancouver Giants hockey club.

Who’s Hot: Nick Merkley has points in eleven of his last thirteen games. Merkley has 11+5=16 over that period. Marek Tvrdon has 18 points in his last 16 games (7+11=18). Damon Severson has points in thirteen of his last 19 games…Myles Bell has points in 7 of his last 11 games. The 20 year-old has 3+5=8 over that period….The Rockets are 47-6-0-4 in their last 57 home games dating back to last season. Rourke Chartier has 3+8=11 in his last ten games…Chartier has 34 points in his last 34 games.

Better than before: Several players are enjoying career seasons. Madison Bowey has 27 more points than he had last season. Bowey has 6 more goals and 21 more assists…Damon Severson has 60 points, 8 more than a season prior. Severson has 15+45=60…Rourke Chartier has 24 more points than a year ago. Chartier has scored 9 more goals and 16 more assists than in 2012-2013…Tyrell Goulbourne has 9 more points than last season including three more goals.

This and That: The Rockets have claimed the WHL regular season title in 2013, 2003 and 2002…The Rockets will face the Tri City Americans in round one of the WHL playoffs for the fourth time in franchise history. Game one is Saturday March 22^nd at Prospera Place…Madison Bowey is one goal away from tying Tyson Barrie’s single season record for goals by a Rockets d-man…Dalton Yorke is able to return to the lineup after serving a three game suspension assessed in a fight against Everett last Tuesday….For the first time in franchise history the Kelowna Rockets are enjoying back-to-back 50 wins seasons….Myles Bell became the first player since Geordie Wudrick to score 40 or more goals in a season. Wudrick had 43 in 2010-2011….The Rockets have seven more wins on the road than the 21 they had all of last season…Of Myles Bell’s 41 goals this season, 22 have been scored on the road with 19 coming on home ice…The Rockets are 10-6-0-0 in their last 16 road games…The Rockets are 9-2-0-2 in their last 13 home games…The Rockets are 22-6-0-2 since the WHL trade deadline.…The Rockets have been involved in 11-one goal games on home ice this season…Cole Martin is +107 over the last two seasons…The Rockets have scored six or more goals twelve times on home ice this season… The Rockets are 18-4-0-0 in the second game when facing back-to-back scenarios this season….The team has been rated as the best team in the CHL according to the Top 10 junior rankings for an 11^th consecutive week….After losing two of his first three games, Jackson Whistle has won 16 of his last 18 games…The Rockets have played in 9 shootout games this season and are 5 and 4. Four of the five shootout wins have come on the road in Tri City, Victoria, Prince George and Seattle…Jordon Cooke is 45-7-0-3 at home in last 55 starts at home dating back to last season…The Rockets have scored 4 or more goals in 25 of their 35 road games this season…In 9 of the Rockets 11 regulation losses this season, leading scorer Myles Bell has failed to score…Bell is tied for the league lead in game winning goals with 9….Bell has just 23 power play points. That translates into 51 of his points coming even strength…Two birthdays in March. Cole Martin will turn 20 on March 15^th. Ryan Olsen will turn 20 on March 25^th….Nick Merkley is one goal shy of Shane McColgan’s record of 25 goals scored by a 16 year-old rookie…Seventeen year-old Tanner Wishnowski made his debut Tuesday night scoring his first WHL goal in his first career game.

Rockets Three Star Leaders:

1^st Star 2^nd Star 3^rd Star Total

Jordon Cooke: 8 1 6 15

Nick Merkley: 2 6 5 13

Rourke Chartier 5 5 2 12

Madison Bowey: 7 3 0 10

Myles Bell: 5 4 1 10

Tyson Baillie: 4 3 3 10

Jackson Whistle: 2 5 3 10

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Rockets capture regular season crown

It has been referred to by management as the worst schedule the Kelowna Rockets have ever endured. I'm just glad the players didn’t catch on to how taxing it really was. For the third time in franchise history the Rockets are WHL regular season champions. Ryan Olsen scored twice while Nick Merkley and Tyrell Goulbourne also scored in a 4-1 win Wednesday night in Kamloops. Had it not been for the spectacular play of Blazers starting goaltender Bolton Pouliot, this game would have been ugly. Instead, thanks to Pouliot’s first star performance, the Blazers were within a goal with under four minutes to play in the third period. Tyrell Goulbourne sealed it with a backhand shot that beat Pouliot, who made the first save but couldn't contain the rebound.
While Pouliot was great and one end, Rockets starter Jackson Whistle was no slouch at the other. Despite facing only eight shots through the final 40 minutes, Whistle was especially sharp in the first period when the two teams combined for 23 shots. Even over the final two periods, Whistle made a handful of good stops despite the majority of the game being played at the other end of the ice.
It was hard to believe but just one penalty was called in the first 40 minutes of the game. It was an interference call with just over four minutes left in the second. Mike Campbell and Mark Pearce read the game correctly and didn’t have to get involved. It wasn’t a chippy game in the least bit and they both stayed out of it rather than making questionable calls. I think those two officials should be commended for getting a good feel of the game early and acting accordingly.
The Rockets won all eight games against the Blazers during the regular season. The last time that happened was 2009 when they won all nine games including a four game sweep in the opening round of the playoffs.
I thought Blazers PR Director Dave Chyzowski was kidding when before the game he shouted at me from down the hallway that I was picking the three stars. I have often chastised the Blazers for the ‘homer’ picks they make when handing out the three stars. Chyzowski was a man of his word, handing me the form to fill out with six minutes left in the game. It was an honour to pick the stars in the opposition building. I say that seriously. I was also pleased that the Blazers faithful gave a huge round of applause for my first star - and the obvious choice - Blazers goaltender Bolton Pouliot.
Pouliot deserves a lot of credit for not quitting despite being peppered and likely feeling the pain of a long season. It was an inspirational effort. Not to be out done, I thought Blazers d-man Ryan Rehill was excellent in blocking numerous shots. The 18 year-old was not mailing it in.
The Rockets will face the Tri City Americans in the first round of the playoffs. Games one and two are Saturday and Sunday – March 22^nd and 23^rd. These two teams have a long playoff history. They met in 2010, 2009, 2004 and 1996.
The Rockets end the regular season with a home and home series this weekend against the Vancouver Giants. Make no mistake, the Rockets won't get burned like they did one season ago when on the last weekend of the regular season they played the Giants and ended up losing captain Colton Sissons to a broken collarbone.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Rockets game notes vs. Royals

Tonight’s Preview: This has been an odd seasonal series between the Rockets and Royals. The road teams have had the majority of the success. The Rockets are 3-3-0-1 in the first seven games with a lackluster record of 0-2-0-1 on home ice yet are 3-1-0-0 in Victoria. Overall, the Royals have out-scored the Rockets 22-20 in the seven games. Jordon Cooke has played in all seven games in the seasonal series. Patrik Polivka has started in four of the seven games. While the success of the road team has been the big story, you can’t but notice the Rockets power play numbers against the Royals. The Rockets are 0 for 30 in the seven games. The Royals are 6 for 35 (17.1) with the extra man. The Rockets have won eleven of their last thirteen games overall. With four games left in the regular season, the team faces Victoria tonight are in Kamloops Wednesday before closing out the regular season with a home and home series with the Vancouver Giants this weekend.

Who’s Hot: Nick Merkley has points in ten of his last eleven games. Merkley has 10+5=15 over that period. Marek Tvrdon has 17 points in his last fourteen games (7+10=17). Damon Severson has points in thirteen of his last 17 games…Myles Bell has points in 7 of his last 9 games. The 20 year-old has 3+5=8 over that period….The Rockets are 47-5-0-4 in their last 56 home games dating back to last season. Rourke Chartier has 3+6=9 in his last eight games…Chartier has 32 points in his last 32 games.

Better than before: Several players are enjoying career seasons. Madison Bowey has 25 more points than he had last season. Bowey has 6 more goals and 19 more assists…Damon Severson has 60 points, 8 more than a season prior. Severson has 15+45=60…Rourke Chartier has 23 more points than a year ago. Chartier has scored 9 more goals and 14 more assists than in 2012-2013…Tyrell Goulbourne has 8 more points than last season including two more goals.

This and That: The Rockets need one point in their final four games to clinch first place in the WHL standings for the first time since 2002-2003… Madison Bowey is one goal away from tying Tyson Barrie’s single season record for goals by a Rockets d-man…Dalton Yorke is serving game three of three game suspension assessed in a fight against Everett last Tuesday….For the first time in franchise history the Kelowna Rockets are enjoying back-to-back 50 wins seasons….With two road games left in the regular season the hockey club can tie the WHL record for road wins if they win their remaining two games. The Rockets have 27 road wins while the league record is 29 wins on opposition ice. …Myles Bell became the first player since Geordie Wudrick to score 40 or more goals in a season. Wudrick had 43 in 2010-2011….The Rockets have six more wins on the road than the 21 they had all of last season…Of Myles Bell’s 41 goals this season, 22 have been scored on the road with 19 coming on home ice…The Rockets are 9-6-0-0 in their last 15 road games…The Rockets are 9-1-0-2 in their last 12 home games and have won seven straight…The Rockets are 21-5-0-2 since the WHL trade deadline.…The Rockets have been involved in 10-one goal games on home ice this season…Cole Martin is +106 over the last two seasons…The Rockets have 4 games left in the regular season. Two are on home ice with two on the road…The Rockets have scored six or more goals twelve times on home ice this season… The Rockets are 17-4-0-0 in the second game when facing back-to-back scenarios this season….The team has been rated as the best team in the CHL according to the Top 10 junior rankings for a 10^th consecutive week….After losing two of his first three games, Jackson Whistle has won fifteen of his last seventeen games…The Rockets have played in 9 shootout games this season and are 5 and 4. Four of the five shootout wins have come on the road in Tri City, Victoria, Prince George and Seattle…Jordon Cooke is 45-6-0-3 at home in last 54 starts at home dating back to last season…The Rockets have scored 4 or more goals in 24 of their 34 road games this season…In 8 of the Rockets 10 regulation losses this season, leading scorer Myles Bell has failed to score…Bell is tied for the league lead in game winning goals with 9….Bell has just 23 power play points. That translates into 51 of his points coming even strength…Bell has points in 13 of his last 17 games…Two birthdays in March. Cole Martin will turn 20 on March 15^th. Ryan Olsen will turn 20 on March 25^th….Nick Merkley is two goals shy of Shane McColgan’s record of 25 goals scored by a 16 year-old rookie.