Early struggles indeed

Shoot the Breeze Photography

• The Kelowna Rockets didn't lose three games in a row all of last season. The Prince George Cougars never won 6 straight games to start the season. Oh, what a difference a year makes. The Rockets open the third week of the regular season in the basement (1-4-0-0) of the BC Division with the Vancouver Giants will the Cougars are riding high in the saddle atop the entire WHL standings. This must be a dream? This isn't really happening is it? Safe to say it is uncharted waters for both of these franchises after hooking up for a pair of games in Prince George on the weekend. The Cougars beat the Rockets twice at CN Centre, earning a 4-1 win Friday night on the strength of three power play goals and then a night later earned a 3-0 victory thanks to goaltender Nick McBridge. It marked the first time since the 1998-99 season that the Cougars won three straight games against the Rockets in a seasonal series, with Prince George recording a 2-1 win Wednesday night at Prospera Place. Both two teams were playing without two key forwards. The Rockets were without Nick Merkley and Dillon Dube while the Cougars played without the services of Jansen Harkins and Jesse Gabrielle. It will be all hands on deck when they meet again in November.
• Goal scoring has been a problem in the early stages of the season for the Kelowna Rockets. In three games against the Cougars they managed only two goals. We need to give the Cougars some credit for playing solid defense, but the Rockets managed only 16 shots on net in a 4-1 loss Friday night. That will likely be a season low when the regular season comes to an end in mid March. In those three games, only Jake Kryski and Tomas Soustal have found the back of the net. Soustal's goal came shorthanded while Kryski's came on a sharp angle shot Friday night that Cougars goaltender Ty Edmonds should have stopped.
• While a lack of goal scoring is a concern, so is discipline. The Rockets have taken a league high 100 penalty minutes in five games. That is 20 minutes in pims per game. In the last three games, the Rockets have allowed the Cougars to go on the power play 21 times. Without good goaltending, the scores may have been more lopsided than 2-1, 4-1 and 3-0. Michael Herringer was terrific in two of the three starts with a 40 save performance Friday night. Back up Brodan Salmond, outside of the Cougars second goal Saturday night, also had a strong effort between the pipes in his first start of the season.
• The Rockets have been shorthanded a league high 36 times this season. The coaching staff admitting that playing shorthanded that many times has taken a toll on a team that is short on numbers, having been forced to play 16 year-old d-man Konrad Belcourt at forward. 
• Should we be alarmed with a 1-4-0-0 record to start the season? The team was 3-2-0-0 after five games a year ago. While better, it still wasn't exactly an encouraging start for a team that would eventually win 48 times.
• The Cougars are 6-0-0-0 to start the season, which is the best start in franchise history. Should we be surprised? Maybe a little, but the Cougars were a solid 20-12 after 32 games last season before the wheels fell off the wagon. 
• Do you remember when people were scoffing when the Cougars traded for Russian Yan Khomenko? The ex-Everett Silvertip now has 2+3=5 in 6 games and is creating significant scoring chances when he is out on the ice. Pretty good pick up if you ask me.
• Nick Merkley will return to the line up Wednesday when the team plays game three of a five game road trip. Merkley will suit up against the Lethbridge Hurricanes after being reassigned Sunday by the NHL's Arizona Coyotes. Can Merkley help the Rockets ailing offense? Without question. The 19 year-old has 196 points in 182 career games.

Big crowd and Cougars respond

• You can indeed teach a dog new tricks. Just ask Prince George Cougars head coach Richard Matvichuk. The most undisciplined team in the WHL last season has turned into choir boys and they are singing a sweet medley to the tune of a 5-0-0-0 start. Ok, that isn't necessarily true. The Cougars are playing hard and playing smart. It is what good teams do. Again, Friday night at CN Centre, the Cougars made only three trips to the penalty box and skated away with a 4-1 home ice win. Conversely, the Kelowna Rockets are taking a page out of the Cougars playbook from last season by taking endless trips to the penalty box. Last night they gave the Cougars three-five on three chances and surrendered three power play goals in the process. Impressively, the penalty killers did not give up a goal when they were down two men, but the ten chances the Cougars were granted would eventually prove to be lethal. While they are not the most penalized team in the WHL (Medicine Hat is), the Rockets have been shorthanded a league high 76 times. That may be a reason why they are 1-3-0-0.
• The most significant sign that the Cougars have indeed changed their ways was in the dying seconds of the game when Rockets d-man Braydyn Chizen took a run at Cougars Josh Curtis. Last season, Prince George captain Sam Ruopp would have fought Chizen. This season, Ruopp may have had a word or two for the biggest player on the ice, but no punches were exchanged between the two.
• While the total number of penalties the Rockets are taking is concerning, so is the lack of shots on net. In last night's 4-1 loss, the Rockets managed only 16 shots on Cougars goaltender Ty Edmonds. Let's give the Cougars defenders props for blocking shots and getting sticks on pucks, but the Rockets have to be more trigger happy. Making pin-point passing plays should be left for the power play and a shoot first mentality must be utmost on the minds of anyone wearing white, teal, red and black trim. The opening goal from Jake Kryski was a good example of a low percentage shot finding its way into the net. The three way passing plays can wait until Nick Merkley and Dillon Dube arrive on the scene and the skill level of no less than two lines will take a dramatic jump forward.
• The good news? I thought Michael Herringer was terrific last night. The 20 year-old is the real deal. Herringer made several solid stops despite surrendering four goals. Herringer was not only significantly busier than Ty Edmonds at the other end but also much sharper. Herringer gave his team a chance to win, which is all you can ask for from your #1 goaltender.
• The play of both Connor Bruggen-Cate and Kyle Topping are growing on me. Those first year players are making significant strides and are gaining confidence with the notion that they can indeed play at this level. Topping has the luxury of playing alongside Jake Kryski and Kole Lind. The 16 year-old (won't turn 17 until November) had another assist last night and now has points in three of the four games this season. Baby steps yes, but I see a high sealing for both of these players. 
• Brad Morrison was named the first star last night with a two goal effort. Honestly, I thought the 19 year-old was even better Wednesday and he was held off the score-sheet. Will Morrison have a wicked year offensively? It is a given. 
• The most pleasing sight before the puck was dropped was the number of fans in the stands at CN Centre. A crowd of 52 hundred took in the Cougars home opener and left delighted at the outcome. While not a sellout, the atmosphere in the building was excellent and was only aided by a new score clock/video screen and an upgrade to the sound system.  
• The Rockets welcomed Lucas Johansen and Calvin Thurkauf to the line-up Friday. Johansen's return allowed the Rockets to use rookie d-man Konrad Belcourt as a forward. Johansen made smart plays and looked like the most composed defender on the ice. Thurkauf looked good early playing with Tomas Soustal, but was injured in the first period and never returned. 
• These two teams will meet again tonight at CN Centre. The Cougars look to win three straight games over the Rockets in the seasonal series. When was the last time that happened? In the 1998-99 season, the Cougars would win the first 7 games of the seasonal series against the Rockets and finish with a 9 and 3 record in 12 head-to-head meetings.

Cougars going 'business casual'

Shoot the Breeze Photography

• The Prince George Cougars are a relaxed bunch and it shows in their 4-0-0-0 record to start the Western Hockey League regular season. Wearing team track suits into the building before Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Kelowna Rockets, the casual attire is working for the BC Division's leading team. Dressing down over the traditional tie and suit which is typical of teams in the WHL is paying off for the Cougars, who have yet to play a home game this season after four straight away from CN Centre. They will have a chance to show their fans that they are indeed for real when they host the Kelowna Rockets in back-to-back games this weekend. The Cougars home opener is Friday night.
• The casual track suit look may have been visible before game time, but what was also clearly eye catching was the way the Cougars played under new head coach Richard Matvichuk. The stupid penalties were eliminated and a much greater commitment to defensive hockey was clearly evident to the 43 hundred patrons who witnessed a rare home loss. The visitors surrendered only three power play chances and took only one trip to the penalty box in the first 44 minutes of the game. The Rockets allowed the Cougars six power play chances and were fingered to the penalty box four times for tripping alone. Fortunately, the PK came up large and failed to surrender a goal while a teammate was serving time. 
• While Prince George forward Jared Bethune opened the scoring :56 seconds into the game and teammate Yan Khomenko scored the game winning goal late in the second period, the most dangerous forward for the Cougars was Brad Morrison. The 19 year-old New York Rangers draft pick created numerous offensive chances and was slippery every time he attempted to skate past a Rockets defender. Morrison, the brother-in-law of Josh Gorges, ended the game without a point.
• The Rockets had little puck luck, with both Tomas Soustal and Kole Lind hitting the goal post.
• Michael Herringer's left pad save on Cougars leading scorer Jared Bethune in the second period is worth taking another look it. It was a sure goal taken away. You will want to take a look at the highlites on the Kelowna Rockets website.  It has to be a candidate for the WHL plays of the week. 
• What a heads up play by defenceman Cal Foote on the Rockets lone goal. Foote, while shorthanded, dumped the puck inside the Cougars zone but noticed they were making a line change. Foote chased the puck down in the corner, located Tomas Soustal all alone in front of the net, and the 19 year-old made a great move before sliding the puck past Prince George goaltender Ty Edmonds. Foote's awareness on the ice may be the best on the team. The draft eligible Foote's hockey IQ is excellent.  
• The Rockets welcomed defencemen Brayden Chizen and Devante Stephens back to the line-up Wednesday. Chizen returned from the training camp of the Minnesota Wild while Stephens spent time with the Buffalo Sabres. 
• Chizen was hurt in the third period when he awkwardly went into the side boards after being hit by Cougars forward Kolby Johnson.With no penalty on the play, Chizen made his way slowly off the ice but appeared to suffer an upper body injury and never returned.   
• The Rockets are off to Prince George Thursday for the long trip to PG. Last season the team went 4-0-0-0 at the CN Centre, but wins won't come as easy up there as they have in the past.

Wet behind the ear WHL coaches clash

Jake Kryski looks to wheel and deal vs. Cougars

• It isn't often the Prince George Cougars come into Kelowna on a massive high, but that will be the case tonight. The Cougars make their first visit to Prospera Place this season to face-off against the Kelowna Rockets (AM 1150 broadcast starts with pre-game show at 6:30). The Cougars, who the Rockets have feasted upon for points over the last five seasons (Rockets are 19-5-0-0), are undefeated with three wins and not a single stumble in the early stages of the young season. That's an impressive start no matter how you cut it. All three wins have come on the road. Under new head coach Richard Matvichuk, the Cougars won back-to-back games in Victoria last weekend and then managed to pull out a 7-6 win in Vancouver (Langley) last night. While the Cougars roster consists of an older group, they are winning without 19 year-old Jansen Harkins, who remains with the NHL's Winnipeg Jets. It's early, but three of the top five scorers in the WHL all come from Prince George. Granted they have played a league high three games, but the point is they are off to a terrific start and are playing with confidence. The Rockets will have their hands full, not only tonight, but over the next four games when the two teams meet again at the CN Centre Friday and Saturday night. 
• Am I surprised at the Cougars start? Yes and no. Stealing two games out of Victoria was awfully impressive, but lets not forget that Prince George is built to win and they have no one to blame but themselves if this season isn't a roaring success. Get it? Cougars and roaring success? If you don't, I am not about to explain. They should challenge for the BC Division title this season. When was the last time they won it? The answer is NEVER.
• I said at the start of the season the Cougars would have to improve in two key areas. They had to commit to team defense. Oh ya, it is great to score goals, but you have to defend if you want to win. That needs, and should change under Matvichuk's watch. The 43 year-old spent 14 seasons in the NHL in an effort to keep the puck out of his own net and made a solid career of doing it successfully. The Cougars were also guilty of taking terrible penalties. Leading the WHL in fighting majors, in today's game, never translates into success in the standings. Sure they won 36 games last year, but they were quickly disposed of in the opening round of lat springs playoffs and that likely cost head coach Mark Hollick his job. It will be interesting to see how the Cougars play the game under Matvichuk. As any new coach will tell you, it will be hard to change all of the bad habits overnight, but we should see a solid improvement in those key areas (commitment to defence/discipline) as the season goes along.
• For the Rockets, finally some good news on the player personnel front where Braydyn Chizen and Devante Stephens return to the line-up. Chizen was with the Minnesota Wild while Stephens was in camp with the Buffalo Sabres. Neither saw an NHL pre-season game but coming back from a pro experience can only benefit these two players heading into a new season. This now gives Assistant Coach Kris Mallette more options on match ups and rookie d-man Konrad Belcourt will be eased into the league, not thrown into the deep end of the pool without a life jacket. Only Lucas Johansen remains at an NHL camp among the d-core, which will be the same group from a season ago that didn't feature a 19 or 20 year-old blueliner.
• The most intriguing part of tonight's game is likely the two rookie head coaches. Jason Smith and Richard Matvichuk have a combined 30 years of NHL playing experience. The objective for both of them was containing the other teams top scorers as shutdown defencemen. They played against one another for years at the NHL level and now find themselves coaching against one another. Both Smith and Matvichuk are first round NHL draft picks (Smith by New Jersey, 18th overall - 1992. Matvichuk by Minnesota, 8th overall in 1991) and both played for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Matvichuk played in 2002 while Smith played a season later in 2003. Smith has a gold medal. Matvichuk does not. Matvichuk has a Stanley Cup ring. Smith does not. Smith was named the WHL's Top D-man in 1992-93. Matvichuk won the award a season earlier with the Saskatoon Blades (1991-92).        

Smith earns 1st coaching victory

Jason Smith wins his 1st game as a head coach at any level

Three Dog Night penned the hit song, 'One is the Loneliest Number'.
Kelowna Rockets Head Coach Jason Smith would disagree.
Smith earned his first WHL coaching victory Saturday night when his team went out and scored a 5-1 home ice win over the Kamloops Blazers. It was a stark contrast to his WHL coaching debut Friday night in Kamloops, where he watched his team crumble in a 9-2 road loss.
"It's exciting. It is nice to bounce back from last night. The guys played a much more complete game out there. They did a lot of the little things we have been talking about over the last couple of weeks, with pressuring the puck, skating and making smart, simple plays and obviously getting the puck to the net."
How did the players treat their new head coach to his first of what will hopefully be many wins behind the Rockets bench this season?      
"In the room, I always go in and say something after the game. The guys had the puck. They scooped it up off the ice after the game and presented it to me. It was a great moment. It is something I will remember for a long time", Smith added.

Quick Hits:

• Riley Stadel scored twice in the win. The 20 year-old had two goals all of last season playing as a forward. This weekend with a lack of defenceman, Stadel was back on defence but was able to find the back of the net twice. Those two goals allowed Stadel to hit the 100 point mark in his WHL career.
• Connor Bruggen-Cate earned his first career WHL point on Stadel's opening goal. 
• Jordan Borstmayer found the back of the net for the first time this season. If you take into consideration the goal and assist he earned in the final regular season game of the 2016 season, the 18 year-old has two goals in his last three games. Oh ya, it is a stretch, but I am always looking for positives!
• Michael Herringer was solid in the win. While not tested to the degree he was Friday night in Kamloops where he gave up four goals on 18 shots, you could see the 20 year-old was locked in. I think he is a terrific goalie that at times struggles with consistency. It is typical at this level.
• The discipline was much improved than a night ago. Could it have been any worse Friday? 
• Cal Foote went quietly about his business and collected three assists. Man, I love when he shoots the puck. 
• Rookie Kyle Topping has assists in back-to-back games.
• I thought rookie defenceman Konrad Belcourt was about to score his first career goal when he came off the bench with fresh legs in the third period, kept a puck in at the left point and ripped a slap shot that went just wide of the far post. 
• Jonathan Smart has a goal and a fight in the first two games of the season. Great start for the personable player. 
• I sure like Gordie Ballhorn's play, How about his great defensive play in the third period where he used his stick to break up a good scoring chance?  
• Last night's home opener crowd was 5348. That was down 116 fans from a season ago.
• For a second straight game the Rockets played without 6 regulars. Nick Merkley, Calvin Thurkauf, Braydyn Chizen, Lucas Johansen, Devante Stephens and Dillon Dube are all at NHL main camps. Only the Calgary Hitmen, with 7 regulars, were missing more players on the opening weekend of the WHL season. 

Rough start to Rockets season

• It will be a night Joe Gatenby won't soon forget. Either will new Kelowna Rockets head coach Jason Smith. Newly acquired defenceman Joe Gatenby had his first career two-goal game, against his old team, in the Kamloops Blazers 9-2 win Friday night at Sandman Centre. Gatenby opened the scoring late in the first period on a power play slapper that beat Rockets starting goaltender Michael Herringer.  Gatenby would then be awarded a second period goal which originally was given to rookie Scott Mahovlich. Thanks to improved video replay, Gatenby's weak shot on goal was stopped by goaltender Brodan Salmond, (Salmond replaced starter Michael Herringer after surrendering 4 goals on 18 shots) but as Salmond attempted to reel the puck in, it slid into the net with Mahovlich attempting to bang at it. Video replay showed the rookie forward didn't make contact with the puck so it was Gatenby's goal. The 19 year-old also chipped in with an assist and was named the games first star. Not a bad debut for Gatenby, who the Blazers obtained from the Rockets in the Jake Kryski deal this summer. As for Jason Smith, it had to have felt like a long night for the first year head coach. I am sure he didn't envision his first WHL game behind the bench resulting in such a lopsided loss.
• The real undoing for the Rockets in this game would be the number of trips they made to the penalty box. The Blazers were given 10 power play chances and scored on six of them. The Rockets took 7 of the first 8 minors in the game, and with a team that had only 15 skaters, it was a recipe for disaster. The Rockets were given eight power play opportunities, including a 5 on 3 with under five minutes left, but they failed to cash in on that chance thanks to solid goaltending from Blazers starter Dylan Ferguson. 
• The Rockets played this game without Dillon Dube, Nick Merkley, Calvin Thurkauf, Lucas Johansen, Bradyn Chizen and Devante Stephens. All six are still at NHL training camps. Was it a factor in the lopsided loss? Sure. But the Blazers had three elite players out of the line-up too, including 19 year-old goaltender Connor Ingram. 
• Positives? Kole Lind and Jake Kryski each scored once and added an assist in the loss. Outside of those two players though, little in the way of scoring chances were created from the visitors.
• Rookie Kyle Topping earned his first career WHL point with an assist on Kole Lind's second period goal. Topping, Jake Cowell and Conrad Belcourt were all making their WHL debuts in last nights setback.
• The Blazers scored several goals by owning the front of the net. Tap-ins or being allowed to jam away for secondary chances were plentiful. The Rockets d-core needs to have more bite and an increased battle level in front of their own goaltender.
• The good news? The two teams meet again tonight at Prospera Place in the Rockets home opener. The Rockets will again be short staffed, but so will the Blazers.   

Rockets/Blazers rivalry renewed

Tonight’s Preview: This is the first of ten meetings between the Rockets and Blazers this season. If you want to throw pre-season games into the mix, these two BC rivals will have played each other 13 times before the regular season ends. Did I mention they last faced one another in an epic seven game opening round playoff series in the 2016 post season? The Rockets won that affair 4 games to 3 with four of the games being decided by a single goal. Last season, the Rockets were 5-2-1-0 in eight regular season meetings against Kamloops, but 7 of those 8 games were again decided by one goal. The Rockets are 29-11-4-0 in the last five seasons against Kamloops including winning 16 of their last 20 regular season games at Prospera Place. Last season the Rockets opened the regular season against Kamloops, winning opening night (4-3) before earning a victory (7-3) a night later in Kamloops. These two teams meet tomorrow night in Kelowna to wrap up a weekend home and home series. The Rockets play 6 of their first 8 games on the road including two games in Prince George next weekend (September 30/October 1^st).

What the heck happened? Last season, the Rockets won 48 games and finished this season with 100 points. Only Victoria (106) and Brandon (102) had more points than the Rockets last season. The Rockets scored the 4^th most goals in the WHL (269) while allowing the 6^th fewest (218). The team advanced all the way to the Western Conference final for a third consecutive season after playoff series wins over Kamloops (7 games) and Victoria (7 games). The team was eliminated by the Seattle Thunderbirds (four straight games) in the Western Conference final. In each of the last two seasons, the Rockets season has ended in overtime. Tyson Baillie led the team in scoring last season with 95 points and was named a 1^st team Western Conference all-star. In 2015-16, the Rockets longest winning streak reached five games (twice) with its longest losing streak being two games (four times). The club played in 28-one goal games last season.

Gator-aide: The Kelowna Rockets made a head coaching change at seasons end. After just one year on the job, Brad Ralph parted ways with the team on May 9^th. Then on July 6^th, Jason Smith was hired as Brad Ralph’s replacement. Smith is the Rockets fourth coach in the last four years. Smith, who retired September 2, 2009, played 16 seasons in the NHL before joining the coaching staff of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, a role Smith has held for the last four seasons’. Smith won a gold medal for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1993 and was named the WHL Defenceman of the Year that same season.

Winds of Change: The Kelowna Rockets have lost three of their top four scorers from last season. Tyson Baillie (95 pts.), Justin Kirkland (67 pts.) and Cole Linaker (50 pts.) are no longer with the team. There is an outside chance Kirkland could return if he fails to stick with Nashville’s AHL affiliate. Goaltender Jackson Whistle also graduated. Joe Gatenby was traded to Kamloops for Jake Kryski on August 18^th. The Rockets return 19 players from last season’s team. The only other change saw Adam Brown join the team as a part time coach. Brown owns the Kelowna Rockets franchise record for games played (200) and saves made (5,079).

Broadcasters Bits: The Rockets were 3 and 2 in five pre-season games. Jake Kryski and Kole Lind led the team in pre-season points with 8 each….Nine members of the Rockets participated in NHL training camps. Tomas Soustal and Gordie Ballhorn earned tryouts with Edmonton and Dallas respectively. Nick Merkley (Arizona), Lucas Johansen (Washington), Dillon Dube (Calgary), Devante Stephens (Buffalo), Calvin Thurkauf (Columbus), Braydyn Chizen (Minnesota) and Justin Kirkland (Nashville) are all drafted players…The Rockets received an honourable mention in this week’s CHL Top 10 pre-season rankings.  

Roster Stats:

Player total: 24

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s – 3   Stadel, Herringer, Southam

19’s – 8   Johansen, Merkley, Soustal, Stephens, Wishnowski, Coughlin, Thurkauf, Ballhorn

18’s – 6   Dube, Kryski, Lind, Borstmayer, Chizen, Salmond,

17’s -  5   C. Foote, Topping, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell, Smart

16’s – 2   N. Foote, Belcourt

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150

Foote rated first rounder

Cal Foote - Shoot the Breeze

TSN prospect analyst Craig Button has released his list of the top 30 players eligible for next June's NHL draft in Chicago.

Kelowna Rockets defenceman Cal Foote is ranked 20th according to Button.

The 17 year-old (won't turn 18 until December 13th) admits he has heard the pre-draft hype and the possibility of following in his fathers footsteps.    

"With all the draft stuff, I am going to try to keep it as far away as possible. I am going to try to play my game and leave what people say outside of the rink. I am going to try to not worry about it, play the right way and just worry about that".   

It can't be easy playing in the shadows of his famous hockey father, Adam, who played 18 seasons in the NHL. Adam Foote is considered one of the best shutdown defenceman during a career that saw him play with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets. Adam Foote was a second round selection of the Nordiques, 22nd overall, in the 1989 entry draft. 

The elder Foote says he doesn't want to get in Cal's way of achieving his goal of eventually playing in the NHL.

"Paying attention and seeing these NHLers kids through time make it, some are around more than others, it is there time. It is there game. It is there career. It is not mine. It is not about me. It is about them and I really believe that I have to stay out of it and I want to stay out of it", Foote told me.       

While Cal is projected to be a high pick in next summer's draft, younger brother Nolan, 16, will be making his Western Hockey League debut this season.

Adam will have the pleasure of watching both sons closely, with the plan of building a home in Kelowna and having both Cal and Nolan under the same roof, the same way the two boys grew up while being raised in Denver, Colorado.

"I knew they (Rockets) were a real good organization, but when I really looked into it, I didn't know they had these many banners. I was aware of the defenceman that they have developed. I got to coach him (Cal) for four years and now it is fun for me to let him (Cal) go and let someone else develop him and I think he needs that", Foote added.

Salmond successful in solidifying backup spot

Brodan Salmond earned back up job to Michael Herringer 

• Brodan Salmond (pictured) was pushed to earn the backup spot to Michael Herringer and promptly delivered. The sophomore from Calgary was sharp in two pre-season appearances against Victoria and Kamloops and showed he has taken another step in his overall development as a goalie. Salmond was challenged by 16 year-old James Porter for the #2 duties. Fifteen year-old Roman Basran also impressed, but the Delta product can't play full time until next season, so essentially it was a two horse race between Salmond and Porter. At the end of the day, Salmond's number were significantly better in pre-season despite a rather small sample size. Salmond stopped 32 of 35 shots for a save percentage of .914 and a goals against average of 3.31. Porter, who will be heard from again next fall at training camp, stopped 32 of 39 shots in two games and sported an inflated goals against average of 7.48. 
• It appears 16 year-old defenceman Konrad Belcourt has made the opening day roster. It has been suggested that a spot was available for a rookie blueliner and it was Belcourt's or newcomer Kelvin Hair's to lose. Belcourt is one of seven bodies on the Rockets d-core, which includes Cal Foote, Gordie Ballhorn, Lucas Johansen, Brayden Chizen, Devante Stephens and Jonathan Smart. Stephens is yet to see any playing time during the pre-season.  
• The Rockets re-assigned six players on Tuesday. Liam Kindree, Kaedan Korczak, Roman Basran, James Porter, Kelvin Hair and Ted Brennan will play elsewhere this season. With Kindree and Brennan sent to play midget and Junior 'B' respectively, it is a clear sign 17 year-old listed player Jake Cowell has made the team. Cowell had an assist against Victoria and then added a goal in Kamloops on the weekend to solidify his spot on what will eventually be a 23 man roster.
• Right now the team has 24 players in camp, which mean one cut must be made. That one player move is expected at forward. One rookie who has solidified his spot on the team despite failing to play in a pre-season game is 16 year-old Nolan Foote. Foote remains out with mono but is practicing with the team. The only veteran forward who has yet to dress in a exhibition game is Jordan Borstmayer. 
• The Rockets welcomed three NHL players to practice on Tuesday. Josh Gorges (Buffalo), Jordon Tootoo (Chicago) and Luke Schenn (Arizona) took part in full drills. Tootoo is often seen going 100 miles an hour during the drills, which only increases the intensity of the workouts.
• The Rockets will send two players to the Young Stars tournament later this month in Penticton. Tomas Soustal will suit up for the Edmonton Oilers while Dillon Dube will play for the Calgary Flames. Soustal is no stranger to the Oilers, who invited him to an orientation camp in July while Dube was a second round pick of the Flames in June's NHL draft. The Young Stars tournament is at the South Okanagan Events Centre September 16th to the 19th. 
• Cal Foote had a short summer. The draft eligible defenceman says he took about two and a half weeks off before resuming training following a rookie season that saw him dress in 71 regular season games and an additional 18 playoff games. Foote was busy attending Hockey Canada's summer evaluation camp for the World Junior team.

Cowell close to making opening day roster

Rockets rookie Jake Cowell

• I don't claim to have been at every Kelowna Rockets workout at Prospera Place during training camp, nor will I watch the team on a consistent basis in practice during the regular season, but when I took in Thursday's on-ice sessions a few impressive things stood out. 1) The pace of the practice. I have always been told the pace in which you practice is the pace in which you will play. If you go through the motions, will that not affect your performance in a game? Do you hit golf balls at the range with reckless abandon and then expect to hit it straight when you play for real? The answer is no. The Rockets practice sessions are high pace and purposeful. 2) Short, sweet and to the point. In the practices I've witnessed under the watchful eye of head coach Jason Smith, they involve up tempo drills, instruction and include chalk talk with both assistant coaches Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard. 3) Smith had the players skating lines at the end of practice on Thursday. Again, I do not attend every Kelowna Rockets practice at home, so it may be something more common place than I am led to believe. The last time I witnessed the team skating wind sprints was when Ryan Huska was behind the bench and the team was being taught a harsh lesson on the ice surface of the Saddledome in Calgary. I think it's awesome. It is old school.
• Watching the players push through the fatigue at the end of practice with the series of skating drills was impressive. Tomas Soustal, Devante Stephens and Lucas Johansen were leading the charge. Rookie goaltender Roman Basran can skate well for a big man too. Yep, the goalies are involved in the skating drills. Even assistant Travis Crickard was participating. I thought all the players on the ice dug deep as Coach Smith barked out the signals on what he wanted the players to do. 
• The practice sessions are giving me a chance to watch players like Jake Kryski a little more closely. Acquired from the Kamloops Blazers in the Joe Gatenby/Danny Gatenby deal, Kryski's skating style reminds me in many ways of former Rockets captain Tyler Spurgeon. Kryski is somewhat upright and has short explosive strides.         
• The rookie that stood out Thursday was 17 year-old forward Jake Cowell. Cowell is a player the Rockets listed after Director of Player Personnel Lorne Frey received an e-mail suggesting he take a look at the Winnipeg resident who was playing high school hockey. Frey told Manitoba scout David Jacobson to take a look at him and came away impressed. But Frey had to get a look with his own two eyes. Frey too came away thinking Cowell could potential play if given the opportunity. Cowell did play bantam hockey at Pursuit of Excellence a few years ago but failed to hear his name called in the WHL bantam draft. The reason? In bantam, Cowell was close to 5 foot 7. Fast forward to today and Cowell is close to 6'1. Cowell has a good shot of making the opening day roster.  
• Like their arch enemy Victoria Royals, the Kelowna Rockets are using heart monitors at practice. Each player wears a heart monitor which is then displayed on Prospera Place's video screen. The computerized program calculates everything from calories burned to heart beats per minute for every player on the ice. It essentially shows the coaches and training staff who is working hard in practice and pushing themselves physical, and weeds out those that appear to be working hard visually, but statistically aren't pushed themselves to the limit.  The Royals have used the program for the last four to five years. On average, a player will burn close to a thousand calories per practice. 
• Former Kelowna Rockets forward Shane McColgan is going to rookie camp with the LA Kings.
• Carter Rigby has elected to retire. The former Kelowna Rockets forward is an assistant coach with the KIJHL's Summerland Steam.
• See ya at the rink this weekend. We will not be broadcasting the pre-season games on AM 1150 but I will be tweeting away for those interested. Our first radio broadcast of the year is September 23rd in Kamloops.  

Brown joins Rockets staff

Adam Brown - Shoot the Breeze Photography

The Kelowna Rockets have added a familiar face to it's coaching staff.

Twenty four year-old Adam Brown will be the teams 'eye in the sky' in the press box at home games this season and will help out with the goaltenders.

Brown played four seasons with the Rockets from 2008 until 2012 before eventually turning pro.

Now the Yorba Linda, California resident is back with his old junior team.

"It is a bit different seeing the game from the the other side.  You understand what the coaches were thinking a bit more than when we were playing. It is a really good opportunity. I am excited to be here and work with a high level team."

Brown played pro hockey last season in Europe before electing to retire this summer.

"The passion and love for the game wasn't as high as it used to be. When you are doing something like playing a sport, if the passion and the love isn't there you might as well move on to something that is a little more long term", Brown added.

Roster spots still up for grabs

• My goaltending knowledge is limited, but Brodan Salmond has, in my opinion, made a positive impression at Kelowna Rockets main camp. Only in his second season, one must still qualify him as a rookie considering his lack of playing time at the WHL level. Salmond, a 10th round bantam pick in 2013, bursted onto the scene last season in an effort to back up Michael Herringer when Jackson Whistle went down with two bum hips. The Rockets really had no other option. Salmond saw action in just seven games. Salmond has come into camp looking impressive and appears to be on track to solidify the back up spot. Clearly the soft spoken goalie has made some hug strides with his game this off season. Salmond sports new pads and gloves too. What Salmond must do, now, is push Herringer to be better. Don't be satisfied with second best. Secure the backup spot but really pressure/push Herringer for the number one duties. If Salmond can do that, it benefits him, Herringer and the team. 
• It is abundantly clear that 18 year-old forward Jake Kryski will start the season at centre. Kryski spent the majority of last season in a Kamloops Blazers uniform playing the wing.  It will be interesting to see who Kryski plays with this season. Considered a shooter by some, does he find himself with a passing winger? Is the Rockets best passing winger Nick Merkley? Ask Rourke Chartier how much success he had playing with Merkley. It would be interesting to see if those two play together and if chemistry can be formed.
• Who is #1 wearing a blue jersey at main camp this week? Wait a second, let me look at my line-up sheet. He sure looks poised. Oh, it's 15 year-old Kaedan Korczak according to my program. I really, really like this player. Sorry for the premature hype, but this guy has game.  
• I had to look the other day at my line-up sheet to see who was wearing #5 in blue. It turned out to be Kelvin Hair. Is the 16 year-old rookie ready to make a jump into the deep end of the pool this season? Hair is a 6th round bantam pick from two seasons ago and played at Okanagan Hockey Academy. Does he have a shot to make the team? Let's see what he does in pre-season if he indeed is around to get his feet wet. 
• Training camp isn't only a great time for the player to get up to speed for another WHL season, but the officials can also fine tune their game. Kelowna referee Steve Papp has been working out the kinks and getting up to game speed by officiating the Rockets scrimmages. It is a nice resource for the players to have as Papp communicates with them on what will and won't be tolerated when the real season starts.  
• I am not sure what changes have been made over the course of the summer at Prospera Place, but the speaker system really needs an upgrade. I hope it has been addressed to make the sound clearer.  Louder doesn't necessarily mean better. If it is crisp and clear, it doesn't need to rattle the China Cabinet.  
• NHL players living in Kelowna often skate at Prospera Place before one by one, leaving for their respective teams for the upcoming season. On Monday, the likes of Brent Seabrook, Tyler Myers, Justin Schultz, Luke Schenn, Josh Gorges, Blake Comeau and Andrew Ladd were involved in a high paced workout. Jordon Tootoo was there along with goaltenders James Reimer, Leland Irving and Devan Dubnyk. 
• Director of Player Personnel Lorne Frey has admitted his team will have to score by committee this season. Is that so bad? Is it not better to have six players score 15 or more goals than two players who score 30 or more? The 2015 WHL championship Kelowna Rockets had 8 players with 15 or more goals. Only one player had 40 goals or more. Who was it? Rourke Chartier (48). 
• I was once criticized by a listener for playing favourites. This individual thought I spoke more glowingly about one player over another. Truth is they may be right. I gravitate to players that work hard no matter what the skill set. If you put the team above yourself and play as hard when the puck is off your stick then on it, you've got me hooked. The prototypical team players look like Ryan Cuthbert, Brett Palin and Josh Gorges. Is it any wonder that all three are former captains?    

Questions to be answered as main camp opens

• With rookie camp in the rear view mirror, it is time for Kelowna Rockets fans to get excited about the new faces that will battle for a spot on this years roster and the veteran players that return a year older and likely a year smarter. It amazes me season-to-season how a player improves his personal stats from a year ago. This is often the result of being placed in more crucial situation to create offense, whether it be in a top six forward role or simply more power play time. Every player believes they should see playing time on the power play, but if I am a betting man, new head coach Jason Smith won't hand it out like you would candy at a parade. Players need to earn it. 
• The Kelowna Rockets lose two significant scorers in Tyson Baillie and Rourke Chartier.  Baillie will play at the U of A this fall and Chartier will play pro as a signed player in the San Jose Sharks system. So, where does the offense come from? Sure, the team loses two former 40 goal scorers (Chartier had 48 goals in 2014-2015) but isn't there enough players returning to dominate the puck? Dillon Dube had an inconsistent season last year, so you would think he would be in for a breakout year?  Jake Kryski, acquired from Kamloops in the Joe Gatenby trade has to be better than his 12 goals from last season showed. No pressure Jake, but can't the 18 year-old find the back of the net 20 times this season? Tomas Soustal and Calvin Thurkauf combined for 38 goals a year ago. Surely 40 goals between those two can be easily attained.  Don't forget sophomore forward Kole Lind either. This guy has great finish despite struggles in the final two months of the regular season where he didn't score in his final 30 regular season games.
• Tomas Soustal won the 5k run during fitness testing on Friday at the Apple Bowl. Rourke Chartier has owned this event over the years. While it isn't the only event that shows who trained hard this summer and who didn't, I think the run is the best indicator of cardio performance and the dedication and determination of the individual to get better.         
• Six goaltenders are in main camp including 20 year-old Michael Herringer and second year netminder Brodan Salmond. Salmond has the inside track for the back up spot. I will be interested to see how he has come along in his efforts to solidify that position, or does 16 year-old James Porter make a strong push at main camp? The Rockets like Porter, who was a 7th round pick in the 2015 draft. Porter is an American, who lives in Idaho but played hockey at prep-school (Edge) near Calgary. The back up spot may be interesting to watch.
• I am interested in seeing Jake Kryski in Kelowna Rockets colours. After not being drafted this summer, his motivation level, you would think, would be sky high. Was Kryski put into ideal situations in Kamloops to succeed last season? The Blazers would say yes. Kryski, under his breath, will likely say no. While it is increasingly difficult to score at the WHL level as opposed to bantam, you don't just lose your scoring touch after scoring 59 times with the Burnaby Winter Club do you? My belief is Kryski really wants to play in Kelowna, so having a better mindset should only help him in his effort to find the back of the net more often this season. How hard will he play against Don Hay and the Blazers this season? As hard as Joe Gatenby will play against the Rockets in his 19 year-old season.  
• How will Kaedan Korczak perform against the veterans? The 15 year-old first rounder was a stud in rookie camp and stood out more than any first rounder since Shane McColgan owned the ice a few years ago with his yellow helmet on his head. Korczak will play on Team  Blue and will likely be paired at times with d-man Jonathan Smart or Devante Stephens.
• Speaking of Stephens, this is a big training camp for the 19 year-old rearguard. Ya, 19. When you are in that age group of players born in 1997, you have to make an impact. You can't play behind younger players. You need to be a 'go-to-guy'. At forward, Tate Coughlin also has to step up or younger players will pass him.
• Last season at this time, Jonathan Smart was battling mono. How nice must it be to head into training camp healthy and playing with a boat load of confidence after playing for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka? 
• Are the Rockets content with their three 20 year-old's? Riley Stadel and Rodney Southam are the forwards with Michael Herringer a lock as the starting goaltender. If Justin Kirkland under performs with the Nashville Predators AHL affiliate and returns to Kelowna, the waters get muddy awfully quick. 
• Watch for Ryan Topping at main camp. A 16 year-old rookie who plays centre. An 11th round bantam pick, lets see what he can do in his first crack of making the team. 
• Workouts this weekend start at 9 am Saturday and Sunday, but it is the game action that is most interesting for the fans. Games are played after every practice session at 10:45 am and 5:45 pm.