What a weekend!
- How was your weekend? Was it as good as the Kelowna Rockets?
You won’t get much better than that when you win three straight games and
out-score the opponent 22-5. No I am not lying.
The Rockets beat Regina 5-1 Friday night, blasted the Saskatoon Blades
Saturday night 9-2 and then tipped the tables on the Everett Silvertips with an
8-2 win on Sunday. The weekend moved the
Rockets to within two points of Tri City for fourth place in the Western
Conference. Ironic, the two teams collide Wednesday night at Prospera Place as
the Rockets look for their 9th straight home ice win.
- The Rockets have now scored the third most goals in the WHL.
With 103 goals scored, only Kamloops (105) and Portland (116) have scored more
goals. If you throw out the power play goals, the Rockets have scored the
second most even strength goals behind only Portland.
- Carter Rigby scored his first career hat trick Sunday in
Everett. A healthy scratch Saturday against Saskatoon, the 18 year-old scored
his first three goals of the season. Two of the three goals came on breakaways
on passes from Henrik Nyberg and Tyson Baillie.
- Jackson Whistle received the start Sunday and earned his 6th
win of the season. The 17 year-old is the only undefeated goalie in the WHL. Whistle’s
best save came against Josh Winquist in the second period on a two-on-one when
the score was still 3-1 for Kelowna.
- In an effort to generate more offense, Tips head coach Mark
Ferner elected to use leading scorer Landon Oslanski as a forward. Maybe Ferner
too is considering moving the veteran up front much like the Rockets did with
Myles Bell. Oslanski is a defenceman by trade.
- Speaking of Bell, the 19 year-old put up 3 goals and 5
assists in three games this weekend to lead all scorers. Does Bell receive
consideration for WHL Player of the Week?
- The scouts room in Everett was packed prior to game time.
Who were they there to watch? Safe to say Madison Bowey caught their attention
with his strong play. The 17 year-olds hard point shot likely impressed as it cruised
past Tips goaltender Austin Lotz and his
+4 rating didn’t hurt his cause either .
- The coaches elected to scratch 16 year-old Rourke Chartier.
The rookie had dressed in the team’s first 24 regular season games. That means only three Rockets have played in
all 25 games. That honour is held by Myles Bell, Colton Sissons and 20 year-old
Dylan McKinlay.
- The two wins against Regina and Saskatoon this weekend
extended the team’s home ice winning streak to eight games. Is that close to a
team record? Not even close. The Rockets went 28 games without a loss on home ice in 2004-2005. That season the team lost
just four times in regulation in 36 games at Prospera Place.
- If you missed it Saturday night, Ryan Huska earned his 200th
career coaching victory in the Rockets 9-2 win over the Blades. Huska joins the
likes of Tri City Americans head coach Jim Hiller, who won his 200th
game last season.
4 comments:
You have to think at this point the Rockets have to be considered a contender. If not, then the contenders will at least be taking them more seriously, and that alone is awesome in itself.
What makes the team dangerous is that it isn't just one player, it is the whole team. Everyone contributed this weekend and played hard and the result showed. Every team should be taking them seriously.
Kind of an interesting stat. Since the victory against Kamloops, Kelowna is 7-2 and before that they where 7-6-2)
Kamloops has been 4-6-1 since that loss and before they where 16-0-1
It seems that Kelowna has been motivated big time ever since that win while Kamloops seems to be struggling since that loss.
Good info jaz301. Thanks for the contribution.
Post a Comment