Rockets vs. Americans

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets face the Tri City Americans tonight at Toyota Center. This is the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with the road team winning both games. Back on October 12^th, the Rockets earned a 3-2 win. Then a night later, back at Prospera Place, the Americans were a 5-4 winner. The seasonal series ends next Wednesday (December 5^th) in Kelowna. Kaedan Korczak and Kyle Topping lead the team with 1+2=3 in the two games. Rookie Dallon Wilton has two goals in the two games. The Rockets are 10-3-1-0 in their last 14 regular season games against the Americans. These two teams combined are 16-0-0-0 when leading after 40 minutes of play. The Rockets host Saskatoon tomorrow night before hosting the Americans next Wednesday. The Rockets are 7-5-1-0 in 13 games under Adam Foote.  

November’s best performers: With the month coming to close, Nolan Foote and Liam Kindree have had the most offensive success. Foote (8+3=11) and Kindree (2+8=10) lead the way. Kyle Topping has 9 points (5+4=9) in November while Leif Mattson (1+7=8) has 8 points this month.

Broadcasters Notebook: The Rockets are playing their 16^th road game tonight. Edmonton has played a league high 18 road games…The Rockets own the third best road penalty killing unit in the WHL. The PK at home is second last only behind league worst Brandon…The Rockets are 5-8-1-0 against BC Division teams this season….Can you name the only team in the Western Conference the Rockets haven’t yet played? The answer – the Spokane Chiefs….Three players will celebrate 100 games played with the Kelowna Rockets, at the same time, Saturday against the visiting Saskatoon Blades. Kaedan Korczak, Libor Zabransky and Erik Gardiner will hit the 100 games played mark on that night. Gardner hit the 100 games played milestone in the WHL recently, but Saturday’s game will be his 100^th with the Rockets. The 19 year-old  had played four previous games with the Regina Pats before being traded….Nolan Foote has scored 8 home goals and 8 road goals this season…Foote is two points shy (98) of 100 for his career …7 of Kyle Topping’s 11 goals have come on the road…15 of Topping’s team leading 30 points have come on the road…Nolan Foote turned 18 yesterday….Four members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s November “Players to Watch’ List. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first round candidate. Kaedan Korczak is a ‘B’ prospect which means he is a second or third round candidate. Roman Basran/Lassi Thomson are ‘C’ prospects, which means he could be taken in the third to the seventh round…Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith.

Trade Winds: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Wil Kushniryk to the Tri City Americans October 22, 2018 for a 5^th round bantam pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old defenceman Dalton Galley October 10, 2018 from Medicine Hat for a 10^th round bantam pick. The hockey club acquired 18 year-old forward Michael Farren October 11^th from the Saskatoon Blades for a third round pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Lane Zablocki from Victoria for a conditional 7^th round and conditional 4^th round bantam draft pick on September 29^th.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)

Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)

Fewest shots allowed: 20 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Last time shut out on road: November 10, 2018 @ Portland (3-0 L)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Roster Stats:

Player total: 24

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s (1998) – 3   Gally, Zablocki, Chizen

19’s (1999) - 5   Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell

18’s (2000) – 9  Farren, Thomson, Porter, Foote, Zabransky, Kindree, Brennan, Pow, Steffler,

17’s (2001) - 6   Korczak, Crosbie, Basran, Liwiski, Wilton, Augustine

16’s (2002) - 1   Ernst

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150

Rockets/G-Men preview

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets close out the month of November with a pair of games this week including a home game tonight against the visiting Vancouver Giants. The Rockets are 11-1-1-0 in the last 13 games against the G-Men at Prospera Place, with that one regulation loss coming on October 3^rd when the Giants earned a 5-0 shutout. The Rockets have scored just one goal in the two game seasonal series. That one goal came off the stick of Kyle Topping in a 3-1 road loss. Roman Basran has started in both games against Vancouver, posting a goals against average of 4.11 with a save percentage of .869. The Rockets are coming off a 2-1 loss Saturday in Everett. Kyle Topping had the lone goal in the teams’ 14^th loss of the season. The Rockets are in Tri City Friday before hosting the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday. The Rockets are 7-4-1-0 in 12 games under Adam Foote. The team has won 5 straight at home. 

  

November’s best performers: With the month coming to close, Liam Kindree and Nolan Foote have had the most offensive success. Foote (7+3=10) and Kindree (2+8=10) lead the way with 10 points apiece. Kyle Topping has 9 points (5+4=9) in November while Leif Mattson (1+6=7) has 7 points this month.

Broadcasters Notebook: Three players will celebrate 100 games played with the Kelowna Rockets, at the same time, Saturday against the visiting Saskatoon Blades. Kaedan Korczak, Libor Zabransky and Erik Gardiner will hit the 100 games played mark on that night. Gardner hit the 100 games played milestone in the WHL recently, but Saturday’s game will be his 100^th with the Rockets. The 19 year-old  had played four previous games with the Regina Pats before being traded….Nolan Foote has scored 7 home goals and 8 road goals this season…Foote is three points shy (97) of 100 for his career …7 of Kyle Topping’s 11 goals have come on the road…15 of Topping’s team leading 30 points have come on the road…Nolan Foote turns 18 tomorrow….Four members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s November “Players to Watch’ List. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first round candidate. Kaedan Korczak is a ‘B’ prospect which means he is a second or third round candidate. Roman Basran/Lassi Thomson are ‘C’ prospects, which means he could be taken in the third to the seventh round…Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith.

Trade Winds: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Wil Kushniryk to the Tri City Americans October 22, 2018 for a 5^th round bantam pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old defenceman Dalton Galley October 10, 2018 from Medicine Hat for a 10^th round bantam pick. The hockey club acquired 18 year-old forward Michael Farren October 11^th from the Saskatoon Blades for a third round pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Lane Zablocki from Victoria for a conditional 7^th round and conditional 4^th round bantam draft pick on September 29^th.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)

Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)

Fewest shots allowed: 20 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Last time shut out on road: November 10, 2018 @ Portland (3-0 L)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Roster Stats:

Player total: 24

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s (1998) – 3   Gally, Zablocki, Chizen

19’s (1999) - 5   Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell

18’s (2000) – 9  Farren, Thomson, Porter, Foote, Zabransky, Kindree, Brennan, Pow, Steffler,

17’s (2001) - 6   Korczak, Crosbie, Basran, Liwiski, Wilton, Augustine

16’s (2002) - 1   Ernst

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150

Rockets spoil Porter's terrific effort

Chris Mast Photo

• It happened against the Prince George Cougars in a 4-3 overtime road loss. It happened again last night in a 2-1 setback in Everett. Surrendering a late third period goal was the Kelowna Rockets undoing. Instead of earning two points in Prince George, the team had to settle for one when the home team scored with 17 second left in the third period. Against the Tips, instead of going into overtime, leading scorer Connor Dewar fired home the game winning goal with 54.7 seconds left in regulation time in Everett's one goal win. The Rockets spoiled a tremendous goaltending display from James Porter. It was Porter that essentially allowed his team to be in a great position to provide the upset against the Western Conference's top team. Porter was the best player on the ice, and needed to be, as the Rockets again limped into a road game after playing the previous night at home. Porter made 40 saves, with only Dewar able to beat him twice, once in the second period and the game winner with time ticking down. The loss snapped the Rockets three game winning streak and didn't allow them to gain any ground on second place Victoria, who lost in Vancouver, while fifth place Kamloops also lost on the road in Spokane. 
• One more note on Porter. While he wasn't making massive saves and making it look difficult, it was the way he was square to shooters and absorbing pucks into his body that was the most impressive aspect of his game. The 18 year-old's rebound control is often his weakness, but that wasn't the case last night. Like a vacuum, Porter was able to suck long and close range shots into his body with perfection. I thought it was his best game ever in a Rockets uniform and he was worthy of second star status. 
• The Tips were clearly the aggressors in the game. They had the puck a significant amount of time and o-zone play was predominantly in front of Porter. The Rockets did a great job of defending and were again only a strike away from tying the score. That happened, when Kyle Topping fired home a power play goal, and despite a lopsided shot clock, a point was feasible in a building where success has been hard to come by. Dewar dashed any hopes though, when he scored his 20th goal of the season and the Rockets left Washington State empty handed - again.
• What's with the Rockets penalty killing unit on the road? It is lights out terrific. The PK was 4 for 4 last night and is now the third best unit on the road in the WHL. By contrast, the PK at home is rated second worst in the 22 team circuit ahead of only dead last Brandon. If anyone can explain this, I'm all ears. The team has been shorthanded 21 more times on the road than at home yet the success rate in killing penalties is significantly greater.
• Liam Kindree is having success centering a line with Erik Gardiner and Lane Zablocki. Kindree, learning the position after playing primarily on the wing, is 23 for  32 in the face-off circle in the last three games. Kindree is also riding a four game point streak, his longest of the season. 
• It is pivotal for that line to be going, taking some offensive heat off of the top line of Leif Mattson, Nolan Foote and Kyle Topping. Right now the third line is generating little, with 19 year-old Connor Bruggen-Cate marred in a 12 game goal scoring drought while Jack Cowell hasn't hit pay dirt in 10 games and  has only one in his last 13 games. Maybe that third line is just a checking line with no need to score? If that indeed is the case, then stay the course with what those 19 year-old players are contributing. It should come as no surprise than that the Rockets have only 71 goals this season, tied for fourth fewest in the WHL.   
• The team ended a stretch of playing 9 games in 16 days. Of those 9, seven were on the road. Now they get set for a home date against the Vancouver Giants Wednesday followed by another single game south of the border in Tri City on Friday. The team returns to Prospera Place to face the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday to open the month of December. 

Rockets and Royals rumble

Marrisa Baecker photo

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets take a four game home ice winning streak in tonight’s game against the Victoria Royals. The Rockets have beaten Swift Current (3-2), Prince George (4-3 OTW), Brandon (4-3) and Regina (3-2). Yes, all four games have been decided by a single goal. In fact, of the 10 home games this season, 6 have been decided by one goal. The Royals are making two appearances at Prospera Place in two weeks. Victoria is here again Friday December 7^th. These two teams are a combined 15-0-0-0 when carrying the lead into the third period. The Rockets are 8-0-0-0 when that happens. The Rockets have trailed going into the third period 13 times this season (1-11-1-0). The Rockets are in Everett tomorrow night before closing out the month of November Wednesday against visiting Vancouver. The team heads to Tri City to face the Americans one week from tonight. The Rockets are 6-3-1-0 in 10 games under Adam Foote. In the opening 10 games under Jason Smith, the team was 2-8-0-0.  

Digg’n Deeper: Liam Kindree leads the Rockets with 3+4=7 in the three games in the seasonal series vs. Victoria. Lassi Thomson and Nolan Foote also have 3 goals in the three games…Roman Basran has appeared in two games against the Royals, posting an impressive 2-0-0-0 record with a goals against average of 1.50 and a save percentage of .933….The Rockets power play has been deadly against Victoria with 5 goals in 12 chances, for a whopping efficiency rate of 41.7%.

Broadcasters Notebook: Nolan Foote has the second most goals (15) of any 2000 born player in the WHL. Brett Kemp of Edmonton has 16 goals…Foote has scored 7 home goals and 8 road goals this season…Foote is three points shy (97) of 100 for his career…Kyle Topping plays in his 150^th career game tonight…6 of Topping’s 9 goals have come on the road…15 of Topping’s team leading 28 points have come on the road…Leif Mattson has gone 15 games without a goal… Nolan Foote turns 18 on November 29^th …Four members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s November “Players to Watch’ List. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first round candidate. Kaedan Korczak is a ‘B’ prospect which means he is a second or third round candidate. Roman Basran/Lassi Thomson are ‘C’ prospects, which means he could be taken in the third to the seventh round…Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith…Leif Mattson earned his 100^th career point with an assist Wednesday vs. Regina. 

Trade Winds: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Wil Kushniryk to the Tri City Americans October 22, 2018 for a 5^th round bantam pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old defenceman Dalton Galley October 10, 2018 from Medicine Hat for a 10^th round bantam pick. The hockey club acquired 18 year-old forward Michael Farren October 11^th from the Saskatoon Blades for a third round pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Lane Zablocki from Victoria for a conditional 7^th round and conditional 4^th round bantam draft pick on September 29^th.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)

Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)

Fewest shots allowed: 20 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Last time shut out on road: November 10, 2018 @ Portland (3-0 L)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Roster Stats:

Player total: 24

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s (1998) – 3   Gally, Zablocki, Chizen

19’s (1999) - 5   Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell

18’s (2000) – 9  Farren, Thomson, Porter, Foote, Zabransky, Kindree, Brennan, Pow, Steffler,

17’s (2001) - 6   Korczak, Crosbie, Basran, Liwiski, Wilton, Augustine

16’s (2002) - 1   Ernst

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150

Rockets prepare for Pats

Head Coach Adam Foote

Game Day Preview: Welcome home! The Kelowna Rockets return home for the first time in 8 games when they host the Regina Pats in the lone meeting of the season. The Rockets are enjoying playing 6 of their next 8 games at Prospera Place after completing their longest road trip of the season, going 2-3-1-0 on a 6 game in 9 night road trip. The team earned 3-1 wins in Seattle and Edmonton and suffered a 4-3 overtime loss in Prince George, earning 5 out of a possible 12 points. The Rockets host Victoria Friday before visiting the Everett Silvertips Saturday night. The team is 5-3-1-0 in 9 games under new head coach Adam Foote.   

Broadcasters Notebook: Lane Zablocki played 105 regular season games with the Pats (2015-2017) collecting 27+35=62 over that period….Erik Gardiner was acquired from the Pats November 30, 2016 in a deal that saw the team acquire James Hilsendager for defenceman Jonathon Smart. Smart was eventually dealt to the Kootenay Ice. Gardiner was the Pats second round pick in 2014...Rockets Athletic Therapist Scott Hoyer was born in Regina. Subsequently, Pats Athletic Therapist Greg Mayer was born in Kelowna…Nolan Foote has the same number of goals, 13, as he did a season ago. Foote had a career high 19 goals in his rookie season….Leif Mattson’s three assists in Edmonton Saturday gave him 99 career points…Mattson has gone 14 games without a goal…Nolan Foote has 95 career points…Foote had 6 goals in his opening 21 games as a rookie and had 5 goals in his opening 21 games in his sophomore season. This season, the third year forward has 13 goals in 21 games….Liam Kindree’s goals in Edmonton Saturday was his first in 10 games…Kyle Topping turned 19 on Sunday…Nolan Foote turns 18 on November 29^th …Four members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s November “Players to Watch’ List. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first round candidate. Kaedan Korczak is a ‘B’ prospect which means he is projected to be selected in the second or third round. Roman Basran and Lassi Thomson are ‘C’ prospects, which means he could be taken in the third to the seventh round…Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith.

Trade Winds: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Wil Kushniryk to the Tri City Americans on October 22, 2018 for a 5^th round bantam pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old defenceman Dalton Galley October 10, 2018 from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a 10^th round bantam pick. The hockey club acquired 18 year-old forward Michael Farren October 11^th from the Saskatoon Blades for a third round WHL bantam pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Lane Zablocki for a conditional 7^th round and conditional 4^th round bantam draft pick on September 29^th.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)

Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)

Fewest shots allowed: 20 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Last time shut out on road: November 10, 2018 @ Portland (3-0 L)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Roster Stats:

Player total: 24

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s (1998) – 3   Gally, Zablocki, Chizen

19’s (1999) - 5   Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell

18’s (2000) – 9  Farren, Thomson, Porter, Foote, Zabransky, Kindree, Brennan, Pow, Steffler,

17’s (2001) - 6   Korczak, Crosbie, Basran, Liwiski, Wilton, Augustine

16’s (2002) - 1   Ernst

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150

Lucky 13 to end the trip!

Panoramic view of Rockets dressing room in Edmonton

• 13. Yep, the Kelowna Rockets manufactured only 13 shots on goal Saturday night in a 3-1 road win in Edmonton. Few teams are able to win a game that way, but the road weary Rockets did. Catching the heavily favoured Oil Kings off guard, Nolan Foote struck for two goals and added an assists as the team ended a stretch of 6 games in 9 nights on a high note. I honestly thought it was a pretty gusty effort for a team that sent a message by not dressing two 19 year-old forwards and were coming off a 7-0 loss the previous night in Red Deer. In what can only be described as solid team play, the Rockets did what is needed when they are both fresher physically and mentally. I though the commitment to shot blocking and getting into shooting lanes was tremendous. Timely scoring, with Nolan Foote finding the back of the net :36 seconds apart in the second period didn't hurt. I also thought Roman Basran was money when the Oil Kings pulled its goalie with over two minutes left in the game and the road team holding on to a two goal lead. I am not sure what this win in particular did to the teams psyche, but I'd review the video tapes and say to the players, "This is how we have to play".   
• My only complaint in Saturday's win is the number of pucks directed towards the Oil King net. As you might expect, 13 is a season low for the Rockets. But that is getting very, very picky when you again take into account playing six games in 9 nights in five different cities. To be honest, I will take 13 quality shots over 30 from the perimeter that never have a hope and a prayer of going in. On this night, quality over quantity reined supreme for a team that hasn't enjoyed much puck luck this season.
• Nolan Foote's two goals gives him 13 on the season. That is the exact same total he scored a season ago. With 13 goals in 21 games, the about to turn 18 year-old has two more goals than Jamie Benn did at that same age. In 2007-2008, Benn, already drafted as Foote has a late birth-date, scored 33 times as an 18 year-old rookie. Foote has the benefit of playing in his third season in the WHL, but you get the idea of what type of offensive numbers the soft spoken forward is putting up this season. I still have Foote scoring 30+ goals this season and I am sticking to it. At 19, like Benn, Foote has to be pushing the envelope on 50 you would think? That's next year country though. Let's enjoy him for the player he is now!
• I was glad to see Leif Mattson shine offensively in Saturday's game. With a goal taken away and credited to Foote, the 19 year-old had three assists. It is only a matter of time before he snaps a 14 game goal scoring drought. What really matters is he hit the score-sheet on all three goals. If you are 19, specifically on this team, you need to produce scoring chances or do something that shows you are worthy of being in the line-up. If you can't, why not play younger forwards who can grow and mature and are willing to play the way head coach Adam Foote wants them to play? 
• I am still a believer that the Rockets have to win the 2-1, 3-1 and 3-2 games.Tight, lower scoring games need to be the norm for this team to have success. Both wins on the road were 3-1 victories. The game in Prince George, which they should have won in regulation time, was a 4-3 overtime loss. If you ask head coach Adam Foote, he would suggest Sunday's 4-2 setback in Portland was also a gettable game. I thought too the team had a good chance of earning two points, which again was a great bounce back game after losing the previous night to the Winterhawks by a score of 3-0.
• I sure liked the success the penalty killing unit had on the trip. In only one of the six games did they surrender two goals against. Not surprisingly it happened in the 7-0 loss in Red Deer. Facing two of the best power play units in the league (Portland/Edmonton), the team was 6 for 6 against Portland in game one, 4 for 4 in game two against the Winterhawks and 5 for 5 against the Oil Kings.
• One thing that can be easily overlooked on this road trip is health. The team suffered no significant injures. That is tough to do, but the team came away with a bump and a bruise but no long term injuries. Knock on wood, that is big for any team, but specifically for one that has some depth issues.
• While I don't play favourites, I have to admit 20 year-old Dalton Gally is really growing on me. Gally has it figured out. Mature beyond belief, his heart felt answers on pre-game interviews shows how intelligent he is, how much he wants to win and how great of a leader he truly is. A castoff of the Medicine Hat Tigers, I can't remember the last player acquired through trade that had these type of leadership qualities? Again, this is coming from a defensive defenceman who is dependable and isn't fooling himself on the way he must play to be effective. I think he has captain written all over him. The last defensive d-man to wear the 'C' on his jersey was Brett Palin. Gavin McLeod too was a nice choice when I first called games for the team in 2000-2001. In speaking to Gally after Friday's 7-0 loss to Red Deer he told me, "He was embarrassed". I just love the fact he cares so much. 
• Gally was telling me that he routinely writes in a journal and gets his thoughts on paper. Gally first got the idea from mental performance coach Bob Wilkie. Wilkie, a former teammate of Dan Lambert with the Swift Current Broncos, is the president of I Got Mind. Check out the website at igotmind.ca. Gally says using the journal and having dialogue with Wilkie has really improved, not only his mental game, but his physical game. It almost looked odd to see Gally writing in his journal in the lobby of an Edmonton hotel while fellow teammates had their eyes glued, like any typical teenager, to their cellphones. 
• They say a road trip like this can bring a team together, and despite a lack of  success on the ice, I have to agree. Many laughs were shared along the way. Whether its telling jokes on the bus, having lunch with teammates on an off day, or just chilling out in a hotel room, these are valuable times for a team that has seen vast changes under a new head coach.   
• A quick tip of the hat, or is it a honk of the horn to bus driver Greg Link? Often forgotten by some, Link's work over the last 10/11 days was rock solid. A steady hand behind the wheel on that treacherous drive from Edmonton to Red Deer on Saturday must be tough on the nerves.We have the easy part of just sitting back and relaxing and seeing semi truck after semi truck sitting idly by in the snowy ditch. Outside of a change-over of drivers at 100 Mile House, with Mel Billings driving the rest of the way to Prince George, Greg Link was behind the wheel for the majority of the 3000+ clicks.   
• Oh, before I forget, Rockets assistant coach Kris Mallette rolled the dice when he decided to get team accommodations at Delta Hotels by Marriott Edmonton Centre Suites. What an outstanding hotel. Home run. Do I dare say the best on the circuit? Much, if not all of the rooms have been renovated and the glass shower was amazing. They treated us like gold. I want to throw an endorsement out there if you want to stay in downtown Edmonton, only a five minute walk from Rogers Place. Stay there and reward yourself!
• After spending 10 or 11 days on the road, it is great to be back home. It is nice to know 6 of the next 8 games will be played at Prospera Place. Sure, we have road games in Everett this Saturday and a one gamer in Tri City in two weeks, but sleeping in your own bed before a four game road trip before Christmas will be a nice reprieve. 

Fatigue evident in shutout loss

Photo - Rob Wallator

• The Red Deer Rebels are a good looking team. When fatigued, the Kelowna Rockets are not. Plain and simple, the visiting team that showed up last night at the Enmax Centrium was nowhere close to how they typically play when more gas is in the tank. The end result was a clear indicator of who was fresh and who was road weary. 7-0. It wasn't even close. I don't want to take anything away from the Rebels, who are solid and well coached, but this had blowout written all over it before the puck was even dropped. The Rockets were playing game 5 of a 6 game in 9 night road trip that had the team travel through the night - twice. The 13 hour bus trip from Portland to Prince George had fatigue written all over it, but only a day between games in 'Cougar Country' on Wednesday and Friday's game in Red Deer compounded matters.  An 8 hour excursion from Prince George to Edmonton with little time to recover had the road team at a distinct disadvantage. Bus sleep is not bed sleep. Sorry, it is not. And yes, teenagers are affected as much as adults despite the misconception that players between the ages of 16 and 20 are invincible. Mental fatigue was clearly evident last night when the Rockets surrendered two shorthanded goals. That was a real indicator of how this road trip has taken its toll. The team lost for the 4th straight time and are now 1-3-1-0 on the swing, with the lone win coming in game one, when the team was fresh after a 3-1 victory in Seattle. 
• The Rockets have been shut out three times this season and twice in the last four games. The team lost 3-0 in Portland on Saturday. 
• The opening 10 minutes were relatively even, and the hope was the Rockets could grind through the game by getting an odd bounce and keep it close. The Rebels made sure that didn't happen by scoring a shorthanded goal to take a 1-0 lead. The rout was on. The Rebels had more jump. More energy. The passing was crisper. The execution was superior and the home teams best players made a massive impact. All three of the Rebels 20 year-old's scored. In fact, seven different player hit the score-sheet with goals as they rolled to their 8th straight home ice win.
• Head Coach Adam Foote changed goaltenders, replacing James Porter with Roman Basran, but when their is no gas in the tank, pull as hard as you want on the recoil starter rope, the lawn mower ain't starting.  I don't blame the coach for making the move to get a spark. Why wouldn't he?
• It's been a rough road trip for the Rockets top players. With only 8 goals in the last 5 games, if Kyle Topping, Leif Mattson and Nolan Foote aren't scoring, the teams lack of depth really shows. Topping has points in only two of the five games on this trip. Mattson has just two assists in the five games while Nolan Foote has one goal. I am not blaming these players, I am just stating the fact that if fresh, those offensive numbers would be considerably better as that trio would be making a far greater impact in the game.  
• Love the Enmax Centrium. Such a terrific place to call a game. Excellent sight lines. One of the best junior rinks on the circuit. The 52 steps to get to the broadcast booth is painful, but the location to call the games is well worth the hike. 
• Tip of the hat to the PA announcer in Red Deer. Really like his delivery on the goal scoring summary announcements. Never over the top crazy when the home team scores or sounding like his dog died when announcing the Rockets goals, he kept it right in the middle and sounded like a true pro. Small detail, but terrifically executed. 
• Rockets are back in Edmonton for tonight's final game of the road trip. The hockey club has traveled an astonishing 2,998 kilometers to this point. The Oil Kings own the best power play unit in the WHL on home ice. The key is to stay out of the box. The task becomes even harder when your legs are sluggish and your body won't move to pucks as quickly as if you were fresh. Staying out of the box will be pivotal for the Rockets to end off the road trip on a positive note. 
• We are on the air this afternoon at 5 pm from Rogers Place with the Kelowna Rockets This Week. Typically recorded, we will do the show live with special guest Jeff Finley. Finley is a former Kelowna Rockets assistant coach and now has the pleasure of watching his 16 year-old son play in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs. Talk to you at 5 pm Pacific Standard time.   

Rockets vs. Rebels

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play game five of a six game road trip tonight in Red Deer. This is the lone meeting of the season. Last season the Rockets met the Rebels twice, winning 5-2 (November 11, 2017) before suffering a 3-2 overtime loss in Red Deer (January 27, 2018). Kole Lind would score the tying goal with :33 seconds left in regulation time before the Rebels would win it in overtime. The Rockets are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Prince George Wednesday night. Kyle Topping, Erik Gardiner and Lane Zablocki scored in the loss. The Rockets are 1-2-0-1 in the opening four games of the road trip, which concludes tomorrow night in Edmonton. The Rockets return home to host the Regina Pats on Wednesday November 21^st.   

Broadcasters Notebook: The Rockets have just four players from Alberta. Lane Zablocki is from Wetaskawin. Braydyn Chizen is from St. Albert. Cayde Augustine was born in Airdrie while Kyle Crosbie is from Didsbury…Lassi Thomson is the top scoring rookie defenceman in the WHL with 7+9=16 in 21 games….Mark Liwiski leads WHL rookie with 13 minor penalties…Kyle Topping lead the team with a +7 rating….Leif Mattson leads the team in shots (78) followed by Nolan Foote (73)…Kyle Topping had his 12 game point streak snapped last Saturday in Portland…Nolan Foote had his 6 game goal scoring streak snapped in that same game….The Rockets are in the midst of playing in 11 games in 22 days to conclude the month of November….Kyle Topping turns 19 on November 18^th…Nolan Foote turns 18 on November 29^th…Nolan Foote played in both games for Team WHL against the Russian Selects in back-to-back games Monday in Kamloops and Tuesday in Vancouver…Four members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s November “Players to Watch’ List. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first round candidate. Kaedan Korczak and Lassi Thomson are ‘B’ prospect which means he is projected to be selected in the second or third round. Roman Basran is a ‘C’ prospect, which means he could be taken in the third to the seventh round…Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith. Foote earned his first WHL coaching victory that night in the Rockets 3-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos. Foote played 1,154 games in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Quebec Nordiques. Foote is also a two time Stanley Cup champion. 

Trade Winds: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Wil Kushniryk to the Tri City Americans on October 22, 2018 for a 5^th round bantam pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old defenceman Dalton Galley October 10, 2018 from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a 10^th round bantam pick. The hockey club acquired 18 year-old forward Michael Farren October 11^th from the Saskatoon Blades for a third round WHL bantam pick. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old Lane Zablocki for a conditional 7^th round and conditional 4^th round bantam draft pick on September 29^th.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 21 vs. Vancouver October 3rd, 2018 (5-0 L)

Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)

Fewest shots allowed: 20 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Last time shut out at home: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Last time shut out on road: November 10, 2018 @ Portland (3-0 L)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Roster Stats:

Player total: 24

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s (1998) – 3   Gally, Zablocki, Chizen

19’s (1999) - 5   Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell

18’s (2000) – 9  Farren, Thomson, Porter, Foote, Zabransky, Kindree, Brennan, Pow, Steffler,

17’s (2001) - 6   Korczak, Crosbie, Basran, Liwiski, Wilton, Augustine

16’s (2002) - 1   Ernst

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150

Road rash

• Thankfully, the Kelowna Rockets don't have many 13 hours bus trips to deal with over the course of the Western Hockey League regular season. They have just one. That said, one can only appreciate what the Prince George Cougars go through every time they leave the warm confines of the CN Centre. What stares them in the face is a return trip home. The Rockets completed its longest continuous bus ride through the night following a 4-2 loss in Portland Sunday. The team bused all the way up to the furthest northerly outpost in the WHL. Thirteen hours later, with no snow to deal with, the team arrived early Monday morning in the city of 74 thousand. With two night's to recover, the team will do its best to snap a two game losing streak when they face the Cougars Wednesday night. While it is only 20 games into the season, points are valuable for a Rockets team that continues to evolve under new head coach Adam Foote. Foote wants his team to play a certain way. The 47 year-old knows for the team to have significant success they need to play to their strengths, and not a single day goes by where teaching isn't an integral  part as Foote's puts his stamp on this team. 
• Coming off a 4-2 loss to Portland Sunday, it is hard not to see positives in the teams 12th loss of the season. Despite being scored upon first, which has been a common theme this season, the visitors showed remarkable resilience by getting numerous scoring chances including a clear cut breakaway from Liam Kindree (denied) and Leif Mattson with a partial breakaway later in the game (denied). Mark Liwiski and Kyle Crosbie scored against a Winterhawks team that has shown they are one of the quickest in the Western Conference. 
• The Rockets penalty killing unit had a real good weekend against the best power play in the WHL. The PK went 10 for 10 against a Winterhawks five man unit that can move the puck around with authority. The passing is often mesmerizing, specifically when Cody Glass and Joachim Blichfeld are on the ice. It is fun, yet scary to watch. I often find Portland's power play so skilled, they overpass and complicate things. Just shoot it!  
• Again, Sunday's loss was a far better effort from the night previous where the Rockets surrendered 50 shots on net and hardly touched the puck. I am sure the Winterhawks also took the Rockets significantly lighter after beating them the night before 3-0. Again, Sunday's loss should be a building block heading into the remainder of this trip. 
• The teams record after 20 games this season is 8-12-0-0. After 20 games last season it was 11-6-2-1.
• How can gas prices be 125.9 cents a litre up here in Prince George, yet significantly higher in Kelowna?
• It is hard to imagine it is November 13th in Prince George with little to no snow. When we arrived, only snow was evident on the grassy areas and on the outlying hills and trees. The streets are completely void of snow. It is spectacular with temperatures above the freezing mark for the remainder of the week. I expect significantly colder temps when we return for two games in January (Jan 11th and 12th).   

Cinderella start ends in Portland

Keith Dwiggins Photo

• You had to know the Cinderella start for new head coach Adam Foote would eventually end. The glass slipper would eventually fall off his Foote. Sorry, I had to go there. After leading the Kelowna Rockets to four straight wins after taking over from Jason Smith, things went sideways last night in a 3-0 loss to the Portland Winterhawks. The Winterhawks, winners of four straight games, showed why they again are one of the top teams in the Western Conference this season. While lacking scoring depth, head coach Mike Johnston is able to ride skilled players like Joachim Blichfeld and Cody Glass when a goal is needed. Those two have tremendous chemistry and appear to be able to turn the switch on and off when it comes to generating scoring chances. Both play a ton. Blichfeld and Glass each had 1+2=3 in the shutout win before a big crowd of over 77 hundred at the Moda Center. The two teams do it all over again today, this time at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in the rematch. It only seems fitting to play in the old barn with this being November 11th - Remembrance Day! 
• While Blicheld and Glass were establishing offensive dominance, the Rockets top point producers were relatively quiet. It may have been a case of not having the puck much and being forced to play defense the majority of the night. The Winterhawks had the puck a lot and the Rockets were often seen skating in an attempt to get it back. Kyle Topping had his 12 game point streak snapped while Nolan Foote saw his 6 game goal scoring streak come to an end. With Topping and Foote essentially nullified in the attacking zone, Winterhawks goalie Shane Farkas made just 26 saves in likely his easy shutout of his career. 
• The Rockets were not shut out last season on the road. The team hadn't been shut out on opposition ice since a 6-0 loss in Kamloops on February 8, 2017. 
• Down 2-0 in the second period, the Rockets had a chance to get back in the game when the Winterhawks took two penalties to give the visitors a 5 on 3 power play. Instead of scoring though, Kyle Topping took a tripping penalty on the ensuing face-off only four seconds later and the chance of making it a one goal game was quickly erased.
• Who was the best Rockets forward? I thought Erik Gardiner was the most engaged and had a good shot block on a Portland power play.
• For the first time this season we saw a team given two penalties in the same game for embellishment. Joachim Blichfeld was lite on his skates in the second period and Cody Glass went down easily in the third period. Someone has clearly complained to the WHL head office about the Winterhawks players trying to fool the referee's by slipping on banana peels on the ice. It also comes with the territory when you own the best power play unit in the league and have been granted the most chances (99) with the extra man. 
• It was nice to chat with Don Hay before the game. One of my favourite coaches to interview, I've always been a fan of the 64 year-old, who has turned back time by staying in great physical shape. Always engaging, it seems odd to see him as an assistant coach at the WHL, but I am glad he is able to do something he enjoys. I will admit it is odd seeing him behind the Winterhawks bench and not making the primary decisions, but instead providing a helping to head coach Mike Johnston. Hay didn't hide the fact that this season is a trial period to see if he likes the job. One thing is clear, Hay is with an awfully good organization in one of the best cities on the circuit.   
• Love the Moda Center. Absolutely love it. It is really a big game venue. It has the feeling of pro written all over it. And it should considering it is the home of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. The Winterhawks should feel blessed to play a game in that wonderful building, that always has unmatched energy with 77 hundred fans enjoying the game experience and letting go of their inhibitions. On some night's, the score-clock, which is as big as a house, is often the star. If you have a zit on your nose, the clarity of that video screen at the Moda Center would show it. 
• I count 18 scouts that the Portland Winterhawks employee. 18! That isn't normal. The Winterhawks must have the biggest stable of eyes looking for talent on the 22 team circuit. Whoever is the European scout, you may take a bow sir!          
• We will talk to you on the radio this afternoon at 4:30 pm with the pre-game show. It is an early start this afternoon. The last 72 hours have been start times of 7:35 in Seattle (Friday), 6:05 pm in Portland (Saturday) and now 5:05 pm (Sunday). 

Rockets open roady in Seattle

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets open a six game road trip tonight in Seattle against the T-Birds. This is the third meetings of the season between the two teams. The Rockets suffered a 4-1 loss at ShoWare Center back on October 6^th. The Rockets trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes and fired 45 shots on net but only Kyle Topping was able to score. On October 10^th, the T-Birds earned a 9-6 win. Leif Mattson had 2+2=4 in the setback. Following tonight’s game, the two teams close out the seasonal series in Kelowna January 30^th. The Rockets enter the game riding a season high three game winning streak. All three wins have been decided by a single goal including a 4-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings Saturday at Prospera Place. Kyle Topping scored the game winner. This is game one of six straight on the road. The team is in Portland for back-to-back games tomorrow and Sunday before traveling to Prince George for a game Wednesday and then two games in Alberta, with stops in Red Deer and Edmonton. 

Broadcasters Notebook: Kyle Topping is riding an 11 game point streak. Topping has 6+10=16 over that period….Forward Nolan Foote played for Team WHL in the 2018 CIBC Canada/Russia series earlier this week in Kamloops and Vancouver….Nolan Foote has 8 goals in his last 7 games…The Rockets have 931 wins as a franchise since relocating from Tacoma to Kelowna for the 1995-96 season …Five members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s “Players to watch’ list. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first round candidate. Kaedan Korczak is a ‘B’ prospect which means he is projected to be selected in the second or third round. Roman Basran, Kyle Topping and Lassi Thomson are ‘C’ prospect, which means they could be taken in the third to the seventh round…. The Rockets have failed to open the scoring in 12 of the 17 games this season….The Rockets have trailed going onto the third period in 10 of the games 17 games….Connor Bruggen-Cate has points in 5 of his last 9 games (2+5=7)…Kaedan Korczak has points in 6 of his last 8 games (2+6=8)…Liam Kindree has points in 5 of his last 6 games (2+9=11)….Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith. Foote earned his first WHL coaching victory that night in the Rockets 3-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos. Foote played 1,154 games in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Quebec Nordiques. Foote is also a two time Stanley Cup champion. 

Trade Winds: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Wil Kushniryk to the Tri City Americans on October 22, 2018 for a 5^th round bantam pick. Kushniryk was pointless in four games this season. The Rockets acquired 20 year-old defenceman Dalton Galley October 10, 2018 from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a 10^th round bantam pick. The hockey club acquired 18 year-old forward Michael Farren October 11^th from the Saskatoon Blades for a third round WHL bantam pick. The Rockets also made a trade with the Victoria Royals Saturday September 29^th. The team acquired 20 year-old Lane Zablocki for a conditional 7^th round and conditional 4^th round bantam draft pick.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L)

Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October 6th, 2018 (4-1 L).

Fewest shots on net: 21 vs. Vancouver October 3rd, 2018 (5-0 L)

Most shots allowed: 39 @ Prince George September 29th, 2018 (5-2 W)

Fewest shots allowed: 20 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Last time shut out: October 3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)  

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power play.

Most power play goals scored: 4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)

Roster Stats:

Player total: 24

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s (1998) – 3   Gally, Zablocki, Chizen

19’s (1999) - 5   Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell

18’s (2000) - 9   Farren, Thomson, Porter, Foote, Zabransky, Kindree, Brennan, Pow, Steffler,

17’s (2001) - 6   Korczak, Crosbie, Basran, Liwiski, Wilton, Augustine

16’s (2002) - 1   Ernst

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150