Rockets open unofficial second half vs. Blazers

Devin Steffler - Shoot the Breeze Photo

·     Tonight’s Preview: Welcome back to the unofficial second half of the season for the Kelowna Rockets. The team has played 32 games to this point, sporting a record of 18-11-1-2. That is good for second place in the BC Division, 6 points back of first place Kamloops in the BC Division (Rockets have one game in hand) and three points up on third place Victoria (Royals have one game in hand). The Rockets face the Kamloops Blazers tonight in the 6th time this season. The Rockets are just 1-3-1-0 in the five previous games, with three of them decided by a single goal including a 4-3 win back on November 16^th.  The Rockets are in a portion of their schedule playing 6 consecutive home games against teams in the BC Division. After tonight’s game, the team is in Vancouver (Langley) tomorrow night before welcoming Prince George Monday (7 P.M) December 30^th.   

·         Senior Citizens Settle in:  The two newest members of the team made their home debuts before the Christmas break. Matthew Wedman, acquired in a trade with Seattle December 5th, showcased his talents in front of the home town faithful on December 18th. The 20 year-old led the T-Birds in scoring last season with 40+37=77 and played 275 games in a Seattle uniform. Twenty year-old d-man Conner McDonald also made his debut December 18^th with three assists in a 4-3 loss to visiting Vancouver. McDonald was obtained from the Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday night. McDonald scored 19 goals back on the blue-line last season, which was the second highest total only behind Giants rearguard Bowen Byram.   

·         The Price is Right: The Rockets also completed a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors November 24^th by acquiring 20 year-old Jadon Joseph. Joseph was a member of the Vancouver Giants last season that went all the way to the WHL final. Joseph has 58 games of playoff experience under his belt, the most on the Rockets roster.     

·         Broadcasters Notebook: Nolan Foote is playing for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships, becoming the 18^th player in the organization to do so….10 of the Rockets last 11 games have been decided by one goal…The Rockets have played in 18-1 goal games this season, the most in the WHL…. Roman Basran was named the WHL Eli Wilson goaltender of the week in back-to-back weeks ending December 1st…Nolan Foote was named the 25^th captain in franchise history (Tacoma/Kelowna) October 18th…The Rockets have played in a Western Conference high 19 road games.  

Rockets don't cower with less than loaded lineup

• 12 points up for grabs. 8 collected. Cha Ching! The Kelowna Rockets completed its longest road trip of the season in fine form Saturday night in Moose Jaw with a 5-4 overtime win. A loss against the Warriors would have stung. The trip would have only been regarded as partially successful had that happened, considering the team roared out of the gates with three straight wins (PA/Saskatoon/Brandon). Had the team lost three in a row to end the trip, the bus ride home, while still painful, would have felt twice as long. The good news was Kaedan Korczak didn't allow that to happen. The 18 year-old (turns 19 in late January) scored a massive shorthanded goal in the third period and then scored the game winner in overtime. The Rockets left Mosaic Place with a 4-2-0-0 record while claiming the final game of the road trip without five regulars in the lineup. One word - impressive.
• Not once on this swing did the team play with a full lineup. A 2-1 win in Prince Albert had rookie sensation Pavel Novak serving the 7th game of an 8 game suspension. Since the 17 year-old dynamo has been serving his sentence, the power play has really gone flat. When he finally returned Tuesday in Brandon, the power play unit got kicked in the teeth again with the loss of Nolan Foote to the world junior's. It was believed Dillon Hamaliuk, who missed the opening two games with illness would return for the games in Manitoba, but the team sent out a news release saying the 19 year-old was fighting a virus and wouldn't play at all on the trip. Another blow and more adversity for a team who did get an injection of hope before the trip began when GM Bruce Hamilton made a significant trade acquiring 20 year-old forward Matthew Wedman. Wedman played in every game on the trip, providing some spark offensively while taking massive pressure away from several players that just aren't ready for prime time.
• Novak had four points (2+2=4 in four games) on the road trip. That's impressive when you consider his age. I really like him. While quiet on the bus, his teammates love him and I think he really loves playing here in North America. I sit right across from him on the team bus and he often has a smile on his face. I'm glad that he is happy with his decision to play in Kelowna and that its met his expectations. Novak has far exceeded mine.  
• Grinding through four games in five night's, the team suffered another blow Friday when 19 year-old Sean Comrie separated his shoulder after crashing into the end boards in a disappointing 4-3 loss to the lowly Regina Pats. The result at the Brandt Centre was the low point of the trip, where I thought the team looked as gassed as they did two days prior in a 3-1 setback in Winnipeg. Losing Comrie for the last game of the trip was a setup for disaster, or so many thought. Thankfully several players stepped up to earn their 18th win of the season. Take a bow Michael Farren and Alex Swetlikoff. 
• Kaedan Korczak led the Rockets with 8 points in 6 games. The defenceman looked especially good in Regina and Moose Jaw, but those two teams are at the bottom of the Eastern Division standings. The second round draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights often dominated. End to end rushes were common place, and really for the first time since I saw him skate on WHL ice, the Yorkton, Saskatchewan product looked like a gifted offensive d-man. Last season he could sit back and watch Lassi Thomson let loose with the puck, but with the Ottawa Senators first rounder applying his trade in Finland, Korczak has accelerated his offensive play. Will it work against better teams is the question mark. Against weaker teams, Korczak was able, for the most part, to cover up high risk mistakes. I would think more caution will be needed against top end teams that make you pay for any misgivings you make that could be considered as high risk plays. In my opinion he was the best player on the ice in the final two games and looked the freshest physically. 
• Alex Swetlikoff had a fairly decent road trip. Required to play bigger minutes, the 18 year-old had a three point game in Moose Jaw (1+2=3) and had several quality chances to score in Regina the night prior. With 22 shots on net in the six games, that's a great sign for a player who has equaled his point total from all of last season. The only thing he needs to do is play a more pissed off game. Play to your size. Nope, fighting is not what I am suggesting, but get involved physically and play a bigger man's game. At 6'4 and 190 pounds, that size is ideal in the centre ice position if he plays with power. My suggestion is watch Matthew Wedman. Play like Matthew Wedman. Be a mirror image. 
• The goalies saw time between the pipes on the trip. Both had ups and downs. Roman Basran was solid in the opener in Prince Albert and was the first star in a surprising win in Brandon. Against lesser teams, the 18 year-old struggled by allowing 4 goals in back to back games against the Pats and Warriors. That said, a massive paddle save in the third period in Moose Jaw could have been considered a game saver. Cole Schwebius let in a softy against Winnipeg, but rebounded nicely with solid stops to keep the score close. I love Schwebius' mental resilience.  
• Only once in the six games were the Rockets able to carry the lead into the third period. That happened in Prince Albert with a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes. In five games they either trailed or were tied (1-1 with Brandon in game three) going into the final frame. 
• Is it any surprise with the players out of the lineup that 5 of the 6 games on the Eastern Division swing were decided by one goal? The Rockets have played in a WHL high 17-1 goal games this season. Without Kyle Topping, Liam Kindree, Dillon Hamaliuk and  missing leading scorer Nolan Foote for four games really hurt the teams ability to generate quality scoring chances. With Pavel Novak missing in action against the Raiders and Blades, it was easy to accept the team wasn't going to blow the doors off of anyone. 
• The toughest part of the trip came at the conclusion of the overtime win in Moose Jaw. The team made a trade, acquiring 20 year-old Conner McDonald from the Edmonton Oil Kings for a first and third rounder. Considered an overpayment, the move had to be made to find a d-man who can quarterback the power play. Kaedan Korczak can play a role on it, but they need someone else to fill the massive void left by Lassi Thomson. McDonald is that guy after scoring 19 goals last season. The sad part was saying goodbye to good guy Carsen Sass. Sass wasn't flashy in anyway, but Rockets head coach Adam Foote paid tribute to the player who changed the culture of the dressing room in the short time he wore Kelowna Rockets colours.                 
• So after copious amounts of time on the bus and kilometers under their belt, the team faces one last test before Christmas against the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday. No Nolan Foote. No Bowen Byram. After 18 days away from Prospers Place, it would be nice to see the team reward the fans with a win. Call it opening a Christmas gift early.

Road trip can go from good to great

• After two games this week in Manitoba, the Kelowna Rockets head back to Saskatchewan where it all began. The bi-annual trek through the prairies started last Friday with an upset of the defending WHL champion Prince Albert Raiders. With 6 games in 9 night's, I didn't project the team to win at the Art Hauser Centre. I also didn't envision a victory against high flying Brandon, but this group, which is playing without four of its top forwards, is finding lightning in a bottle. They are getting it done. Style points? No. Gutsy, gritty efforts? Yepper! Sure, a lackluster effort in Winnipeg Wednesday night put a blemish on the road trip, but two wins this weekend against Regina and Moose Jaw and the Memorial Cup hosts can head home with a 5-1-0-0 record. That would be spectacular and something I would have taken in a heartbeat when the team left Prospera Place 9 days ago.
• The Brandon win was an impressive one. The Wheat Kings were coming off a wild 5-4 shootout loss to the Kamloops Blazers five days prior. The Wheat Kings are like a race horse. The Rockets are like a Clydesdale that has superior pulling power. Sure, a little slower but tough to play against. I loved how the Rockets managed the clock, opened the scoring with the power play and kept within striking distance by getting the game into overtime. Starting goaltender Roman Basran weaved his magic by playing sharp before newly acquired Matthew Wedman scored the winner in the skills competition. From a purely tactical standpoint, it was executed pretty much to perfection.
• The game I questioned coming into the road trip was a stop in Winnipeg. While only separated by 213 kilometers (Brandon to Winnipeg), the team was playing back-to-back games and arrived at the hotel at 1 am in the morning to only magnified things. Plus, the Ice had won 7 straight at home and visiting team's, for whatever reason, struggle playing at the Wayne Fleming Arena. The Ice are now 11 and 4 in that antiquated facility. The Rockets looked out of sync. Tired possibly? A little apathetic maybe? The passing was off, the desperation wasn't there and Cole Schwebius, in his second start on this trip, would have had to been flawless for the visitors to escape with a victory. The Ice looked off too as the skill level was reduced with several key forwards absent from both rosters which resulted in  several trips to the penalty box and both teams combined for three too many men penalties. That is usually a sign of a lack of mental engagement when line changes should been pretty much seamless at this time of the season. The Rockets weren't good. It wasn't there night. While they were rolling with 5 straight road wins and points in 9 straight, you knew the dam would eventually break, which it did.
• So with 3 wins in 4 games with tons of travel, the team should have a good mindset heading into tilts with the Pats and Warriors to close out the trip. Both east division teams are struggling this season. The Rockets have 17 wins. Regina and Moose Jaw have 17 wins combined! Friday's opponent, the Pats, have 3 wins on home ice, the fewest (Red Deer has 3) in the WHL this season. If the Rockets play like they can, with Thursday to regroup despite a 6 hour bus ride from Winnipeg to Saskatchewan's capital, two points are attainable. Play like they did Wednesday and this trip turns from delicious to disappointing. Friday night's tilt is a biggy.                 
• I always think this road trip comes at just the right time. It allows many of the Rockets players to showcase themselves in front of family and friends. Many with son's from Saskatchewan and Manitoba follow the team along the way and it can't but provide a psychological lift for many of them. It was nice to run into the Wilton's and the Ernst's along the way. Both Dallon Wilton and Ethan Ersnt are playing with some added pop in their game on this road trip.
• It was nice to see rookie Pavel Novak return to the lineup Tuesday in Brandon. While assisting on a power play goal from Matthew Wedman to open the scoring, it will take the 17 year-old some time to regain the form he showed prior to an eight game suspension back on November 11th. It's a mental battle for a player who also can't wait to return to his home in the Czech Republic for Christmas.      
• Matthew Wedman has 1+2=3 in four games with his new team. The 20 year-old has also taken a penalty in all four games he has played. After failing to record a shot on goal in Prince Albert to start the trip, the 7th round NHL draft pick of the Florida Panthers has 14 shots in his last three games. Wedman is tied for the league lead in penalty minutes with 58. 
• Roman Basran has played in two of the four games, getting night's off against Saskatoon and Winnipeg. In his last 6 starts, the 18 year-old (doesn't turn 19 until July) has allowed one goal or less 5 times. You would think he will carry the mail the rest of the way with back-to-back starts this weekend. 
• It would be nice to see a few players finally score for the first time wearing Kelowna Rockets colours. Jadon Joseph has yet to score in five games with his new team while Devin Steffler and rookie Elias Carmichael have yet to light the lamp. It would be nice to see those three be rewarded against two of the weaker sisters in the WHL this weekend. 
• I will never forget defencive defenceman Cole Martin scoring his first career WHL goal in Regina in December of 2011. That night Martin had a goal and an assist and was named the third star. Martin would go on to score only 10 career goals in 280 games, but it was that night in Regina that things went wonderfully for him offensively. 
• When you are traveling as extensively as we have over the past week, practice time is kept to a minimum. To this point in the trip, with four games in six night's, the team has been on the ice only twice, with a practice in Strathmore Alberta on the way out here and a pre-game skate in Brandon before Tuesday's game at Westoba Place.
• The Rockets are within four points of the Blazers in the fight for first place in the BC Division heading into the weekend. The Rockets have the easier schedule. Kamloops closes the prairie road trip with stops in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.  

Prairie air is perfect!

• Maybe the cold prairie air isn't so bad? For the Kelowna Rockets, its darn right refreshing. Two games in the books and two victories. One in Prince Albert and the other in Saskatoon. Shucks, winning is fun, especially when its accomplished on the road. The Rockets are riding a season high four game road winning streak, having carved out wins over Seattle (3-2), Tri City (2-1), Prince Albert (2-1) and Saskatoon (4-3 in a shootout). The theme over those four games is a slim margin between winning and losing, but learning to play in those tight games, and winning them, is extremely valuable. Remember, this is all being accomplished essentially without Kyle Topping, Liam Kindree, Pavel Novak and most recently Dillon Hamaliuk. 
• Let's look back at Friday's win in Prince Albert. Sure, the Raiders didn't have their leading scorer in the lineup that night, but as mentioned, the visiting team didn't exactly have a loaded gun either. The Rockets really played that game they way they need too in order to beat a Raiders club that had previously lost only once at the Art Hauser Centre this season. The Rockets generated only 15 shots on net, but the Raiders took several foolish penalties and the visitors power play clicked at the most opportune time. 
• Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid had a great quote after the game, believing the referee's coward to Rockets head coach Adam Foote's every request. "There were three soft calls. They talked to him all night. I don't know if they (referee's) wanted his autograph because he is a Stanley Cup champion or what? It didn't look good. They talked to him all night. He ran line changes. He did whatever he wanted. He slowed the game down and they just let him do it. I don't know if they wanted his autograph or what the deal was"? That quote is gold...but it may get Habscheid fined. 
• A night later in Saskatoon, the Rockets were able to get a late third period goal to send the game into overtime before winning it in a shootout. The tying goal had some controversy surrounding it after Nolan Foote's follow through clipped Blades d-man Scott Walford. With the 20 year-old face down on the ice with blood visibly cascading on the ice, the Rockets maintained possession of the puck with Foote setting up rookie Trevor Wong for the equalizer. Should the play have been whistled down? It is at the discretion of the referee's, but because the Rockets maintained possession of the puck, play continued. It was Wong's first goal in 15 games.
• In the dying moments of regulation time, Blades 20 year-old Nolan Kneen made contact with forward Nolan Foote at the Rockets blue-line. Boarder line dirty, Foote went down and grimmest in pain as teammate Matthew Wedman engaged in a fight with Kneen, who felt obligated to answer the bell. Foote was able to skate off the ice and did return for overtime and the shootout while Wedman showed the organization his value by standing up for a teammate.
• Why did Rockets head coach Adam Foote elect to use 17 year-old Ethan Ernst in the shootout? Ernst has just one goal this season. The third round bantam pick has just two goals in 84 career WHL games. The fact is, in practice, where they work on these things, Ernst is pretty good at it. Boy, did he show quick, slick hands on the deke to score the game winning goal. Ernst had family and friends from Weyburn in attendance to cheer him on.
• It was nice to see Michael Farren score in his return to Sask-Tel Centre. The 19 year-old had a little more jump in his step against his old team and opened the scoring on a real nice individual effort. It has been tough for Farren to find traction in Kelowna after putting up a career high 11 goals with the Blades in 2017-2018. In his rookie year, again with Saskatoon, Farren had a career high 30 points, so much was expected from him to be an elite goal scorer. Turning 20 in April, the Richmound, BC product is looking forward to a strong second half. 
• The Rockets trailed 3-2 heading into the third period. It marked only the second time this season they were able to battle back and eventually win. The team is now 2 and 7 when trailing after 40 minutes.
• The most amazing statistic is this one. Without Pavel Novak in the lineup for 8 games (suspension), the Rockets went 7-0-0-1. At the time of his suspension, the 17 year-old was leading the team in scoring. Novak is back in the lineup Tuesday in Brandon.  
• The Rockets have points in 8 games (7-0-0-1) with 7 of the 8 decided by a single goal. The only game over that stretch not decided by one goal was a 4-1 victory over the Victoria Royals.
• Can we hand out the teams top defenceman award already. Kaedan Korczak is a slam dunk winner. 
• Most improved player? Jake Poole. I think he has come miles since he opened the season with the team. Tip of the cap to Poole for working on his game and the coaches for putting him into situations to succeed. It is hard for me not to believe that bigger is better. At 6'1 and closing in on 190 pounds, when 'big boy hockey' is required, those with a larger frame seem to really stand out.
• Speaking of 'big boy hockey', both games out here on this prairie road trip have been extremely physical. The timid and shy better sit this one out, as the Raiders and Blades were not scared to set the tone with hard hitting hockey. When the game gets a little greasy and board battles are the name of the game, the Rockets best defender for me is Jake Lee. Lee won't dazzle you with great foot speed or a pounding blast from the blue-line, but heck is he ever effective when bodies are flying everywhere and hard nosed play is required.
• You can tell the Rockets are playing a heavier game with the acquisition of Jadon Joseph and Matthew Wedman. The team looks visually bigger and those two players likely make everyone play with a little more courage and bite in their game.  
• The atmosphere in Prince Albert was really, really good. Winning helps that obviously and the fans up there deserve to support a winner and feel proud about their team. I went down during the first intermission and walked through the 'Ches Leach Lounge' where it was absolutely packed. Fans are wearing Raiders green and its really impressive to see. These are true, prairie hockey fans at its finest. It is an awesome spectacle. Good on ya Prince Albert.     
• The Blades game Saturday night featured a 'Girls Rock Night' theme. I liked it. I remember a similar event in 2011 when the Rockets paid a visit where Haley Wickenheiser was the featured guest. The best part of the event, in my opinion, was an 11 year-old girl introducing the Blades starting lineup over the PA system. Showing lots of enthusiasm, it was a nice change to the 34 home games the Blades play at Sask-Tel Centre. 
• It is off to Manitoba now for games in Brandon (Tuesday) and Winnipeg (Wednesday). The rest of the road trip will be played without leading scorer Nolan Foote (World Juniors), but Pavel Novak is back in the lineup and Dillon Hamaliuk is expected to return after an illness. I am told Tuesday night's low in Brandon is expected to be -28! Buckle up...here we go!    

Point taken!!

Jadon Joseph - Shoot the Breeze Photography

• Thankfully, Tuesday night's home game against the Edmonton Oil Kings wasn't Teddy Bear Toss Night. That would have been unfortunate. The good news is the promotion is planned for Saturday evening against the visiting Prince George Cougars. Last night at Prospera Place, the Rockets were held off the score sheet in a 1-0 shootout loss. This game was almost played to perfection by the home team, who didn't want to get into a track meet by exchanging scoring chances with an Oil Kings squad that likes to free wheel. Despite being out-shot 8-1 at one point in the first period, the best player on the ice, goaltender Roman Basran, stood tall and allowed his team to escape with a single point.      
• Scoring chances by either team were few and far between. That was good news for the Rockets, who are playing without Pavel Novak and Kyle Topping, two top 6 forwards, so a more structured defensive game is the best bet in earning a win. You have to play to your strengths right now, so the coaches deserve much credit for getting the players to buy-in to a more responsible style of play where puck management and shot blocking by the entire five man unit is key in keeping  within striking distance of the top teams in the WHL standings. Heck the Rockets are 4 points out of first place in the Western Conference standings. Not bad. Not bad at all. 
• While 60 minutes didn't decide anything, the overtime session, which is typically entertaining, was like watching paint dry. Three on three hockey produced little in the way of scoring chances as both teams looked more interested in settling things in the shootout. As my colour analyst Kent Simpson put it, "The shootout resembled a game of keep away".
• Jadon Joseph made his Rockets debut last night and didn't disappoint. The likable 20 year-old, who hasn't even practiced with his new team after being acquired from Moose Jaw on Sunday, showed some good offensive instincts in a game where execution in the offensive zone by either team was below average. Joseph did create and showed tremendous speed, specifically late in the third period. I like him. He will only get better, trust me.
• The Rockets did earn a point last night, so the gap between the first place Blazers is only down to one. Impressive considering, again, that the team is without two key forwards and they lost 19 year-old Liam Kindree to a second period upper body injury.
• Up next is a home date with the Prince George Cougars Saturday night at Prospera Place. Bring your Teddy!!!!         

Rockets acquire veteran forward

Jadon Joseph - Shoot the Breeze Photo

This deal makes a lot of sense. The Kelowna Rockets are better today with the acquisition of 20 year-old forward Jadon Joseph. Why? Joseph is an upgrade in one of three 20 year-old spots because of a higher skill set.  While Kolby Mohr was a solid character player, Joseph will bring more offensive punch to the lineup. Splitting time with three teams last season (Lethbridge/Regina and then Vancouver), Joseph scored a career high 22 goals. Not bad for a player who had to deal with new teammates on numerous occasions before helping the Giants to an appearance in the WHL final.

Joseph is a right handed centreman the team was looking for. How valuable is the right handed centreman? The team only has one when Ethan Ernst, a fourth line player, is used in that spot. Kyle Topping, Liam Kindree and Alex Swetlikoff all shoot left. Plus, Joseph is penciled into your top 6 forwards, taking significant heat off of Kindree and Swetlikoff to be point producers.

Some will suggest the price to acquire Joseph was steep. James Porter wasn't even with the team after he lost out in a bid for the backup goaltending duties to Cole Schwebius. Kyle Crosbie was often a health scratch while Kolby Mohr was more of a checking forward than a point producer. The third round pick is something the team will be able to recoup over the next two years.

Joseph also has bushels of playoff experience. The Sherwood Park Alberta product has 58 playoff games of experience under his belt, after going to the conference finals with Lethbridge and then as previously mentioned, helping the G-Men to last year’s WHL finals before losing in seven games to the Prince Albert Raiders. That's the most playoff games played of anyone on the Rockets roster.

Joseph will make his Kelowna Rockets debut Tuesday against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. 

Rockets look to rebound against Royals

Cole Schwebius - Shoot the Breeze Photo

·        Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets open a stretch of playing three games in four nights when they host the Victoria Royals at Prospera Place. The Royals make a return visit after handing the Rockets a 6-3 loss on November 6^th, the start of four straight losses. The road team has won two of the three games, with the Rockets also earning a point in a 4-3 shootout loss in Victoria on October 29^th. Two of the three games have been decided by a goal with the Royals out-scoring the Rockets 10-7. Pavel Novak (2+1=3) and Ethan Ernst (1+2=3) lead the team in points in the seasonal series. Cole Schwebius has appeared in two games against the Royals, once as a starter and the other in a relief appearance. The 18 year-old has a goals against average of 1.65. Roman Basran has an average of 4.74 in the seasonal series. After this game, the Rockets are off to the US Division where they visit Seattle (7:35 pm) Friday and Tri City (7:05 pm) Saturday night. The next home game is next Tuesday against visiting Edmonton in the teams’ third to last home date before the Christmas break.   

·        Who’s Hot: Alex Swetlikoff has goals in four of his last six games…Nolan Foote is riding a six game point streak (3+6=9)…Rookie Jake Poole has 1+3=4 in his last two games…Michael Farren has 2+7=9 in his last 9 games…Leif Mattson has three goals in his last six games.

·        Broadcasters Notebook: Michael Farren played in his 200^th career game Saturday against Kamloops…Pavel Novak is serving game one of an 8 game suspension issued by the WHL for a checking from behind major and game misconduct penalty Monday in Kamloops. Novak won’t return until December 10^th against Brandon…Leif Mattson is two games shy of 200 for his career…Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korczak played for Team WHL in the Canada-Russia Series. Foote had an assist on the tying goal Wednesday in Team WHL’s 2-1 overtime victory. Then in the rematch, Thursday, Nolan Foote scored twice in regulation time and then the shootout winner in a 4-3 victory…Pavel Novak remains a ‘C’ prospect for next June’s NHL Draft. Those new rankings were updated by NHL Central Scouting. A ‘C’ prospect is regarded as a player selected between the 5^th and 7th round. The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Montreal.

·        Player Move: The Rockets solidified the goaltending situation, sending 19 year-old James Porter to the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL. Porter was beat out for the backup job by 18 year-old Cole Schwebius. Porter played in 72 regular season games with the Rockets but was a healthy scratch for all 15 games this season. 

·        Sign here please: Dillon Hamaliuk signed an entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks October 25^th. Hamaliuk was chosen in the 2^nd round by the Sharks in June’s NHL Draft. The 19 year-old joins Nolan Foote, who was signed by Tampa Bay back on June 25^th.     

·        Nolan Named Captain: Nolan Foote was named the 25^th captain in franchise history (Tacoma+Kelowna) October 18th. Foote joins brother Cal, who captained the Rockets during the 2017-2018 season. Both are first round selections of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning too. The Rockets selected Foote in the second round, 42^nd overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. This is Foote’s fourth and likely final season in the WHL.    

Coaches can't win games, but calm demeanor may have been a factor

Adam Foote with assistant Vernon Fiddler - Shoot the Breeze Photo

Coaches can't win hockey games. Sure, they can be influencers, but it is the players on the ice that ultimately decide the outcome. That said, what Kelowna Rockets head coach Adam Foote did, or should I say didn't do, played a massive factor in last night's 4-3 win.
With the Rockets holding a 3-2 second period lead, defenceman Carsen Sass went back to retrieve a puck along the end boards in his own zone. Kamloops Blazers forward Ryley Appelt, chasing Sass from behind, slashed the 20 year-old's stick right out of his hands. The official, five feet away, didn't make what can only be described as a no-brainer call. The Blazers promptly controlled the puck and scored no less than 10 seconds after.
3-3.
The majority of the crowd was angry. Many, like us in the broadcast booth, were stunned at the no-call. But it was the reaction of Adam Foote on the Rockets bench that amazed me as the referee failed to put up his arm, whistle the play dead and issue Appelt a well deserved two minute minor penalty for slashing.
The often fiery Foote didn't holler or jump up and down like a little kid who had just had his favourite toy taken away from him. Foote, by the grace of the 'Hockey God's, found a quiet place within his body and didn't let frustration boil over.
He had all the right in the world to do so, but he didn't.
As intense as they come, Foote could have gone off the handle and subsequently rattled his own team in the process. Who knows, maybe he comes unglued to the point where he receives a bench minor for berating the referee and the Blazers score on the ensuing power play.
Game. Set. Match. Another loss.
It could have gone horribly wrong. Instead it went wonderfully right.
Foote's team was playing without Kyle Topping and Pavel Novak. Three of his best players had spent the week playing for Team WHL against the Russian Selects in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. The trio were not exactly fresh going into a game against a rival that has owned them this season. The Rockets had lost four in a row and four straight against the Blazers, so it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to come to the conclusion that the confidence level of his group was fragile.
Yet Foote calmly made his opinion known that a penalty should have been called despite the Blazers having a goal gift wrapped for them.
At periods end, Foote stayed on the bench and wanted to further get his disappointment across to the officials, yet essentially did it from 30 feet away with calm hand gestures that it was a blatant slash.
Did his demeanor play a factor in his teams ability to settle down, face even more adversity and eventually pull out the win with a gutsy third period goal of their own?
Yes.
In my opinion, this was Foote's greatest moment in his short tenure as a junior coach.
On this night it wasn't a player that won the game, it was the calm demeanor of its true leader, the head coach, that paved the way to victory.

The Rockets/Blazers rivalry renewed

Scottie Upshall then of the Kamloops Blazers 

Scottie Upshall remembers.
Devan Dubnyk does too.
Ask Erik Christensen about it.
All three former Kamloops Blazers likely had beads of sweat coming from their foreheads every time they faced the Kelowna Rockets.
Over a three year span, the Rockets owned them.
Owned.
The wins where often dominant from 2002 to 2005. The Rockets compiled a record of 20 and 6, which included a four game playoff sweep the year prior, as the Rockets advanced to the second round for the first time in franchise history. For good measure, the game four victory came in Kamloops in a 3-0 win played at the arena that was then known as Riverside Coliseum.
It was also the team's first playoff series win EVER over the Blazers, who were a power when the Rockets relocated to the Okanagan for the start of the 1995-96 season.
The games against the Blazers often looked easy against Scottie Upshall and company. A dynamic player in his junior days with a short temper, Upshall was often seen frustrated and headed to the penalty box or ejected from the game.
Even casual, wine glass toting Rockets fans knew him by name.
Goalie Devan Dubnyk was often forced to be at his stellar best in an effort to hold the fort against a Rockets team that was relentless.
Who will forget his 64 save performance in a rare win New Years Day in the winter of 2005. Dubynk should have received all three stars in a rare 4-2 victory.
Despite those dominant days, by the fall of 2006 the once intense rivalry was lost. It was dead. The Blazers likely believed it still existed, but it wasn't fun anymore. It was too one-sided. Beating the Blazers was getting old. It almost seemed routine.
The Rockets had moved on, looking for someone else to beat up on the scoreboard.
That was then.
This is now.
The shoe is on the other foot to a certain degree, with the Blazers winning more times than not over the last two seasons. The tables haven't totally turned though. The Rockets won all 8 games in the seasonal series in 2017-2018, but the Blazers will tell you that in the last 13 regular season meetings, they are 9 and 4 and have won 10 in a row (2 last season - 1 tiebreaker - 4 this season plus 3 preseason games).
What has the Blazers winning record against the Rockets meant in the grand scheme of things?
The rivalry is indeed renewed.
Does it match the animosity the Rockets have with the Victoria Royals thanks to several intense playoff match-ups? It's getting there, but for both teams it's good business in a time where attending junior hockey games is on the decline.
Since arriving in the Okanagan in the fall of 2000, my sense is Kamloops residents have a strong disdain for Kelowna. In layman's terms, I think they hate us more than we hate them.
Is it an inferiority complex?
Does it have anything to do with the Rockets hiring ex-Blazers head coach Marc Habscheid, who promptly guided the team to a Memorial Cup crown in 2004? Or was it hiring Blazers legend Ryan Huska, who went on to help the team win the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2009?
That likely didn't help.
Maybe it goes deeper than hockey?
Kelowna was awarded the Interior's only cancer clinic in 2010 over Kamloops. One practitioner at the time angrily suggested that provincial politicians thought "Kelowna was the centre of the universe".
What made matters worse was last October when Kelowna, not Kamloops, was awarded the host city for the 2020 Kia Memorial Cup.
Blazers fans would like nothing more than to have their team compete in the Memorial Cup at Prospera Place next May as WHL champions and spoil the party after losing out in the bidding process.
If that indeed happens, imagine the excitement that would accompany having those two organizations, in such close proximity to one another, fighting for major junior hockey's holy grail.
I never thought the 2004 Memorial Cup in Kelowna could ever be duplicated.
Never!
If the Kamloops Blazers are indeed one of four teams earning a spot at the prestigious event, the 10 day tournament will, without a shadow of a doubt, be the best hockey the Interior has ever seen.

Rockets look to snap streak vs. Blazers

Shoot the Breeze Photography

•    Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets will try to snap a season high three game losing streak this afternoon against the Kamloops Blazers. This is the fourth meeting of the season between the two teams with the Rockets sporting a record of 0-2-1-0 in the opening three games, having been out-scored 10-5 in the process. After this matinee affair, the two teams meet again this Saturday at Prospera Place. Over the last five seasons, the home team has dominated the seasonal series. The Rockets are 10-5-0-0 at Prospera Place yet are 6-8-2-1 at Sandman Centre. Kyle Topping, Liam Kindree, Nolan Foote and Leif Mattson lead the team in scoring in the seasonal series against the Blazers with two points each. Foote has yet to score a goal in the three games. The Rockets are coming off a 6-1 loss in Spokane Saturday night. Mark Liwiski scored the lone goal in the loss. The Rockets surrendered a season high 55 shot on goal in that game.

·       Player Move: The Rockets solidified the goaltending situation, sending 19 year-old James Porter to the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL. Porter was beat out for the backup job by 18 year-old Cole Schwebius. Porter played in 72 regular season games with the Rockets but was a healthy scratch for all 15 games this season. 

·      Sign here please: Dillon Hamaliuk signed an entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks October 25^th. Hamaliuk was chosen in the 2^nd round by the Sharks in June’s NHL Draft. The 19 year-old joins Nolan Foote, who was signed by Tampa Bay back on June 25^th.     

·       Nolan Named Captain: Nolan Foote was named the 25^th captain in franchise history (Tacoma+Kelowna) October 18th. Foote joins brother Cal, who captained the Rockets during the 2017-2018 season. Both are first round selections of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning too. The Rockets selected Foote in the second round, 42^nd overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. This is Foote’s fourth and likely final season in the WHL.    

·      Who’s Hot: The Rockets own the second best power play unit in the WHL with 20 goals this season. Only Medicine Hat and Kamloops (21) have scored more times…Alex Swetlikoff has goals in three of his last four games…Nolan Foote is riding a four game point streak (2+5=7)…Pavel Novak has points in 5 of his last 6 games (4+3=7). Novak leads the WHL in rookie scoring with 10+11=21…Leif Mattson has three goals in his last four games.

·      Broadcasters Notebook: Kobe Mohr plays his first game against his old team this afternoon. The 20 year-old played 73 regular season games with the Blazers and was in the lineup against Kelowna back on September 27^th….Leif Mattson is four games shy of 200 for his career….Equipment Manager Chaydyn Johnson has returned from the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat/Swift Current. Johnson was behind the bench of Team Red which placed 5^th…Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korczak will play for Team WHL this week in the Canada-Russia Series. The games are Wednesday and Thursday in Prince Albert and Saskatoon…Pavel Novak is a ‘C’ prospect for next June’s NHL Draft. Those rankings released by NHL Central Scouting. A ‘C’ prospect is regarded as a player selected between the 5^th and 7th round. The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Montreal.

Rockets look to continue solid play at home

·         Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets look to continue their winning ways tonight on home ice against the visiting Victoria Royals. The Rockets are 5 and 1 on home ice this season, with the only setback being a 5-2 loss to the Kamloops Blazers. Overall, the Rockets have out-scored the opposition 26-14 at Prospera Place and are one of only two teams in the Western Conference with only one home ice loss. The other is the Portland Winterhawks. The Rockets and Royals are meeting for the third time in 9 days, after completing a two game series in Victoria last Tuesday and Wednesday. The Royals were a 4-3 shootout winner before the Rockets rebounded with a 1-0 shutout win. After tonight, these two teams meet again November 20^th.  Following tonight’s game, the Rockets host Medicine Hat Friday before traveling to Spokane to face the Chiefs Saturday followed by a road date in Kamloops on Monday November 11^th – Remembrance Day.

·         Player Move: The Rockets solidified the goaltending situation, sending 19 year-old James Porter to the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL. Porter was beaten out for the backup job by 18 year-old Cole Schwebius. Porter played in 72 regular season games with the Rockets but was a healthy scratch for all 15 games this season. 

·         Sign here please: Dillon Hamaliuk signed an entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks October 25^th. Hamaliuk was chosen in the 2^nd round by the Sharks in June’s NHL Draft. The 19 year-old joins Nolan Foote, who was signed by Tampa Bay back on June 25^th.     

·         Nolan Named Captain: Nolan Foote was named the 25^th captain in franchise history (Tacoma+Kelowna) October 18th. Foote joins brother Cal, who captained the Rockets during the 2017-2018 season. Both are first round selections of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning too. The Rockets selected Foote in the second round, 42^nd overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. This is Foote’s fourth and likely final season in the WHL.    

·         Who’s Hot: Forward Pavel Novak has 9+10=19 in 15 games. Novak has 9 goals in his last 12 games and has points in eight of his last 11 games…Kaedan Korczak has 0+6=6 in his last 6 games and has points in five of his last six….Liam Kindree has 2+3=5 in his last eight games …Nolan Foote has 8 goals in his last nine games and has 12 multiple goal games over his career...Nolan Foote leads the team in shots on goal with 44. 

·         Broadcasters Notebook: Equipment Manager Chaydyn Johnson is a member of the off-ice staff for the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat and Swift Current, November 2^nd to 9^th. Johnson is behind the bench of Team Red ….Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korczak have been named to Team WHL for the upcoming Canada-Russia Series later this month. Those three will compete in two games against the touring Russian Selects in games in Prince Albert and Saskatoon…Roman Basran has started in 12 of 15 games this season…The Rockets are 4-4-1-1 in 10 attempts against BC Division teams this season, with three wins over Prince George and a victory over the Victoria Royals. 

No pity for PG

Shoot the Breeze Photography

• Every once in a while it's nice to have an offensive explosion. A chance to regain some confidence with the puck in a season where goal scoring doesn't exactly come easy. Sure, the Prince George Cougars were starting a third string goaltender with Taylor Gauthier hurt and Tyler Brennan at the Under 17's. Rookie Jacob Herman faced the fire in his WHL debut Friday night and the Kelowna Rockets took full advantage in a 6-2 home ice win. Pavel Novak scored three times and Nolan Foote collected four points (1+3=4) in the lopsided contest. Even newly acquired Kobe Mohr got into the act. More on him later. The only blemish was several players who struggle hitting the score-sheet didn't. Without Kyle Topping, its those players that need to pull harder on the rope for long term success.
• Pavel Novak again leads the WHL in rookie scoring. Where would the Rockets be without his sensational start? Likely in a lot of trouble. The 17 year-old (doesn't turn 18 until next April) has exceeded expectations. I thought he may turn it on after Christmas, but he is fast tracking to be considered a top 40 pick in next June's NHL Draft. He can shoot, pass and his play making ability is above average. The numbers don't lie baby!! Novak's hattrick marked the first time a Rockets European born player has scored three goals in a game since Calvin Thurkauf did it during the 2016-2017 season.
• Let's give credit where credit is due. Captain Nolan Foote is delivering. Outside of Novak, Foote is the most consistent offensive forward on the team. Foote should look like a first round NHL draft pick and did exactly that last night with a determined effort. I think his board battle work has improved significantly from a season ago and he is playing with more determination. Like Jamie Benn at 19, sometimes he blends in and isn't noticeable, but he had it going on Friday night and looked every bit an elite player.
• While Pavel Novak is a slam dunk for the teams rookie of the year award (yes, its only early November), but one player who has made big strides in the last three games is 19 year-old d-man Sean Comrie. I had high expectations for Comrie when he made the jump to the WHL, but it was a slow transition for a player who chose major junior over the NCAA route. I saw an uptick in his play in Victoria and I liked him last night. I asked at the start of the season if it would take him 10 games to get used to the league. At that time he was hoping a smooth transition would come sooner, but I'd suggest it didn't up until recently. Comrie defends well and likes to pull the trigger on the power play. The player has made some nice strides of late. 
• The power play feasted on the Cougars inept penalty killing unit...and it should. The Rockets power play is top five in the WHL and the five attackers they put on the ice should score more times than not. The unit went 3 for 4 and has scored the most power play goals (18) of any team on the circuit. 
• It was quite the day for 20 year-old Kobe Mohr. Acquired off waivers, Mohr flew into Kelowna at 11 am, met his new teammates, had a quick photo session, a radio interview and team meetings and then played a game. He went out and collected two assists in his debut. It was tough to evaluate his play in a game where his head must have been spinning. I think it will be better to get a gauge on him Wednesday when the feisty Victoria Royals are in town. I will say, in a pre-game interview, he said all of the right things which makes you believe Mohr only strengthens the dynamic in the Rockets dressing room.
• Where was the game lost for the Cougars? They likely could have made it a game had they scored on four power play chances in the first period. Instead they went 0 for 4 and it was pretty much downhill from there. The visitors just don't have the skill set to score a lot of goals. Outside of forward Josh Maser, who should have significant trade value, Prince George has scored the third fewest goals in the WHL.
• Now that the Rockets have won back-to-back games, can they win three in a row for the first time this season? They have a chance to improve their 5 and 1 home ice record when they meet the Royals for the third time in 9 days this Wednesday when the two teams collide at Prospera Place. 

Rockets face Cougars

·     

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets open the month of November with a home date with the visiting Prince George Cougars. The Rockets play 11 games during the month, with seven of those at home. The only four road games are in Spokane (November 9^th), Kamloops (November 11^th), Seattle (November 22^nd) before traveling to Tri City (November 23^rd). Tonight’s game is the start of three consecutive at Prospera Place, which includes a home date with visiting Victoria Wednesday and Medicine Hat next Saturday. This is fourth meeting of the season between the Rockets and Cougars. The Rockets are 2-1-0-0, with all three games in Prince George. The Rockets have won by scores of 2-1 and 4-2 before losing 4-1. Nolan Foote has 2+2=4 in three games against the Cougars while Pavel Novak has 2+1=3 in the three games. Roman Basran has played in all three games, posting a goals against average 1.68 and a save percentage .946….Liam Kindree and Carson Sass lead the team with +6 ratings.     

·        Sign here please: Dillon Hamaliuk signed an entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks October 25^th. Hamaliuk was chosen in the 2^nd round by the Sharks in June’s NHL Draft. The 19 year-old joins Nolan Foote, who was signed by Tampa Bay back on June 25^th.      

·         Nolan Named Captain: Nolan Foote was named the 25^th captain in franchise history (Tacoma+Kelowna) October 18th. Foote joins brother Cal, who captained the Rockets during the 2017-2018 season. Both are first round selections of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning too. The Rockets selected Foote in the second round, 42^nd overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. This is Foote’s fourth and likely final season in the WHL.    

·         Who’s Hot: Forward Pavel Novak has 6+9=15 in 14 games. Novak has six goals in his last 11 games and has points in seven of his last ten games…Kaedan Korczak has 0+5=5 in his last five games and has points in four of his last five….Liam Kindree has 2+3=5 in his last seven games…Kyle Topping has points in 8 of the 14 games he has played this season…Nolan Foote has 7 goals in his last eight games and has 12 multiple goal games over his career...Nolan Foote leads the team in shots on goal with 44…Roman Basran has an impressive stat line with a goals against average of 2.66 and a save percentage of .912.   

·        Broadcasters Notebook: Sixteen year-old rookie Elias Carmichael earned his first career points, two assists Tuesday night in a 4-3 shootout loss in Victoria….….Equipment Manager Chaydyn Johnson is a member of the off-ice staff for the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat and Swift Current, November 2^nd to 9^th. Johnson is behind the bench of Team Red ….Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korczak have been named to Team WHL for the upcoming Canada-Russia Series later this month. Those three will compete in two games against the touring Russian Selects in games in Prince Albert and Saskatoon…Pavel Novak is a ‘C’ prospect for next June’s NHL Draft. Those rankings released by NHL Central Scouting. A ‘C’ prospect is regarded as a player selected between the 5^th and 7th round. The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Montreal…The Rockets are 8-4-1-1 after 14 games this season. The team was 4-10-0-0 after 14 games last season ….Kyle Topping played in his 200^th career WHL game October 4^th in Prince George….Roman Basran has started in 11 of 14 games this season…The Rockets are 3-4-1-1 in 9 attempts against BC Division teams this season, with two wins over Prince George and a victory over the Victoria Royals. 

Rockets escape with point

Kyle Topping - Shoot the Breeze Photo

• The good news for the Kelowna Rockets last night is they received secondary scoring. Ethan Ernst, Sean Comrie and Pavel Novak found the back of the net in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Victoria Royals. The bad news is the Rockets top end players, frankly, were below average in the one goal loss. Nolan Foote was extremely quiet. So quiet that he didn't even have a shot on goal including missing high and wide in the shootout. Kyle Topping had a hard time generate offense and Leif Mattson also struggled in that department. Frankly, no one seemed to be in sync after a six day layoff. Whether it was the extended time between games or just lackadaisical play, the Rockets can't be happy with the effort. As poorly as they played, shockingly they were able to earn a point.
• My main concern heading into Tuesday's game was the Rockets start. I had the sneaky suspicious that the team would be slow out of the gates and that is exactly what happened. The Rockets managed little in the way of scoring chances and were out-shot 13-3 in the opening period. Much of the action was found in front of Roman Basran, who had to be sharp to keep it close. 
• Whatever was said in the first intermission seemed to have an impact on the Rockets overall play. They came out with more urgency and began to dictate the play. It was nice to see Ethan Ernst find the back of the net for the first time this season. The 17 year-old made the right choice on an odd man rush by shooting rather than passing the puck. It was Ernst's second career goal. His first came, oddly enough, in Victoria back on October 20th of last season. 
• For the first time this season the Rockets failed to win a game despite leading after 40 minutes. The team was a perfect 6-0-0-0 up until last night, where the Royals struck for two-third period goals in a span of 1:14 seconds to tie the game. Again it was one of those night's where the harder the Rockets tried, the worse it got. 
• The Royals weren't without their own warts. On two separate occasions, a player was sent in the clear for a breakaway and lost control of the puck. It was nothing short of weird as in an effort to stick handle, the puck carrier lost control and no shot was taken.
• Another bright spot was rookie d-man Elias Carmichael earning his first career point; an assist on Sean Comrie's second period blast from the point.
• One of the biggest surprises for me last night was the small crowd in Victoria. I have never seen that few fans take in a game at Save On Foods Memorial Centre. Just 3 thousand, 213 attended the BC Division showdown. Was the World Series a factor? Hockey in late October when interest isn't that high? Did the awesome weather play a factor? I mid-week game also isn't helpful.   
• By earning a single point, the Rockets are now within two of idle Kamloops for first place in the BC Division. The Rockets will make up the one game they hold on the Blazers tonight in the rematch with the Royals, who will be playing their fourth game in 6 nights.   

Rockets/Royals Rumble

·      Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play game three of a four straight on the road tonight when they visit the Victoria Royals. These two teams hook up again tomorrow before the Rockets make a return visit for two games February 21^st and 22^nd. The Royals make two stops in Kelowna in November, with dates on the 6^th and 20^th. What does that mean? The Rockets will face the Royals four times in the next 9 games. Last season the Rockets had a boat load of success on the Island, winning three of four games (8-2 W, 5-1 W, 5-2 W) before suffering a 6-2 loss. The Rockets were 5-3-0-0 in the eight game seasonal series, out-scoring the Royals 31-20. The Rockets are coming off a 4-2 win in Prince George last Wednesday. Nolan Foote had 1+2=3 in the teams 7^th victory of the season. Following these two games in Victoria, the Rockets return home to face the Prince George Cougars on Friday and the Royals Wednesday November 6^th.  In November, the Rockets play 7 of 11 games on home ice.

·       Sign here please: Dillon Hamaliuk signed an entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks October 25^th. Hamaliuk was chosen in the 2^nd round by the Sharks in June’s NHL Draft. The 19 year-old joins Nolan Foote, who was signed by Tampa Bay back on June 25^th.      

·        Nolan Named Captain: Nolan Foote was named the 25^th captain in franchise history (Tacoma+Kelowna) October 18th. Foote joins brother Cal, who captained the Rockets during the 2017-2018 season. Both are first round selections of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning too. The Rockets selected Foote in the second round, 42^nd overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. This is Foote’s fourth and likely final season in the WHL.    

·        Who’s Hot: Forward Pavel Novak has 5+8=13 in 12 games. Novak has five goals in his last 9 games and has points in five of his last eight games…Liam Kindree has 2+3=5 in his last five games…Kyle Topping has points in 7 of the 12 games he has played this season…Nolan Foote has 6 goals in his last six games and has 12 multiple goal games over his career...Nolan Foote leads the team in shots on goal with 41…Roman Basran has an impressive stat line with a goals against average of 2.18 and a save percentage of .930.   

·        Broadcasters Notebook: Equipment Manager Chaydyn Johnson is a member of the off-ice staff for the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat and Swift Current, November 2^nd to 9^th. Johnson is behind the bench of Team Red ….Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korczak have been named to Team WHL for the upcoming Canada-Russia Series next month. Those three will compete in two games against the touring Russian Selects in games in Prince Albert and Saskatoon…Pavel Novak is a ‘C’ prospect for next June’s NHL Draft. Those rankings released by NHL Central Scouting. A ‘C’ prospect is regarded as a player selected between the 5^th and 7th round. The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Montreal…The Rockets are 7-4-1-0 after 12 games this season. The team was 3-9-0-0 after 12 games last season and 4-9-0-0 after 13 games….Kyle Topping played in his 200^th career WHL game October 4^th in Prince George….Roman Basran has started in 10 of 12 games this season…The Rockets are 2-4-1-0 in 7 attempts against BC Division teams this season, with both wins coming against Prince George.