Hammer Time!!

• Dillon Hamaliuk was the key piece in a blockbuster deal involving the Kelowna Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds in May. The 19 year-old proved it Saturday in his debut with his new team. The San Jose Sharks second rounder scored the game winning goal with .1 second left on the clock in a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory against the Spokane Chiefs. Hamaliuk ended the night with two goals and two assists and was named the first star. Not bad for a player who hadn't participated in a WHL regular season game since December 27th when he suffered a season ending knee injury that required surgery. Looking none the worse for wear, the Leduc, Alberta  product could have had three goals had he not been called for goaltender interference in the second period. With Hamaliuk scoring the game winner and newly acquired Jake Lee picking up the primary assist, the 53 hundred fans that left Prospera Place had a huge smile on their face believing, at least after one game, it was worth paying a high price to obtain Hamaliuk, Lee and goaltender Cole Schwebius from the T-Birds.
• Four point night's for a player making his debut with the Kelowna Rockets organization are very rare. Chuck Kobasew had a three goal night in his first game after leaving Boston College in the fall of 2001. Kobasew, a then 19 year-old, recorded the hattrick against the Portland Winterhawks in a season where he would find the back of the net 41 times.
• The Rockets power play was the real story in this one. The unit, under the guidance of new assistant coach Vernon Fiddler, erupted for three goals, including its opening power play of the game which saw a nice three way passing play executed between Leif Mattson, Hamaliuk and Kyle Topping. The unit also came alive when it was needed most, when down by a goal late in the third period, Kaedan Korczak's point shot seemed to change directions and found pay dirt to tie the score at 3. Just to think, the power play struck for three goals on only four chances without Nolan Foote, who led the team last season with 17 goals with the extra man.
• Korczak led all Rockets with 6 shots on goal. That is an impressive total for a defender who is regarded as a defensive defenceman. The 19 year-old had a career high 10 shots on goal against Swift Current last season, but firing six times on net in a shot happy, block at all costs league is impressive. Speaking of shot blocking, Korczak may have saves a third period goal when Bazran was out of position after making the original stop, but the Golden Knights draft pick was able to get his right shin pad on a secondary chance that kept the Rockets from going down by two.     
• Nolan Foote has returned from the training camp of the Tampa Bay Lightning and will be in the lineup for three games in three nights next weekend. Foote missed the opener Saturday night as he suited up for the Lightning in a 5-4 overtime setback to the Nashville Predators. 
• When you have a roster that is still top heavy, the scratches are of significant  interest at this time of the year. Second year forward Ethan Erst was a health scratch, allowing rookies Jake Poole and Pavel Novak to make their WHL debuts. Poole earned his first career point, an assist on Dillon Hamaliuk's third period goal. 
• One has to remember that the team the Rockets iced Saturday night had yet to play a game together. With seven players attending NHL training camps, the entire pre-season was null and void of many top end players, allowing the rookies to get their feet wet at the WHL level.  
• Last season the Rockets started with 4 consecutive losses before finally beating Prince George in game 5. To get into the win column as quickly as they did, it likely erased any memory of what went down last season where wins in the opening 10 games were few and far between.
• What a great way to start the season. In a well executed tailgate party across the street beside the Rotary Centre of the Arts prior to puck drop, fans gathered on a picture perfect day on the green space where they were treated to cold $5.25 beer, food trucks and two live bands. Also featured was the re-play of the 2004 Memorial Cup on a massive screen.