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.