When your jaw drops to the floor

Shocked.

Amazed.

Dumbfounded.

Jake Lee's third period goal had me....speechless. That's not good news for a broadcaster at anytime, but what can you say when a player who has a career high 5 goals ends up taking matters into his own hands and scores a highlite reel goal? 

"What happened there," is all I could come up with as my jaw dropped to the floor. 

Stunning would best describe how the 19 year-old skated with the puck and weaved in and out of defenders before snapping the puck blocker side on startled Giants goaltender Trent Miner. 

What has only shocked me more - in the last few days - was my teenage boys making their own beds!! 

• Lee's goal tied the score and 3. What made it so impressive is someone had to step up after Kaedan Korczak was ejected from the game after getting into a fight with rookie Colton Lankow. So, who delivers when the teams top d-man is sitting in the dressing room? As a veteran of over 200 WHL games, Lee did what few have been able to witness during his time wearing Kelowna Rockets colours. Maybe this was the type of flash and dash that had Seattle Thunderbirds scouts taking the Sherwood Park, Alberta product in the first round of the 2016 WHL bantam draft?
• Lee's goal was the most timely. It came late in the game with his team down 3-2. It marked only the second time this season the Giants have lost when leading after two periods. Both losses have come to the hands of the Rockets.
• How about Turner McMillen's goal? Wow. A shorthanded beauty to say the least. The 18 year-old found a second gear to break away from a Giants defender before firing the puck - on a breakaway - high to Miner's blocker side. It was McMillen's first career goal. Could it have been anymore spectacular? No! I loved the celebration when Trevor Wong leaped into the air to congratulate McMillen. That's why we play these games folks. Pure, unadulterated jubilation. In a year that has sucked, those two hugging in mid-air was magical in my eyes. 
• The game winner was ugly. Yikes. Alex Swetlikoff's shot seems to hit a Giants defender, then goes off Mark Liwiski and into the back of the net. It was a glorious gift and another example of - no shot is a bad shot. 
• A slow start for the Rockets in this one. I said it on the broadcast, if I was the Rockets, I'd be happy being down 2-1 after 20 minutes. The home team looked slow despite leading on the shot clock 9-6. The Rockets have traditionally been quick starters this season, but Vancouver was more desperate. I thought the G-Men seemed to look fatigued in the third period as their best players didn't have the jam or execution we are used to seeing.
• The Rockets discipline was better. The G-Men had just 4 power play chances and the Rockets PK was a perfect 4 for 4.
• The power play is coming around too. Two goals on three chances. Impressive. 
• Five fighting majors between these two teams in three games. The hate is real.
• The win was the Rockets 6th in 7 games. The Giants have lost four straight. While it doesn't mathematically eliminate Vancouver from winning the BC Division and catching first place Kamloops, this loss against Kelowna did some significant damage to their chances.
• The theory is the winner of the BC Division will be granted that honour on winning percentage. I don't like it, but what can you do? The Rockets can't play as many games as the other teams after losing eight of them due to COVID-19. Is it fair that a smaller sample size allows the Rockets to have a better winning % than Kamloops or Vancouver at seasons end? No. But is it fair that we've been sequestered in our homes, can't eat indoors at restaurants and can't have fans in the stands while hoards of people shop at Costco? Everything is whacked people. Nothing is normal anymore. 
• If you think you are a good team, you've got to show it. I am sorry, but you have to beat Kamloops. You have beaten every team but them in this shortened season. Show me you can beat them, not twice, but even once will do. Do that and I can swallow this winning % argument if indeed that plays a factor in the end. The chance to beat the Blazers starts tonight. Having played terrific hockey, there is no better time to face their arch nemesis.