Things that make me go hmm

Nolan Flammand. His favourite radio station (wink/wink) in background

• Six WHL players were taken in the second round of the 2021 NHL draft. Three of them were forwards including Kelowna Rockets Colton Dach and Vancouver Giants Zack Ostopchuk. Dach was taken 62nd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. Ostopchuk was chosen 39th by the Ottawa Senators. Both have signed NHL contracts. It was interested to compare the two when they met head-to-head Saturday night in the Giants 2-0 win. Neither found the score-sheet. We have another opportunity to measure them up when the two teams collide, again, at the Langley Events Centre this upcoming Friday.
• No lack of NHL scouts at the game Saturday night. It makes you wonder if some start pay special attention to Kelowna Rockets goaltender Colby Knight. The undrafted 18 year-old was playing second fiddle to Sebastian Cossa, a first round NHL draft pick while with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Now with a new lease on life as the number one goalie with the Rockets, this may be a coming out party for the Red Deer product, who looks like the real deal after two solid starts against Kamloops and Vancouver. He was the best player on the ice for the visitors Saturday night. 
• The Rockets have played a league low 4 games. Red Deer and Brandon have played a league high - 10!
• The Rockets are no strangers in trading for goalies. Michael Herringer, Jackson Whistle, Mark Guggenberger, Kelly Guard and Shane Bendera are prime examples. Put Colby Knight on that list! 
• It was a homecoming of sorts for Quinton Lang Saturday night. The Kelowna Rockets assistant coach, who typically doesn't travel with the team, made the trek to the LEC. Lang was returning to an area of the province where he spent three seasons as a pro. The pride of Harris, Saskatchewan suited up for the Abbotsford Heat when the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate was located in the Lower Mainland. They left the city in 2014 after suffering losses in the neighbourhood of 12 million dollars, which the city had to absorb. The Abbotsford Centre is now the home of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks minor league affiliate.
• One. The Western Conference has one player that was chosen in the first round of the NHL draft that is playing in the WHL this season. Vancouver Giants forward Fabian Lisell stands alone. The Swede was taken 21st overall by the Boston Bruins. If, if, the Carolina Hurricanes return Seth Jarvis back to the Portland Winterhawks, that will make only two-first round picks in the Western Conference perfecting their skills in junior hockey this season. Jarvis was taken 13th overall in 2020. By comparison, the Eastern Conference has seven-first round NHL draft picks - three of which play for the Prince Albert Raiders. 
• The Winnipeg Ice are the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference. 9-0-0-0. Sadly, we won't see them this season. It's proof that building through the WHL bantam draft, if you have good scouts, can produce a winner. The Ice have 5-first round picks on it's roster. Sure, the Ice sucked in order to get those high bantam picks, but they hit the bullseye with all five. 
• The Ice, while in Cranbrook, missed the playoffs between 2014 and 2019. That's four consecutive years with zero playoff hockey. Only the Saskatoon Blades have had more futility with 5 straight years of no playoff hockey between 2013 and 2018. 
• The Victoria Royals own the worst record in the WHL. A seven game losing streak has them heading out on the road for a busy week with two games in Prince George (Tues/Wed) followed by games in Kamloops (Fri) and Kelowna (Saturday). The Royals have been one of the most active teams making trades in an effort to stay within striking distance. 
• The Rockets were shut out Saturday night, 2-0, in Vancouver. The last time that happened was September 29, 2019 in a 4-0 loss. David Tendick made just 14 saves in the victory for the G-Men. 
• It was nice to see some familiar faces Saturday night at the LEC. Dan O'Connor and Bill Wilms are the dynamic duo in the Giants radio broadcast booth. It was nice to 'chin wag' with Brooke Ward, who is the teams public address announcer. The only thing missing was the buffet for scouts and media before the game. I am not sure if it is a COVID health and safety measure or a fiscal thing, but pre-game grub wasn't a thing before puck drop between the Giants and Rockets. Times are a changing post pandemic. My double chin and no hot meal in the scouts room.
• Speaking of food.....the Rockets had a pre-game meal at a staple on our road trips when headed down Highway 1 on the Lower Mainland. We stopped in at Bozzini's on Hocking Avenue in Chilliwack. The meals are always great. They treat us awesome and the frothy ice tea is not for the faint of heart. You've got to try it. It was nice to run into Mano Asprakis, who looks to have weathered the pandemic well. He is still smiling. His family started that restaurant back in 1982 and it's still going strong. Check out the menu and the price point. http://bozzinisrestaurant.ca/menu/
• It is nice to see former Rockets flourish. Alex Swetlikoff had a hat trick Friday night for the Everett Silvertips. The 20 year-old was dealt to the Tips in the Max Graham deal this summer. I will always remember 'Swetty' speaking to me after my fathers death in 2020. It was as simple as, 'Sorry to hear about your dad'. It was that small exchange coming from a then 18 year-old which impressed me so much. Small thought or gesture from a shy teenager, but the thoughtfulness made an impression on me. I am an easy person to win over. Just show me you have personality and empathy for others. Too cool for school or a bully like demeanour, you've lost me.