Webbles wobble but they don't fall down

Colby Knight

Three games in and lots to like with the 2021-2022 version of the Kelowna Rockets. A work in progress for certain, but if compete is the foundation to win games this season, mission accomplished. And lets be honest. At it's core, a high level of compete can often mask discrepancies in ones game. Not all the time, but often - will does beat skill. If you are willing to sacrifice to block a shot or be more determined to win a face-off than the guy opposite you, it does make a different. Playing to your strengths and hiding your weaknesses is what this years edition is trying to figure out. Teams with little turnover have that understanding. With 10 players gone from last seasons abbreviated campaign, the Rockets are still finding a team identity. Head Coach Kris Mallette told me as much last night on our post game show. In a 4-2 upset over arguably the best team in the Western Conference, the Rockets used physicality, solid goaltending, a timely power play and adversity in a two goal win. They could have crumbled after having a two goal lead disappear, with the backbreaker coming in the form of a shorthanded goal. Instead of making it 3-1, the Kamloops Blazers score while killing a penalty and it's 2-2. Sure, the home team wobbled, but as the old TV commercial goes 'Weebles wobble but they don't fall down'. (Webbles). The Rockets wobbled, but they didn't collapse. That's a great sign. Oh ya, the Blazers took control of the game to tie the score, but instead of breaking and crumbling in front of 34 hundred patrons that were allowed back in the building for the first time in 583 days, the lead goal came from it's most dangerous shooter. Colton Dach rifled home his second of the game and third of the season to make it 3-2. An empty net goal from Elias Carmichael and the sellout crowd (sellout was 3400 or 50% of capacity) went home with a smile. It's only game three. Championships are never won in mid October, but did this team prove something to themselves? My hope is that was the case along with the well deserved two points. 

What did I like? Lets start here:

1. Discipline. It's tough playing an arch rival and not getting emotionally invested against them. You have to play with emotion, but it has to be bridled. If you take ill advised trips to the box, the Blazers will tear you a new one. The visitors were granted four power play chances. 
2. Not chasing the game never hurts. The Rockets opened the scoring for a third straight game. Up until that point, the Blazers had not trailed at any point this season.
3. Physicality. In the most aggressive game I've seen from this group this season (small sample size) the ability for the d-men to stand there ground as the Blazers skated with speed entering the zone was impressive. Noah Dorey led the charge. Tyson Feist is great at it too. Jackson DeSouza, who often doesn't play to his size, also ramped up his compete level.
4. Getting back to Dorey. The 18 year-old is raw. He reminds me of a younger Tyson Feist in some respects. The desire to hit and join the attack, sometimes ill advised, is entertaining to watch. Do you know that Dorey is third on the team in shots on net? Only Colton Dach and Pavel Novak, who we expect to lead in that category, have more shots on goal than the undrafted Dorey.
5. Max Graham looked good last night. He scores the 2-0 goal, but let's not lose fact he is doing some good work at the face-off circle. 
6. Not a bad debut for 18 year-old Colby Knight. Looked like steady eddy in there. Maybe a modern day Shane Bendera? Quick down low. Excellent rebound control. A steady blocker and no crazy acrobatic saves in an effort to make the WHL Plays of the Week. Just stop that darn thing. Knight was - DYNOMITE. 
7. Colton Dach's shoot first mentality. Love it!! Not just because he can score, but those two on ones where no shot is taken over making a picture perfect pass grinds my gears. Shoot the puck is always the best option on an odd man rush. Goal scorers shoot. They don't pass. It isn't being greedy. It's smart. Chuck Kobasew. Justin Keller. Jesse Schultz. Rourke Chartier. Jamie Benn. I am out of breath here. You get it. Goal scorers shoot....they don't pass the puck.
8. I liked the crowd. The sound of live fans in the building celebrating after a goal or big save or a thundering hit was missed. It was nice to see bums in the building!! 
9. Having a color analyst beside me was like a breath of fresh air. Kent Simpson joined me last night in the broadcast booth. I didn't have the luxury of having any help in the abbreviated season, so to have someone add to the conversation and have dialogue with was something I missed. You don't appreciate it until its gone. I took it for granted. Plus, it makes the broadcast so much better not having just one voice nattering for three hours.  
10. We used it because we had no other choice during the abbreviated season. I would call HC Kris Mallette for a post game show comment and patch it into my broadcast board for those listening. We've kept the phone calls going this season, not because we can't see each other face-to-face as we are both double vaccinated, but it's just easier and just as affective. I am just glad the coach accepts my calls after games - win or lose. 'Mally' has the easy option to ignore me by not picking up the phone call. So far, I'm 3 for 3 as he's said, 'hello' on the other end. My greatest fear would be an automated voice coming on the line - 'This number is no longer in use'.