Choo-choo, 1/4 through

• What have we learned 1/4 through the Kelowna Rockets regular season? This team is better than we envisioned. Sorry, I don't want to speak for you. Let me state, I did not see this team earning points in 12 of it's opening 17 games. This group has surprised be. Having watched this team for essentially 6 weeks, they've pretty much showed up for all but two games. A 2-0 loss in Langley wasn't good nor was a 7-2 setback to the Giants, again at the LEC, in late October. That's pretty consistent hockey for this group, who are playing what can only be described as a heavy game. Can they skate with the best teams in the WHL? Maybe. Can they trade scoring chances with the elite teams? Probably not. Can they physically wear the opponent down like a prized boxer, who provides the knock out punch in the late rounds? I think we've hit the nail on the head. This team isn't flash and dash. They will hustle and try to outwork you. Purposely try to punish you and finishing checks is likely the mantra of this group. While not the biggest physically, they have a certain team toughness that can take them far. That ability to physically dominate has to be tempered though by playing disciplined hockey for the fear of the more skilled teams pulling away with an electric power play. So far so good. The Rockets are the 7th least penalized team in the WHL. That can't change if more success is to come their way before the Christmas break.
• Sitting in second place in the BC Division at the 1/4 mark is an impressive feat. The fact that the first place Kamloops Blazers have a 12 point lead is no shocker. Frankly, while lots of hockey is yet to be played, they won't be caught. Sure, the Rockets have the bragging rights of handing the top team in the WHL/BC Division both of it's losses, but until they show me they can beat them on the road at Sandman Centre, it's best to concentrate on the teams below them, not on the closest geographical rival who have scored the second most goals in the league while surrendering the second fewest against. Again, show me you can beat the Blazers -on there turf - and then I will change my tune. The team hasn't won a game on the road in Kamloops in it's last 10 appearance. That includes two losses in the abbreviated season, four losses in 2019-2020, two pre-season losses, a play-in loss/tie breaker and 2-1 shootout loss dating back to the 2018-2019 campaign. The Blazers are 11-1-0-0 in the last 12 regular season games between the two teams on home ice.
•  GM Bruce Hamilton pulled off two significant trades in the opening 17 games. On September 28th the team swung a one for one deal with the Saskatoon Blades. In a trade that saw 1st round bantam pick players exchanging hands, the Rockets picked up 18 year-old Colton Dach for 18 year-old Trevor Wong. Dach made his debut in the second game of the season in Victoria and did a nice job of working his way into the group with an outgoing personality and an 'A' on his jersey. Dach has been a point a game player since arriving in the Okanagan while Wong has 12 points in 20 games with his team team. Fast forward 40 days after the Dach deal, the team acquired 19 year-old Talyn Boyko from the Tri City Americans for a third round bantam pick and goalie Cole Tisdale. Tisdale has appeared in just one game since the trade while Boyko has assumed the number one duties here with a 4 and 1 record. 
• The team was a quick starter in the opening 7 to 8 games and then slow starts were common place. The Rockets have scored the opening goal just 6 times this season. Only Medicine Hat has scored fewer (5). Winnipeg leads the league by opening up the scoring a whopping 21 times.
• The most impressive statistic for me is how the team has preformed in the third period. Several times they have rallied from two goals down to tie. A shootout loss in Portland may be one of the most impressive comebacks in recent memory. The team battled back from being down 5-1 to earn a point. The number that stands out is 7. The Rockets have surrendered just 7 - third period goals so far this season. No WHL team comes close, not even Winnipeg with 13 allowed goals in the final frame. 
• Jake Lee has really impressed. He's dangerous player with his ability to generate offense with his quick edge work and skating ability. The 20 year-old is easily going to surpass his career high point total of 30 set two seasons ago. Lee has already set a new in goals with 6. He leads the team in +/- with a +14. Tyson Feist, another overager, has generated much needed offense from the blue-line, but through his shot and his ability to blast it past the goalie rather than threading it threw traffic. Pavel Novak has been the most consistent player, which is no shock. Novak has a point in 14 of the 17 games this season and leads the team in goals, assists and points.   
• Did you know the Rockets have scored, on average, the 5th most goals per game in the WHL? You do now. The team averages 3.53 goals per game. Kamloops leads the BC Division at 4.79, which is second best. Winnipeg is #1 with over 5 goals per game. The Rockets also allow the 6th fewest shots against.
• Hard to believe the Rockets have already played more games this season (17) then they did during the abbreviated campaign. (16).
• We will learn much more about the Rockets over the next week. The team faces 3 of the top teams in the Western Conference in three of their next four games. Saturday is a date with BC Division leading Kamloops followed by back-to-back games in the US Division against Seattle next Tuesday and Everett next Wednesday. Throw into the mix the home game against the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday, and this is arguably the teams biggest test of the new season. 
• 100% capacity? Yep, it happens tonight. With 8 home games left before Christmas, hockey fans can now pack the place after starting the season at half capacity, or 34 hundred fans. Don't forget to wear that mask....and keep it on. I've heard some fans complaining that some are not following the rules. While you don't need your mask on if eating or drinking, you can't be nursing that beer from puck drop until the final buzzer - maskless. Come on! Be courtesy to those around you.