- It's not often you leave Prospera Place after a Rockets win feeling so....confused. Confused because of the teams lack of jump, energy and effort. The Rockets won for the 8th straight time Friday night - which is well and good - but the home team was so hospitable that they were almost willing to give the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes an opportunity to snap a six game losing streak. This one was too close for comfort in a 3-2 victory.
- For the second straight night forward Geordie Wudrick scored the game winning goal after a third period goal mouth scramble. Lucas Bloodoff took two whacks at it, only to be denied by the left pad of Canes goaltender Linden Rowat. Wudrick also jammed away at it before somehow getting the puck over the goal line to give the Rockets a 3-2 lead. Wudrick's goal came with just over 5 minutes left in the third period.
- One of the bright spots for the Hurricanes was goaltender Linden Rowat. Rowat made 43 saves including 19 in the first period. The 20 year-old goaltender wasn't the only reason why the Hurricanes had a chance to end the Rockets winning streak, but Rowat gave his club a good chance of getting into the win column for the first time in seven games. Rowat was consistently the best player on the ice.
- I also liked the play of Hurricanes defenceman Brennan Yadlowski. Yadlowski logged a ton of ice time and was steady in his own zone.
- The Hurricanes played this game with just 15 skaters, three under the league limit. They worked hard under tough circumstances.
- The Rockets were without defenceman Dallas Jackson, who is sidelined with a leg injury.
- The Hurricanes will feel like world beaters after this game, especially after being destroyed in back-to-back losses to Chilliwack and Vancouver. While the one goal loss will feel like a triumph, in reality, the Rockets were just that bad. Sorry Hurricane fans, but the truth sometimes hurts.
- Am I too critical? Maybe. But I've seen this team play at an extremely high level. I realize they can't preform at an optimum level every night, but what we saw Friday is well below the standards of even an average night for this team.
- Mark Guggenberger came within inches of doing something goaltenders rarely do...score a goal. With the Hurricanes net empty for the extra attacker, Guggenberger found the puck on his stick, saw no pressure around him and elected to lift the puck all the way down the ice. The puck would eventually hit the outside of the post resulting in an icing call and a faceoff inside the Rockets zone.
- I don't mind the goaltender attempting for the empty net goal, but in a one goal game is it a wise decision? The play creates a key faceoff, enabling the visitors another chance to tie the game. If Guggenberger scores, we don't have this conversation.
- Two big hits in this one, one comical , the other bone crushing. The comical hit came when forward Lucas Bloodoff was hit in front of the Rockets bench. The momentum has Bloodoff making contact with teammate Codey Ito on the bench. Ito ends up losing his balance and tumbling over the bench, landing on his rear end. Rockets assistant coach Dan Lambert had a good chuckle as he had a front row seat to the tumble. The crowd also let out a laugh after seeing the domino affect on video replay.
- Rockets rookie Brett Bulmer had a nice open ice hit on Jacob Berglund at the Hurricanes blue line that sent the European forward flying. Props to Berglund for staying in the game.
- The win moves the Rockets two points up on Kamloops for 6th place in the Western Conference. The Rockets remain 8 points back of 5th place Spokane.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Eight straight, but not so great
Rockets game notes vs. Hurricanes
Tonight’s Preview: Despite playing 55 games this season, the Kelowna Rockets will meet the Lethbridge Hurricanes twice in the final 17 games of the regular season. These two teams will battle tonight at Prospera Place before the Rockets return the favour February 24th. Overall the Rockets enter tonight’s game having won seven straight, having out-scored the opposition 32-15. That translates into 4.6 goals scored per game while giving up just 2.1 goals against during the streak. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Chilliwack tomorrow night before traveling to Everett Wednesday. The Rockets are 13 for 39 on the power play during the seven games (33.3%). This seven game winning streak is just one win shy of the 8 game winning streak the team had at the end of last season. The Rockets have averaged 36.7 shots on goal per game during the winning streak. Only once (Med Hat) have the Rockets been out-shot during the streak.
Last Game Recap: Geordie Wudrick scored twice in regulation time and then scored the shootout game winning goal in a 5-4 victory Wednesday over Edmonton. Shane McColgan and Lucas Bloodoff also scored goals for the Rockets, who were 2 for 4 on the power play. Adam Brown earned the win in goal.
Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Tyson Barrie is riding a seven game point streak (5+7=12)…Brandon McMillan has 3+9=12 in his last seven games….Geordie Wudrick has 4+5=9 in his last six games….The Rockets have opened the scoring in nine of the last eleven games…Tyson Barrie has points in 36 of his last 42 games. Barrie has 123 career assists….Mitchell Callahan has six points in his last seven games. Callahan has 4+2=6.…Adam Brown has started seven of the teams last eight games.…Brett Bulmer has 8 points in his last ten games…Adam Brown is 6-0-0-2 in his last eight starts…Shane McColgan has points in 9 of his last 10 games. McColgan has 5+10=15 over that period…The Rockets have scored a short handed goal in three of their last four games…Just seven of McColgan’s 22 goals this season have been scored on home ice. In other words, 68 percent of the rookie’s goals are scored on the road. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels, the top 16 year-old scorer in the Eastern Conference, has scored 9 of his 19 goals on the road (47%)…The Rockets have not allowed a power play goal in four games. 19 for 19 kills over that period.
D.J and Wudy: Dallas Jackson has 3+6=9 in 10 games since being acquired at the trade deadline. Geordie Wudrick has 11+9=20 in 21 games with the Rockets since he was acquired from Swift Current in November. The Rockets have played 10 games since the trade deadline. The Rockets have a point in 9 of those 10 games and are 7-1-0-2 over that period. The only regulation loss has been a one goal setback to Red Deer (4-3) back on January 16th.
Take Me to the Shootout: The Rockets are 5 and 2 in the shootout this season after a 5-4 victory Wednesday over Edmonton. The Rockets only shootout losses have come against Portland and Chilliwack.
Game Day Tidbits: The Rockets own the 2nd best power play at home in the WHL (28.5%). Only Calgary is slightly better at 28.6%....Tyson Barrie is the WHL Player of the Week. Barrie had 4+4=8 in four wins last week… The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won 4 straight games at home and 3 straight on the road….The Rockets are 4 and 5 in situations that feature three games in three nights….The Rockets registered a season high 52 shots last Friday night in a 4-3 shoot-out win over the Cougars….The Rockets have lost 25 times this season. Last season the Rockets lost just 21 times….Tyson Barrie is tied for the league lead in points by a WHL defencemen. Barrie shares the lead with Kevin Connauton of the Vancouver Giants.…The Rockets have been involved in twenty-three (23) one goal games this season. The Rockets are 12-7-2-2 in those twenty-three games…Dallas Jackson, Shane McColgan and Tyson Barrie lead the team with 8 power play goals apiece….Tyson Barrie has a team high 46 assists, 6 more than he had all of last season…McColgan is one point back of the Giants Kevin Connauton for the WHL scoring lead by rookies…Ryan Huska recorded his 100th regular season victory December 4th against Edmonton…Defenceman Mitchell Chapman and forward Brett Bulmer are rated by NHL Central Scouting for this summers draft in Los Angeles. Chapman is rated 151st while Bulmer is ranked 164th among North American born skaters…The Rockets have 7 home games and 10 road games left for a total of 17. Of those 17 games, 6 are against American and BC based teams with five against Central Division teams… Brandon McMillan collected his 100th career assist Wednesday against Edmonton…The Rockets have eleven players with 10 or more goals. Last season the Rockets had 12 players with 10 or more goals.
Last Game Recap: Geordie Wudrick scored twice in regulation time and then scored the shootout game winning goal in a 5-4 victory Wednesday over Edmonton. Shane McColgan and Lucas Bloodoff also scored goals for the Rockets, who were 2 for 4 on the power play. Adam Brown earned the win in goal.
Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Tyson Barrie is riding a seven game point streak (5+7=12)…Brandon McMillan has 3+9=12 in his last seven games….Geordie Wudrick has 4+5=9 in his last six games….The Rockets have opened the scoring in nine of the last eleven games…Tyson Barrie has points in 36 of his last 42 games. Barrie has 123 career assists….Mitchell Callahan has six points in his last seven games. Callahan has 4+2=6.…Adam Brown has started seven of the teams last eight games.…Brett Bulmer has 8 points in his last ten games…Adam Brown is 6-0-0-2 in his last eight starts…Shane McColgan has points in 9 of his last 10 games. McColgan has 5+10=15 over that period…The Rockets have scored a short handed goal in three of their last four games…Just seven of McColgan’s 22 goals this season have been scored on home ice. In other words, 68 percent of the rookie’s goals are scored on the road. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels, the top 16 year-old scorer in the Eastern Conference, has scored 9 of his 19 goals on the road (47%)…The Rockets have not allowed a power play goal in four games. 19 for 19 kills over that period.
D.J and Wudy: Dallas Jackson has 3+6=9 in 10 games since being acquired at the trade deadline. Geordie Wudrick has 11+9=20 in 21 games with the Rockets since he was acquired from Swift Current in November. The Rockets have played 10 games since the trade deadline. The Rockets have a point in 9 of those 10 games and are 7-1-0-2 over that period. The only regulation loss has been a one goal setback to Red Deer (4-3) back on January 16th.
Take Me to the Shootout: The Rockets are 5 and 2 in the shootout this season after a 5-4 victory Wednesday over Edmonton. The Rockets only shootout losses have come against Portland and Chilliwack.
Game Day Tidbits: The Rockets own the 2nd best power play at home in the WHL (28.5%). Only Calgary is slightly better at 28.6%....Tyson Barrie is the WHL Player of the Week. Barrie had 4+4=8 in four wins last week… The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won 4 straight games at home and 3 straight on the road….The Rockets are 4 and 5 in situations that feature three games in three nights….The Rockets registered a season high 52 shots last Friday night in a 4-3 shoot-out win over the Cougars….The Rockets have lost 25 times this season. Last season the Rockets lost just 21 times….Tyson Barrie is tied for the league lead in points by a WHL defencemen. Barrie shares the lead with Kevin Connauton of the Vancouver Giants.…The Rockets have been involved in twenty-three (23) one goal games this season. The Rockets are 12-7-2-2 in those twenty-three games…Dallas Jackson, Shane McColgan and Tyson Barrie lead the team with 8 power play goals apiece….Tyson Barrie has a team high 46 assists, 6 more than he had all of last season…McColgan is one point back of the Giants Kevin Connauton for the WHL scoring lead by rookies…Ryan Huska recorded his 100th regular season victory December 4th against Edmonton…Defenceman Mitchell Chapman and forward Brett Bulmer are rated by NHL Central Scouting for this summers draft in Los Angeles. Chapman is rated 151st while Bulmer is ranked 164th among North American born skaters…The Rockets have 7 home games and 10 road games left for a total of 17. Of those 17 games, 6 are against American and BC based teams with five against Central Division teams… Brandon McMillan collected his 100th career assist Wednesday against Edmonton…The Rockets have eleven players with 10 or more goals. Last season the Rockets had 12 players with 10 or more goals.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Rockets helping Haitians
The Kelowna Rockets and the Kelowna Branch of the Canadian Red Cross are asking fans of the Rockets to help with disaster relief for the devastated country of Haiti.
Members of the Canadian Red Cross will be on hand at the Kelowna Rockets game on Friday night at Prospera Place, accepting donations for the Haitian Relief Fund.
"We feel it's very important to support the people of Hai ti in this crucial time for their country," said Gavin Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets VP of Business Development. "Our fans are very generous and we want to give them an opportunity to help this cause."
The Canadian Red Cross response to last week’s devastating Haitian earthquake continues to grow, with $6.7 million already contributed to the relief effort in cash, personnel and supplies.
Members of the Canadian Red Cross will be on hand at the Kelowna Rockets game on Friday night at Prospera Place, accepting donations for the Haitian Relief Fund.
"We feel it's very important to support the people of Hai ti in this crucial time for their country," said Gavin Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets VP of Business Development. "Our fans are very generous and we want to give them an opportunity to help this cause."
The Canadian Red Cross response to last week’s devastating Haitian earthquake continues to grow, with $6.7 million already contributed to the relief effort in cash, personnel and supplies.
Skilliter Update: Released from hospital
Referee Graham Skilliter has been released from hospital. An interview with WHL Director of Officiating Kevin Muench shortly.
WHL Referee Update
Western Hockey League referee Graham Skilliter remains in a Kelowna hospital after a collision last night with a player during the Rockets home game against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Skilliter hit his head on the ice and suffered a concussion after running into Rockets forward Brandon McMillan.
The Saskatoon resident could be released from hospital this afternoon.
Skilliter is usually on the other end of a traumatic incident.
The 4th year referee is employed as a fire fighter.
Skilliter hit his head on the ice and suffered a concussion after running into Rockets forward Brandon McMillan.
The Saskatoon resident could be released from hospital this afternoon.
Skilliter is usually on the other end of a traumatic incident.
The 4th year referee is employed as a fire fighter.
Is this a candidate for the WHL Plays of the Week?
What a save in overtime last night by Oil Kings goaltender Cam Lanigan!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I'm disappointed, is Jung?
I understand that Oil Kings goaltender Torrie Jung will not be starting tonight against his old team. It is Jung's final appearance at Prospera Place, as his junior career comes to a close at the end of this season.
I may be making more out of this than it deserves, but I thought it would only be fitting to see Jung play one more time in a building and against a team that he played with for two seasons. You see it many times where coaches reward players by putting them in the starting lineup if they are playing a game in their hometown. For Jung, this is in essence a home game.
This isn't the first time Jung hasn't played against his old team at Prospera Place. The 21 year-old was also on the bench as the backup when the Oil Kings visited in December.
I hope for Jung's sake I am wrong, and he in fact does start tonight.
If he doesn't, and sickness nor injury are a factor, having the overage goaltender on the bench just doesn't compute.
It's a coaches decision that both Jung and Rockets fans wanting to see him play will have to deal with.
I will admit I'm disappointed by the decision. I can only imagine how Jung took the news.
I may be making more out of this than it deserves, but I thought it would only be fitting to see Jung play one more time in a building and against a team that he played with for two seasons. You see it many times where coaches reward players by putting them in the starting lineup if they are playing a game in their hometown. For Jung, this is in essence a home game.
This isn't the first time Jung hasn't played against his old team at Prospera Place. The 21 year-old was also on the bench as the backup when the Oil Kings visited in December.
I hope for Jung's sake I am wrong, and he in fact does start tonight.
If he doesn't, and sickness nor injury are a factor, having the overage goaltender on the bench just doesn't compute.
It's a coaches decision that both Jung and Rockets fans wanting to see him play will have to deal with.
I will admit I'm disappointed by the decision. I can only imagine how Jung took the news.
Rockets game notes vs. Oil Kings
Tonight’s Preview: Tonight‘s game against the Oil Kings is the second meeting of the season between the two teams. These two teams met December 4th with the Rockets earning a 4-2 win. Geordie Wudrick scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season in the victory. These two teams conclude the three game seasonal series February 26th in Edmonton. Overall the Rockets enter tonight’s game having won six straight games, having out-scored the opposition 27-11. Following tonight’s game the Rockets host Lethbridge Friday before traveling to Chilliwack Saturday. The Rockets are 11 for 35 on the power play during the six game winning streak (31.4%). This six game winning streak matches a similar streak from September 26th to October 10th.
Last Game Recap: Dallas Jackson scored the game winner at the 4:04 mark of overtime lifting the Rockets to a 2-1 win Sunday night in Seattle. Shane McColgan also scored in the Rockets 25th win of the season. Brandon McMillan had two assists and was involved in a rare fight, only the 4th of his career. Mark Guggenberger snapped a personal 8 game losing streak by making 26 saves. The Rockets were 0 for 6 on the power play while scoring the game winner shorthanded.
Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Tyson Barrie is riding a six game point streak (5+6-11)…Brandon McMillan has 3+6=9 in his last six games….Geordie Wudrick has 2+5=7 in his last five games….The Rockets have opened the scoring in nine of the last ten games…Cody Chikie has six goals in his last nine games.…Tyson Barrie has points in 35 of his last 41 games. Barrie has 124 career assists….Mitchell Callahan has six points in his last six games. Callahan has 4+2=6.…Adam Brown has started six of the teams last seven games.…Brett Bulmer has 7 points in his last nine games…Adam Brown is 5-0-0-2 in his last seven starts…Shane McColgan has points in 8 of his last 9 games. McColgan has 4+10=14 over that period…The Rockets have scored a short handed goal in three straight games.
Game Day Tidbits: Tyson Barrie is the WHL Player of the Week. Barrie had 4+4=8 in four wins last week… The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won 3 straight games at home and 3 straight on the road….The Rockets are 4 and 5 in situations that feature three games in three nights….The Rockets registered a season high 52 shots last Friday night in a 4-3 shoot-out win over the Cougars….The Rockets have lost 25 times this season. Last season the Rockets lost just 21 times….Tyson Barrie is tied for the league lead in points by a WHL defencemen. Barrie is tied with Kevin Connauton of the Vancouver Giants.…The Rockets have been involved in twenty-two (22) one goal games this season. The Rockets are 11-7-2-2 in those twenty-two games…Dallas Jackson, Shane McColgan and Tyson Barrie lead the team with 8 power play goals apiece….Tyson Barrie has a team high 45 assists, 5 more than he had all of last season…McColgan is one point back of the Giants Kevin Connauton for the WHL scoring lead by rookies…Ryan Huska recorded his 100th regular season victory December 4th against Edmonton…Defenceman Mitchell Chapman and forward Brett Bulmer are rated by NHL Central Scouting for this summers draft in Los Angeles. Chapman is rated 151st while Bulmer is ranked 164th among North American born skaters…The Rockets have 8 home games and 10 road games left for a total of 18. Of those 18 games, 6 are against American based teams…Brandon McMillan is one assist shy of 100 in his career…The Rockets have ten players with 10 or more goals. Lucas Bloodoff can join that list. The 20 year-old has 9 goals. Last season the Rockets had 12 players with 10 or more goals.
January’s best performers: Shane McColgan (6+12=18) and Tyson Barrie ((4+14=18) led the team with 18 points apiece in January. Dallas Jackson was next with (5+9=14). Brandon McMillan had 11 points (4+7=11) while Brett Bulmer had nine points (4+5=9) in January.
Torrie’s final time: Oil Kings twenty-one year old goaltender Torrie Jung will play his final game in Kelowna tonight. The former Rocket made his debut against the Portland Winterhawks September 30/06. Jung’s first win was against the Prince George Cougars November 11/06. Overall Jung played 66 games with the Rockets, collecting 20 victories.
Rockets next four games:
Feb 5 vs. Lethbridge
Feb 6 @ Chilliwack
Feb 10 @ Everett
Feb 12 @ Kamloops
Last Game Recap: Dallas Jackson scored the game winner at the 4:04 mark of overtime lifting the Rockets to a 2-1 win Sunday night in Seattle. Shane McColgan also scored in the Rockets 25th win of the season. Brandon McMillan had two assists and was involved in a rare fight, only the 4th of his career. Mark Guggenberger snapped a personal 8 game losing streak by making 26 saves. The Rockets were 0 for 6 on the power play while scoring the game winner shorthanded.
Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Tyson Barrie is riding a six game point streak (5+6-11)…Brandon McMillan has 3+6=9 in his last six games….Geordie Wudrick has 2+5=7 in his last five games….The Rockets have opened the scoring in nine of the last ten games…Cody Chikie has six goals in his last nine games.…Tyson Barrie has points in 35 of his last 41 games. Barrie has 124 career assists….Mitchell Callahan has six points in his last six games. Callahan has 4+2=6.…Adam Brown has started six of the teams last seven games.…Brett Bulmer has 7 points in his last nine games…Adam Brown is 5-0-0-2 in his last seven starts…Shane McColgan has points in 8 of his last 9 games. McColgan has 4+10=14 over that period…The Rockets have scored a short handed goal in three straight games.
Game Day Tidbits: Tyson Barrie is the WHL Player of the Week. Barrie had 4+4=8 in four wins last week… The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won 3 straight games at home and 3 straight on the road….The Rockets are 4 and 5 in situations that feature three games in three nights….The Rockets registered a season high 52 shots last Friday night in a 4-3 shoot-out win over the Cougars….The Rockets have lost 25 times this season. Last season the Rockets lost just 21 times….Tyson Barrie is tied for the league lead in points by a WHL defencemen. Barrie is tied with Kevin Connauton of the Vancouver Giants.…The Rockets have been involved in twenty-two (22) one goal games this season. The Rockets are 11-7-2-2 in those twenty-two games…Dallas Jackson, Shane McColgan and Tyson Barrie lead the team with 8 power play goals apiece….Tyson Barrie has a team high 45 assists, 5 more than he had all of last season…McColgan is one point back of the Giants Kevin Connauton for the WHL scoring lead by rookies…Ryan Huska recorded his 100th regular season victory December 4th against Edmonton…Defenceman Mitchell Chapman and forward Brett Bulmer are rated by NHL Central Scouting for this summers draft in Los Angeles. Chapman is rated 151st while Bulmer is ranked 164th among North American born skaters…The Rockets have 8 home games and 10 road games left for a total of 18. Of those 18 games, 6 are against American based teams…Brandon McMillan is one assist shy of 100 in his career…The Rockets have ten players with 10 or more goals. Lucas Bloodoff can join that list. The 20 year-old has 9 goals. Last season the Rockets had 12 players with 10 or more goals.
January’s best performers: Shane McColgan (6+12=18) and Tyson Barrie ((4+14=18) led the team with 18 points apiece in January. Dallas Jackson was next with (5+9=14). Brandon McMillan had 11 points (4+7=11) while Brett Bulmer had nine points (4+5=9) in January.
Torrie’s final time: Oil Kings twenty-one year old goaltender Torrie Jung will play his final game in Kelowna tonight. The former Rocket made his debut against the Portland Winterhawks September 30/06. Jung’s first win was against the Prince George Cougars November 11/06. Overall Jung played 66 games with the Rockets, collecting 20 victories.
Rockets next four games:
Feb 5 vs. Lethbridge
Feb 6 @ Chilliwack
Feb 10 @ Everett
Feb 12 @ Kamloops
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Things that make me go hmm...
- Four shorthanded goals in three games tells me one thing. This Rockets team is playing with a ton of confidence. When your penalty killing unit is passive, you are playing with little confidence and are almost scared to make a mistake. This Rockets team is playing anything but scared right now.
- Shane McColgan has 21 goals as a rookie. Who was the last Rockets rookie to score 25 goals? Justin Keller. Keller had 25 in 2003-2004. Two years later he was a 50 goal scorer.
- How is Travis Moen, Josh Gorges, Kyle Cumiskey, Chuck Kobasew, Luke Schenn, Tyler Myers and other former Rockets spending the Olympic break? I heard some are heading to Jamaica. Shea Weber and Duncan Keith have something else going on other than sipping rum on a sandy beach.
- I hate to see Torrie Jung's junior career ending on a sour note. The likable overage goaltender will play his final game in Kelowna tomorrow night. His team unfortunately won't make the playoffs, meaning his junior career will be over at seasons end. Jung is good enough to play pro, but I wish he could have ended his WHL days on a contending team. He likely would have been in that position had he not been a 20 year-old goalie. Face it, the market for a overage goaltending is never high. Jung was in a similar position as Rockets goaltender Mark Guggenberger at the trade deadline. While many suggested on this blog that the Rockets should have moved the veteran goalie, the interest simply wasn't there in that age bracket.
- I've always been a fan of Jung, always will. A very personable player who was always good behind the microphone. I remember the first interview I conducted with Torrie. After it was over I said to myself, this player can express himself like a pro. If he can play like one, the Rockets have a good goalie.
- I ran into several Seattle Thunderbird fans after Sunday's game at the Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Kent. The group appeared to be impressed with the Rockets play and the collapse of the T-Birds on an overtime power play chance. As one gentlemen in the crowd of fans told me, "I wouldn't want to face your team in the opening round of the playoffs". We will see, but I agree that if this team plays up to it's potential, this is much better than just a .500 hockey club.
- I've stated on this blog that I am a bit of a germaphobe. So what happened to me in Kent before Sunday's game disturbed me. We are 45 minutes before game time and I visit the washroom for one last time. As I open the door I hear this terrible sound. No not that sound! A dude with long hair and a hat on is puking his guts out. As I attempt to do my business this guy is heaving...like really heaving. I dare not look. I have three thoughts going through my head. 1) Get my business done and get out of there as quickly as possible. 2) Why is this idiot not doing his business in the toilet? 3) How do I avoid this dude and not acquire the anthrax virus (I am assuming here) this gentleman contracted. As it turns out, he leaves the bathroom before I do. For the love of God he touched the door handle, now what do I do! What would MacGyver do? I use my right dress shoe to prop open the door and I escape from the scene without using my hands on the door handle. Nice work. As I see him walking down the hallway he starts coughing. I promptly go the opposite direction and take the extremely long way back to the broadcast booth. If this guy was the same one who made the complementary sandwiches in the scouts room, I'll be barfing my face off in about two days and all of my hard work will have gone for not.
- What is a germaphobe? It is defined as: Any person who is obsessed with cleanliness and defeating bacteria. These individuals will turn on faucets with their elbows and hand sanitize on an hourly basis. Ya, that's me.
- Why wasn't I invited to Las Vegas for WHL meetings? I would have reported back to all 22 markets for free!
Monday, February 1, 2010
I think I've seen everything now
- Ok, now I’ve seen everything. Dallas Jackson’s shorthanded goal in overtime Sunday night lifted the Kelowna Rockets to a 2-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds. The way the goal was scored still has me shaking my head in disbelief. The goal is the result of a two on none breakaway involving Jackson and teammate Brandon McMillan. After a golden scoring chance by T-Birds leading scorer Prab Rai, the puck appears to go between the two T-Bird defenceman and slowly makes its way towards the Seattle blue line. McMillan recognizes this and races to the loose puck and skates with it on right wing before distributing the puck to Jackson, who comes out of no where to join the rush on the left side and chips the puck over Seattle goaltender Calvin Pickard. The goal is scored with Rockets forward Geordie Wudrick in the box for goaltender interference. Amazing.
- Great recognition by both McMillan and Jackson on the game winner. If McMillan is snoozing, he races to the puck and simply shoots it behind the T-Birds net. You have to remember that he’s killing a penalty. For Jackson to see the two T-Bird d-men getting caught flat footed and then racing hard to join the attack on the scoring chance is awfully impressive.
- Jackson is the hero in this game, yet his defensive play against speedy forward Prab Rai was also impressive. Rai was often times attempting to skate wide on Jackson, only to see the Rockets rearguard staying stride for stride with Seattle’s leading scorer.
- A solid start for goaltender Mark Guggenberger. Gugg’s best save came in overtime off of Rai, when the speedy forward splits the defence and essentially goes in on a breakaway. The save results in the play going the other way and the puck ending up in the back of the T-Birds net.
- The win extends the Rockets winning streak to six games.
- The Rockets out-score the opposition 13-6 in the three weekend wins.
- What comes around, goes around. Prior to last night's win, the Rockets suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to the T-Birds at ShoWare Center. The date was January 31/09. Who was the losing goaltender on that night? Mark Guggenberger. Who was the winning goalie? Calvin Pickard. Sunday the roles were reversed.
- The win pushes the Rockets into 6th place in the Western Conference. While both the Rockets and Blazers now have the same number of points, the Rockets have more wins. The Blazers are now 7th while Chilliwack is 8th.
- The Rockets have scored a shorthanded goal in three consecutive games.
- January was an interesting month. A win followed by a 7 game winless streak followed by a 6 game winning streak.
- The Rockets play 12 games in February, 8 of which are on the road.
- It's February 1st, which means one thing. It's Tyler Myers birthday.
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