Olivia Newton-John would have been proud

• I would doubt that Olivia Newton-John's smash hit from the 80's 'Let's Get Physical' was being played in the Kelowna Rockets dressing room prior to Friday night's road game, but it must have been the game plan against the Kamloops Blazers. The Rockets were physical right from the drop of the puck until the final whistle, in an impressive 5-3 win at the Interior Savings Centre. The game featured five fighting majors with the fireworks starting after a big hit by Blazers defenceman Ryan Funk on Rockets blueliner Tyson Barrie. More on that later.
• How many times have you seen this. One team has a great start and the other team scores. The Rockets take the play to the Blazers in the first five minutes, yet the Blazers score on a shot that seems to hit the glass behind goaltender Adam Brown and finds it's way into the back of the net. Despite the goal, the visitors don't let that bother them, scoring twice in the opening frame and generating 19 shots on goal.
• Blazers goaltender Kurtis Mucha made three nice saves in the opening period, including a penalty shot awarded to Brandon McMillan. McMillan was also robbed on a tremendous blocker save on his off wing before finally scoring on a goal mouth scramble late in the first period to tie the game at two. McMillan would score twice in the win, yet left the game after hurting his ankle late in the second period.
• As mention, Tyson Barrie gets rocked by a huge hit from Blazers d-man Ryan Funk. Barrie is down before slowly making his way to the bench after athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn looks at him on the ice. Barrie didn't miss a shift. Mitchell Callahan then takes matters into his own hands shortly-there-after by engaging in a fight with Funk, knocking him down with a solid right hand. Funk leaves the game with the help of trainer Colin Robinson and teammate CJ Stretch. Funk appears to land awkwardly on his right leg when falling.
• What's gotten into rookie Codey Ito? Ito plays his best game of the season by creating a solid forecheck while assisting on the game winner and scoring in the third period. Ito was a bugger to play against and was determined to win battles for pucks rather than be an eager participant.
• Mark my words, Brett Bulmer is going to be a special player. While Shane McColgan is getting all of the headlines this season as a first year player, Bulmer is going to be a beauty. Bulmer has extremely soft hands which allows him to score goals and set them up. Bulmer picked up three assists Friday night and had a second period tilt with Blazers 16 year-old JC Lipon.
• Ok, this Jordon DePape kid is a player. Sure, he plays for the Blazers, but how can you not be impressed by this 17 year-old? DePape must have had no less than five or six chances to score. That's a great sign from a player who is going to be huge for the Blazers next season. He has a nose for the net.
• Rockets goaltender Adam Brown came to play when he needed too. I didn't like the second goal he gave up through his five-hole, but in a 3-3 tie, his best save came off of DePape with a nice glove hand grab. Brown was sharper than he was Wednesday in Everett. He seemed to be overplaying pucks against the Tips, but that was not the case against the Blazers.
• The opening face-off to the third period was delayed to allow fans at the arena a chance to watch the lighting of the cauldron at the Winter Olympics. The opening ceremony was being broadcast over the video screen on the Interior Savings Centre score clock during the intermission. It almost seemed odd though as the players from each team - officials included - gazed up at the video screen to watch the happenings before play finally resumed after a three minute delay.
• The Rockets win in Kamloops for the first time this season. In their final visit to the Interior Savings Centre, the Rockets managed just one win in four attempts.
• Veteran defenceman Dallas Jackson sat this one out with a leg injury.

Old time hockey=Rockets victory

Rockets 5 Blazers 3

Behind the Mic - Bruce Luebke

Almond makes NHL debut

The list has grown to four.
That is how many players from last years Kelowna Rockets championship team that will have played no less than one game at the NHL level this season.
The most recent player added to that list is 20 year-old Cody Almond, who will make his NHL debut Friday night with the Minnesota Wild.
Almond has 10 points (4-6=10) in the last nine games with the Wild's AHL team in Houston.
Almond joins Tyler Myers (Buffalo), Mikael Backlund (Calgary) and Jamie Benn (Dallas) that have all played a game in the NHL this season.
The 5th round pick of the Wild will be returned to Houston after Sunday's game.

Rockets lose for first time in 10 games

• When you have no less than three – two-on-ones and don’t score, it usually comes back to bite you. The Rockets should be sporting a huge welt after being bit hard by the Everett Silvertips Wednesday night. The Rockets failed to score early and the Tips took over, in a 4-0 loss. Had the Rockets scored, we would have had a terrific game on our hands.
• How tough of a night was it in the offensive zone for the Rockets? How about Spencer Main’s breakaway in the second period that goes for not. Main attempts to go to the backhand, only to lose control as the puck harmlessly is kicked aside by the left pad of Tips goaltender Thomas Heemskerk.
• Another good example of no puck luck was in the third period on a pretty pass Rockets d-man Tyson Barrie makes from the right boards to teammate Shane McColgan. McColgan is standing alone at the left side of the Tips net, but instead of one timing the puck into the open side, his shot goes wide. The 17 year-old doesn’t miss those very often. Few 23 goal scorer do.
• Positives? Brett Bulmer’s hustle and determination can’t be ignored. The 17 year-old attempts to jump start his team with a late 2nd period fight. The rookie is playing hard consistently, not sporadically, which makes him a lethal player.
• Speaking of rookies, Max Adolph showed some jam. A third period fight was the punctuation of a solid effort by a player who you often don’t notice on the ice. An emotionally involved Max Adolph equates into a much better player.
• The Rockets gave up a power play goal for the first time in 7 games. The game winner at the midway point of the first period was a power play goal.
• The Rockets played this game without two key players. Dallas Jackson remains out with a leg injury while forward Brandon McMillan remained at the hotel after falling ill Tuesday night on the trip down to Everett.
• While the Rockets were 1 and 4 against the Tips in the seasonal series, injury and illness played a huge factor in the Rockets lack of seasonal series success. It would have been nice to see what the result would have been had the Rockets iced a healthy team. Maybe my wish will be granted in the first round of the playoffs.
• Why would I like to see these two teams meet in the opening round? Rivalry. I think the fans of both teams have built up a health dislike for one another over the years thanks to playoff battles in 04 and again in 06. I love the Comcast Arena. They may be cheering against the visitors, but it’s a fun place to be. The travel is also ideal. A five hour trip between the two centers is a breeze.

Tips 4 Rockets 0 Final

I had to take this pic. And no, I did not ask him to pose that way!

Kyle Beach is a bobblehead

Did I get you? Did you think I was trash talking my boy Beach? I am sure Kyle Beach has heard many a opposition fan yell out at him things far worse than "Hey Beach, you bobblehead".
I understand the first one thousand fans at tonight's game in Everett receive a Kellan Tochkin bobblehead.

Playoff preview?

• Evan Bloodoff is practicing with the team, contact included. The 19 year-old forward underwent knee surgery this fall and appears to be on the mend. If everything goes according to plan, Bloodoff could be back in the lineup in three weeks.
• Tonight's game between the Rockets and Tips could potentially be a playoff preview between these two teams. The Tips are 3rd in the conference while the Rockets are 6th. It translates into a first round meeting if things stay the same.
• These two teams last met in the third round of the playoffs back in 2003. We all remember what happened in that seven game series. The Tips were down 3 games to one only to win the next three games - all by a single goal.
• As pointed out by Roddy in the comments section, these two teams also battled in the 2006 playoffs. The Tips advanced in that series too.
• While the Tips were the heavy underdogs heading into the series in 2003 - the roles would be reversed in 2010.
• Maybe the Tips coaches have the Rockets pegged as a first round opponent. Why? They were sure watching the Rockets closely go through a pre-game skate this morning at Comcast Arena. It's an unwritten rule that you don't watch the other team skate the day of the game. After seeing the Tips coaches watching from the stands, their goes that theory.
• Defenceman Dallas Jackson won't play tonight. Jackson is out with a leg injury. Remember when he hobbled off the ice a couple of games ago?
• Rumours...rumours...rumours. A report of a veteran Rockets player leaving the team are just that - a rumour.

Habscheid knows pressure that Olympics bring

Marc Habscheid knows something about the pressure of playing hockey for Canada at the Winter Olympics.
The head coach of the Chilliwack Bruins was a player with Canada's Men's Team at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.
Habscheid wore sweater #14 with Team Canada, coached by Dave King.
Habscheid played with the likes of Andy Moog, Shaun Burke, Steve Tambellini, Trent Yawney and Jim Peplinski.
The Canadian team finished 4th.

Crowd noise in Chilliwack is indeed legit

I've been informed that when the video monitor asks for crowd noise at Chilliwack Bruins homes games, pumped-in crowd noise is not used. In fact the noise that you hear in the building is indeed - the fans.
Good to know.
Robbie Snooks, video director for the Bruins sent an e-mail to straighen me out.
Thanks Robbie.
I know what you are all saying after reading this blog entry.
Now I can sleep better at night.
As can I my friend, as can I.

Better late than never?

• Talk about getting back on track. A solid effort Saturday night in Chilliwack with a 1-0 win over the hometown Bruins. Good energy from all four lines and Adam Brown was solid in goal. I would almost go out on a limb and say it was Brown's best performance of the season. Brown didn't need to be spectacular, but was in control on every shot he faced. I hate when goaltenders overplay pucks and seem to be out of control to make a second save. Brown was square to the puck and made the routine saves look - routine.
• The lone goal of the game is scored early in the third period, yet I thought the Rockets created some good things in the offensive zone. While Brown was named the games first star, Lucas Gore, the Bruins goaltender, was just as good.
• The penalty kill continues to impress. With Brett Bulmer in the box for a double minor for high sticking, the penalty killing unit shut the door, as the Bruins attempt to send the game into overtime. The Rockets have not allowed a power play goal against in 6 games. The last team to score a power play against the Rockets was the Seattle Thunderbirds on January 27th.
• Bulmer receives a double minor for high sticking late in the third period after his stick strikes a Bruins player. Bulmer has no choice but to loose control of his stick after almost getting his head taken off with an open ice hit.
• A magician, brought in for a second intermission performance, was gathering almost as much attention in the upper concourse during the third period than what was happening on the ice. I am not saying the game lacked entertainment, but it's a sad commentary that a hockey fan in Chilliwack pays good money to watch junior hockey and then is more interested in a magician doing a slight of hand trick, rather than watching two teams involved in a one goal game.
• I thought it was a classy move by the Bruins organization when they dedicated a moment of silence in memory of Brendan Burke. The 21 year-old is the son of Leafs GM Brian Burke, died tragically in a car accident Friday night. Burke is a co-owner of the Chilliwack Bruins. I was given a black ribbon by the Bruins organization before the game that I wore on my suit jacket in memory of Burke.
• The win was the Rockets 9th straight. When was the last time this team won 9 in a row? It was during the 2005-2006 season when the team won 10 straight from October 2nd to November 21st. It started with a win over Everett and ended with a shootout loss to the Vancouver Giants.
• A day up at Silver Star on Sunday is the reason for the late post. No one was thinking hockey on Sunday were they? Everyone was tuned into the Super Bowl, minus me.

Solid!

Solid 1-0 win in Chilliwack tonight.
More later.

Brian Burke's son remembered in Chilliwack

A moment of silence will be held for Brendan Burke, the son of Toronto general manager Brian Burke who the died in a car accident, before the Kelowna Rockets road game against the Chilliwack Bruins.
The 21-year-old Burke died after his car slid sideways into the path of another car on a snowy Indiana road on Friday.
Brian Burke is a co-owner of the Chillwack Bruins hockey club. Here is my conversation before the game with Bruins co-owner Darryl Porter and friend of Brian Burke.

Porter is expected to attend the funeral on Tuesday.