Derailing the 'Cane Train'

• J.T Barnett picked a perfect time to score his first game winning goal as a member of the Kelowna Rockets. The 20 year-old's back hand shot squeezed through the legs of Hurricanes goaltender Ty Rimmer on a first period power play, leading the Rockets to a 3-1 win. It was Barnett's fourth goal of the season and came less than a minute after teammate Carter Rigby opened the scoring on a blast from just inside the blue line. 
• The coaching staff were hoping for a better start Wednesday night and the players delivered. The Rockets had some sustained pressure inside the Hurricanes zone, yet didn't manufacture a lot of quality chances. Oddly enough, it was the Hurricanes that had two tremendous chances, none better than a Jay Merkley shot from the slot that Jordon Cooke snared out of mid air. I am not sure if Cooke reads my drivel on this blog, but last week I was semi critical of his play. If he is indeed making me eat my words, good on him. Cooke has been nothing short of solid in these first two games of this Central Division road trip.
• Speaking of Cooke, he now has appeared in 25 games this season. That is the exact number of games he appeared in last season as a back up to Adam Brown. Oddly enough, he has allowed the same number of goals (63) as he did after 25 appearances last season. The only difference this year is he has played more minutes as the teams starter. 
• The Rockets were clearly back on their heels in the third period when the Hurricanes put on the pressure and had a distinct territorial advantage. I counted four goal posts hit in the final period by the Hurricanes while fellow broadcaster Pat Sidlecki counted six. Regardless, the Hurricanes hit the 'skinny red guys' several times in an effort to tie the game at two.
• An empty net goal by Colton Heffley sealed the win, but the Rockets could have avoided trouble earlier but missed on two gorgeous scoring chances. Ty Rimmer robbed Carter Rigby with a huge blocker save in the second period while Cody Fowlie found daylight on a breakaway chance in the third period but lost the puck on the backhand.  Had the Rockets scored on those two chances, it  would have been lights out early for the Hurricanes.        
• The Rockets penalty killing unit continues to be the story this season. The team killed off all four power play chances the Hurricanes were granted. That is no small feat for a Lethbridge team that has the second most power play chances of any one in the WHL. On top of that, the Hurricanes have one player tied for the league lead in power play goals. Russell Maxwell has 9.     
• I thought it was a much improved game by Rigby. He was physical and did a good job of separating the man from the puck and getting it on his stick. But one solid game won't cut it. Rigby needs to play with determination every time he's in the line up, not teasing us with an occasional glimpse of brilliance. He played hard last night and it showed. Like any player at this level, if you don't put out you look pretty mediocre.      
• The Rockets are 12 games above the .500 mark after 32 games. That is 21 wins in 32 games. Last season after 32 games the Rockets were 13-15-3 and 1. The Rockets have 8 more wins, 6 fewer losses and 14 more points than at this point last season.
• The Rockets are now 2 and 0 on a Central Division road trip. Back in 2003-2004, the Rockets were also involved in a road trip that featured five games in six nights. The team was on an Eastern Conference road trip prior to Christmas and won all five games.
• I know many of you Rockets fans watched the game on TV last night. From a radio perspective, the game is painfully slow. The amount of stoppages is ridiculous and the amount of needless talking that I had to do last night to fill (kill) time was crazy. Essential 13 minutes and 30 seconds is wasted on TV commercial breaks during the periods alone. 
• The Kamloops Blazers are staying at the same hotel as the Rockets are in Medicine Hat. This is the second time this has happened. If I'm not mistaken, it happened last year too. Not sure how well this would have gone over in the 80's, but we are now a peaceful bunch.

Unlikely source scores winner

• "The last time I scored two goals in a season it was pee-wee". Those were the words of defenceman Cole Martin after helping his team earn its 20th win of the season. Martin scored about six minutes into the third period to break a 1-1 tie, helping the Rockets to a 3-1 win last night over the Kootenay Ice. Martin now has two goals this season, a career high after scoring just once as a rookie. Martin now has three career Western Hockey League regular season goals. All three have been game winners. 
• Tyson Baillie's game has come alive at just the right time. Playing on a line with 20 year-old's Dylen McKinlay and Cody Fowlie, Baillie scored twice in last night's win and now has four goals in his last two games.
• It was a slow start for the Rockets last night. Generating just four shots in the opening frame pretty much tells you the story. The Rockets had a good first shift and spent some significant time in Kootenay's zone but came away empty handed. Jordon Cooke had to make a few solid stops to keep his team close before they exploded with three unanswered goals in the third. 
• Cooke's best save came when his team was leading 2-1. Cooke robbed Ice forward Erik Benoit of a sure goal when he made a desperation save by diving across and getting his left arm on the puck and deflecting it wide. Cooke was on his 'A' game last night and it was his best showing this month. Cooke was named the games first star.
• Rockets forward Dylen McKinlay found himself in a spirited scrap with Ice forward Austin Vetterl in the first period. The tilt erupted out of no where when I saw McKinlay throwing rights with Vetterl doing all the catching. McKinlay doesn't fight often - it was his first fighting major with the Rockets - but the 20 year-old can handle himself quite nicely thank you.   
• Myles Bell had an assist, giving him 150 points in his WHL career.  The 19 year-old is one shy of 100 assists for his career heading into today's game in Lethbridge.
• Best player/players for the Ice? I sure liked Benoit and Jaedon Descheneau was a close second. Both players can skate. Descheneau is a 1995 born player but receives a lot of ice time. 
• Ryan McGill looks angry. The Kootenay Ice coach looked pissed off every time I looked at the Ice bench. I guess I would be too with 9 wins this season. We used to have some good talks when I was interviewing him as a young radio broadcaster with the Swift Current Broncos. They say we do get crankier as we get older though.
• On the polar opposite of the spectrum, it was nice to run into Ice GM Jeff Chynoweth in the second period intermission. Great guy who always has time to talk. You've probably read a lot - thanks to me during an interview two seasons ago - about Chynoweth being sour over low attendance numbers at Kootenay home games. He had a point. The Ice haven't missed the playoffs in Cranbrook and the banners are a clear sign of success. I've read recently that fans in Kootenay are suggesting the Ice don't promote themselves anymore in the community like they used too. But can I say one thing about Chynoweth that others may not be aware of? Name me another WHL GM that is seen standing on the concourse during the intermission talking with their fans? Tuesday night, Chynoweth was mingling with the paying public, something many in his position wouldn't lower themselves into doing. Chynoweth is chatting with me for a few minutes and periodically saying hi to those that walked by him. If that isn't impressive public relations work folks, I don't know what is. 

Back on the bus

The Kelowna Rockets are back on the bus today making their way to Cranbrook for the start of a Central Division road trip which starts Tuesday against the Kootenay Ice. The Rockets play five games in six nights, which includes stops in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Calgary. The team will be minus captain Colton Sissons, who is recovering from injury and has been sent home to Vancouver for the Christmas break.

Rockets notes vs. Cougars

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets look for their 12^th straight home ice win tonight against the visiting Prince George Cougars. This is the 5^th meeting of the season between the two teams. The Rockets are 3-1-0-0, having out-scored their BC Division rivals 18-11. The Cougars have not scored a goal in Kelowna in two visits, losing 3-0 and 5-0. The last Cougars goal at Prospera Place came last season from Troy Bourke, who scored into an empty net in a 3-1 win. Overall, the Rockets have four regulation losses in their last nineteen games (14-4-0-1) with setbacks to Tri City (3-2) twice by the same score, a 5-3 loss in Edmonton October 27^th and a 4-2 setback in Seattle December 1^st. The Rockets have won eleven of their last fourteen games overall. The Rockets head out on a five game road trip before Christmas next week with stops in Kootenay (Tues), Lethbridge (Wed), Medicine Hat (Fri) Red Deer (Saturdday) and Calgary (Sunday).       

Team Canada Calls Kelowna: Captain Colton Sissons was named to the training camp roster for the Canadian World Junior team. Sissons is unable to participate because of injury. Sissons was trying to become the 12^th player in the organization to play for Canada at the WJHC. The Rockets have been well represented on Team Canada, with 17 players, coaches and medical staff. Current assistant coach Dan Lambert played for Canada at the 1989 tournament in Alaska.    

This and That: The Rockets won 18 straight home games during the 2002-2003 season…Myles Bell is two points shy of 150 for his WHL career…Bell and line-mate Dylen McKinlay are the only two Rockets to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 16 of their last 21 games with one game being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have allowed eight power play goals against in their last fourteen games….The Rockets have seven power play goal in their last fifteen games (7 for 49 over that span)….The Rockets have eighteen wins in 29 games this season….In the Rockets 18 wins, Myles Bell has earned 33 points (13+20=33). Of the 89 goals scored by the team in those eighteen wins, Bell has been in on 33 of them….Bell has 18+25=43 after 29 games; two points shy of his career high of 45 points set with the Regina Pats as a 17 year-old….. The Rockets have scored 93 goals in their last twenty-one games....Jordon Cooke was named the CHL/Vaughn Goaltender of the Week for October 22-28th. Cooke had two wins last week which included a shutout and a save percentage of .967…Ryan Olsen played in his 150^th career WHL game Nov 3^rd against visiting Prince George…Ryan Huska recorded his 200^th WHL regular season victory November 24^th against the visiting Saskatoon Blades…The Rockets are 12 and 2 after 14 home games this season…Madison Bowey (10), Mitch heaton (22) are rated among the top skaters in the WHL by NHL Central Scouting for June’s draft. Jackson Whistle is ranked 7^th among WHL goalies…Austin Glover (Team Western), Rourke Chartier (Team Western) and Riley Stadel (Team Pacific) will all play at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in late December in Quebec. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 65-26 on home ice this season…The Rockets are one of six teams in the WHL with over 100 goals scored this season (117). Last season the team scored 217 times....Zach Franko had 3+4=7 after 26 games last season. This season the Winnipeg resident has 12+17=29 after 27 games.

Who’s Hot: Myles Bell had 16 points in November (8+8=16). Bell has 19 points in his last ten games. Colton Sissons is riding a seven game point streak (1+7=8). Ryan Olsen has (8+3=11) in his last ten games. Zach Franko has 3+9=12 in last eight games. Tyson Baillie has 2+7=9 in last eleven games. 

Man Games Lost to Injury = 78 games lost

J.T Barnett: 21 games lost     Mitchell Chapman: 29 games lost

Carter Rigby: 12 games lost   Zach Franko: 2 games lost

MacKenzie Johnston: 14 games lost   Jordon Cooke: 2 games lost

Colton Sissons: 1 game lost

Three Stars:

Myles Bell leads the Rockets in three star-balloting with 9. Bell has been named the second star a team leading six times…Jordon Cooke has been named a star 7 times, with a team leading three – first star appearances. Zach Franko has also been named a star 7 times.        

Getting away with a win with a less than stellar effort

• It only made sense that Kelowna Rockets forward Dylen McKinlay would be credited with Wednesday night's game winning goal. Why? Because it was ugly, much like the Rockets effort in a 6-5 home ice win over the visiting Swift Current Broncos. McKinlay's game winner came in the third period after he was pushed into the net and line mate Cody Fowlie fired a shot that struck the startled 20 year-old and went past Broncos goaltender Eetu Laurikainen. The goal was one of four the Rockets would score in the third period to extend their home ice winning streak to 11 games. 
• The first period was as bad a period as we've seen at Prospera Place this season. You can thank the visitors for that with a text book road game. Greasy, slow with no flow and few scoring chances. It was tough to watch. The two teams combined for just 12 shots with 19 year-old Adam Lowry getting his first of three on the night on a goal that appeared to go off his skate and past Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke. Cooke attempted to play the puck behind the net but it was quickly centered and went off Lowry's skate blade and into the net. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick would score a shorthanded goal (penalty shot) and a power play goal to help his team build up a 3-1 second period lead. It looked like Swift Current would win their first game of a BC Division road trip but the Rockets had other ideas.
• The biggest goal of the game likely came when 16 year-old Broncos rookie d-man Brycen Martin took a slashing penalty with under two minutes to play in the second period. With Martin's team up 3-1, Rockets leading scorer Myles Bell found teammate Ryan Olsen at the side of the net with a perfect pass and the home team went into the dressing room down by one. It was Olsen's 15th goal of the season and team leading eighth on the power play. Olsen had 15 goals all of last season. 
• The Rockets gave up two shorthanded goals. It marked the second time this season that has happened. The Rockets lost 3-2 in Tri City in late November when Justin Feser scored a pair of goals while the Rockets were enjoying the power play.
• I am not often critical on Jordon Cooke, but I thought the 19 year-old goaltender had a rough game. I thought Broncos goaltender Eetu Laurikainen was better, but failed to make a crucial stop on J.T Barnett in the third period. Barnett's goal beat the Finnish goalie to tie the game at 3. The 19 year-old rookie made two huge saves though against Colton Heffley in the second period and another nice left pad save against Henrik Nyberg in the third. Both saves are WHL Plays of the Week material, especially the desperation save against Heffley in the second period.
• It marked the first time this season the Rockets have come back after trailing after 40 minutes. 
• Despite giving up two shorthanded goals, the Rockets killed off a crucial 5 on 3 in the second period when Cole Martin was tagged for tripping and Mitch Wheaton went to the box for shooting the puck over the glass. The Broncos owned the second best power play heading into Wednesday's game but manufactured little on that ideal opportunity. The visitors would score shortly after though as Martin took another penalty 16 seconds later.
• The Rockets played the game without captain Colton Sissons, who is out with an upper body injury.
• With their 12th win on home ice this season, the Rockets own the second best home winning percentage in the WHL. Only Portland's is slightly better. The Rockets have 12 home ice wins. Portland and Kamloops have 13 but have played more home games than the Rockets have.  
• Broncos 1st round pick Glenn Gawdin made his WHL debut, but outside of warm up, I don't think he saw the ice. If he did, I didn't notice him. 
• While it is obvious that Adam Lowry was the best Bronco, I sure liked the play of d-man Reece Scarlett. I thought he made good decisions and blocked a lot of shots. Graham Black is a minus three at games end but he too had a lot of try in his game. 
• The Rockets are now 5 and 0 against teams in the Eastern Division, with wins over Swift Current, Saskatoon, Brandon, Moose Jaw and Regina. The only team we haven't seen is first place Prince Albert.

Game notes vs. Broncos

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets look for their 11^th straight home ice win tonight against the visiting Swift Current Broncos. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 46-12 over that stretch. This is the only meeting of the season between the Rockets and Broncos. They met December 9/2011 in a 4-3 shootout loss in Swift Current. Zach Franko, MacKenzie Johnston and Brett Bulmer scored in the loss. The Broncos last appearance at Prospera Place was December 8/2010 in a 4-1 win. The Broncos erupted for three-third period goals in the win. Cody Chikie scored in a losing cause. Overall, the Rockets have four regulation losses in their last eighteen games (13-4-0-1) with setbacks to Tri City (3-2) twice by the same score, a 5-3 loss in Edmonton October 27^th and a 4-2 setback in Seattle Saturday night. The Rockets have won ten of their last thirteen games overall. The Rockets host Prince George Saturday night before heading out on an Alberta road trip before Christmas.    

Team Canada Calls Kelowna: Captain Colton Sissons has been named to the training camp roster for the Canadian World Junior team. Main camp is next week in Calgary. Sissons is trying to become the 12^th player in the organization to play for Canada at the WJHC. The Rockets have been well represented on Team Canada, with 17 players, coaches and medical staff. Current assistant coach Dan Lambert played for Canada at the 1989 tournament in Alaska.   

This and That: The Rockets won 18 straight home games during the 2002-2003 season…Myles Bell is four points shy of 150 for his WHL career…Bell and line-mate Dylen McKinlay are the only two Rockets to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 16 of their last 20 games with one game being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have allowed seven power play goals against in their last thirteen games….The Rockets have six power play goal in their last fourteen games (6 for 45 over that span)….The Rockets have seventeen wins in 28 games this season….In the Rockets 17 wins, Myles Bell has earned 31 points (13+18=31). Of the 83 goals scored by the team in those seventeen wins, Bell has been in on 31 of them….Bell has 18+23=41 after 28 games, the same total number of points he had all of last season…The Rockets have scored 87 goals in their last twenty games....Jordon Cooke was named the CHL/Vaughn Goaltender of the Week for October 22-28th. Cooke had two wins last week which included a shutout and a save percentage of .967…Ryan Olsen played in his 150^th career WHL game Nov 3^rd against visiting Prince George…Ryan Huska recorded his 200^th WHL regular season victory last Saturday against the visiting Saskatoon Blades…The Rockets are 11 and 2 after 13 home games this season…Madison Bowey (10), Mitch Wheaton (22) are rated among the top skaters in the WHL by NHL Central Scouting for June’s draft. Jackson Whistle is ranked 7^th among WHL goalies…Austin Glover (Team Western), Rourke Chartier (Team Western) and Riley Stadel (Team Pacific) will all play at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in late December in Quebec. The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 59-21 on home ice this season…The Rockets are one of six teams in the WHL with over 100 goals scored this season (111). Last season the team scored 217 times....Zach Franko had 3+4=7 after 26 games last season. This season the Winnipeg resident has 11+16=27 after 26 games.

Who’s Hot: Myles Bell had 16 points in November (8+8=16). Bell has 17 points in his last nine games. Colton Sissons is riding a seven game point streak (1+7=8). Ryan Olsen has (7+3=10) in his last nine games. Zach Franko has 2+8=10 in last seven games. Tyson Baillie has 2+5=7 in last ten games. 

Man Games Lost to Injury = 78 games lost

J.T Barnett: 21 games lost     Mitchell Chapman: 28 games lost

Carter Rigby: 12 games lost   Zach Franko: 2 games lost

MacKenzie Johnston: 13 games lost   Jordon Cooke: 2 games lost

Three Stars:

Myles Bell leads the Rockets in three star-balloting with 9. Bell has been named the second star a team leading six times…Jordon Cooke has been named a star 7 times, with a team leading three – first star appearances. Zach Franko has also been named a star 7 times.       

Trade Winds Blow: The Rockets traded 18 year-old Filip Vasko to the Red Deer Rebels last Wednesday for a 6^th round bantam pick. It marks the 8^th player move the team has made this season. Four players have been acquired since September (McKinlay, Whistle, Barnett, Fowlie) and four have been sent elsewhere (Vasko, Ferguson, Moar, Coyle.)

News, notes and a couple of quotes

• The Kelowna Rockets have 17 wins in 28 games this season. Last season the team didn't win its 17th game until game number 41. That win came January 7th against the Victoria Royals in a 4-3 shootout victory. 
• Last season the team played in 15 shootout games. This season - just one . It came in a 4-3 shootout loss in Medicine Hat on October 24th.
• A lot of NHL scouts are following the Kelowna Rockets these days and this is what two of them had to say about draft eligible Madison Bowey and teammate Mitch Wheaton. Let's start with Bowey. "He is a do-all defenceman. He is a fantastic skater for a big guy. He can play in all situations and is getting better". Here is what another NHL scout thought of defenceman Mitch Wheaton. "He got off to a slow start, but I thought he was excellent in Everett the other night when I saw him. He is not as smooth a skater as Bowey but plays an intelligent game". The reason why these two NHL scouts were not identified is they often are less apt to speak their mind if they are outed. This way we get an honest opinion on how Bowey and Wheaton are evolving as prospects. 
• The Kelowna Rockets only have two players that have a chance of playing in all 72 games this season. With Colton Sissons sitting out Saturday's game in Seattle with an injury, only Myles Bell and Dylen McKinlay have played in all 28 games this season. 
• Jeff Finley used to be an assistant coach with the Kelowna Rockets. Finley is now a scout with the NHL's Detroit Redwings. Finley is as frustrated as anyone with the NHL lockout. Finley, who played 15 seasons (708 games) with various teams, had his NHL career ended by the lockout in 2005. That I did not know. Finley, 38 at the time, had shoulder surgery in the off season and went to play in Europe and never made it back to the NHL again when it resumed in 2005-2006.        
• Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Morgan Rielly made a visit to Kelowna last week and I spoke to him about his name being mentioned in a trade with the WHL deadline in early January. "I am pretty comfortable in Moose Jaw. I am not to worried about the trade deadline. I think if it came up, I wouldn't be the only person that would hear about it. I just want to be a leader to all these guys and be a positive example in practice and games." Rielly was the Toronto Maple Leafs first round pick, fifth overall, in this summers draft. That is the same spot former Kelowna Rockets defenceman Luke Schenn was selected when the Leafs picked the Saskatoon resident in 2008. "Anytime their is an 18 year-old (Schenn) that played in the league, it gives hope to other prospects. He is a great player and to see him jump right to the pros at 18 is pretty impressive."  
• MacKenzie Johnston and Cole Martin are two Kelowna Rockets defenceman that often don't get the attention and credit they deserve. You won't see them on the score sheet often, and you don't have media types like me hunting them down for interviews because they don't play the type of game that has hockey fans jumping out of their seat in excitement. What they are is steady, stay at home defenceman. I asked Cole Martin if it is frustrating that he doesn't get the credit he deserves."If you look at it, you could feel that way. I am not here to get the press from everybody. I am here to help my team win and shut down the other teams top line."
• Speaking of defenceman, how good has 18 year-old Damon Severson been this season? Now in his third season in the WHL, Severson's point totals are down significantly from last season but the New Jersey Devils draft pick is playing more like the 2nd rounder they made him this summer. Severson's decision making with the puck has improved significantly from a year ago and his calm demeanor without it has made him a valuable asset to a team that implements two 17 year-old's and one 16 year-old back on the blue line.
• The Swift Current Broncos visit the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday night. Rockets assistant coach Dan Lambert still holds a Broncos franchise record. Lambert holds the team record for assists in a career with 244, set between 1986 and 1990.
• Best quote of the weekend came from Kelowna Rockets Swedish import Henrik Nyberg (pictured) when I asked him about his roommate Carter Rigby's mustache. The question came about with the conclusion of 'Movember'. "It is pretty good. I think he dyed it. Don't say anything", he said sheepishly. Nyberg made the remark while doing a radio interview, so obviously the cat is now out of the bag.     
• Seattle Thunderbird forward Luke Lockhart played in his 300th career WHL game Saturday against the Rockets. Who was the last player to hit the 300 game plateau wearing Kelowna colours? It was Geordie Wudrick two seasons ago. Dylen McKinlay has a chance to hit 300 games played in the new year. If he stays healthy, McKinlay will celebrate his 300th game, at home, against Victoria on January 31st.
• Zach Franko is the third highest scoring second round bantam pick the Kelowna Rockets have ever drafted. Franko has 119 career points, which puts him 58 points behind Blake Comeau, who holds down second spot after being drafted in the second round in 2001. The team's top scoring second round bantam pick is Jason Deleurme. J.D had 313 career points in five seasons with Tacoma/Kelowna. Deleurme was a second round pick in the 1992 WHL bantam draft. Safe to say, no one will knock Deleurme off that pedestal any time soon.

Sissons wearing Canadian colours?

Can Colton Sissons become the 12th member of the Kelowna Rockets organization to wear Canadian colours at the World Junior Hockey Championships? Sissons can join an elite group which includes, Tyson Barrie, Brandon McMillan, Tyler Myers, Jamie Benn, Luke Schenn, Blake Comeau, Shea Weber, Josh Gorges, Chuck Kobasew, Brett McLean and Robb Gordon. Of those 11 players, nine have played at one time in the NHL.
The Rockets organization has also sent four coaches to represent Canada at the WJHC and two athletic therapists.  Ryan Huska, Jeff Truitt, Marc Habscheid and Marcel Comeau have been apart of the coaching staff while Jeff Thorburn and Scott Hoyer have lent a helping hand to the training staff. 
All totaled, that is 17 individuals from the Kelowna Rockets organization that have either played or participated at the World Juniors. Impressive!

Opposing goalies receive 1st star status

• The Kelowna Rockets did a good job this week. They did a good job of making opposing goaltenders look pretty darn good.  In a 3-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors Friday night, Daniel Wapple was named the first star in a losing cause. A night later, this time on the road in a 4-2 loss to Seattle, Brandon Glover made 37 saves and again earned first star honours.  Both goaltenders did what they had to do - stop the puck - but often the Rockets made them look good by shooting at them, not around them. Seventy three (73) shots over two games should be enough to score more than just five goals.

• Myles Bell closed out the month of November with 16 points in 12 games and then promptly opened the month of December with a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the T-Birds. Bell now has 18 goals and has tied his point total from all of last season.     

• I always wonder what happens when a team plays six games in nine nights and the mental mistakes those create to a particular player who usually doesn’t find himself in that position. I thought that was the case on two of the T-Birds goals where a defenceman falls down for no apparent reason creating a two-on-one. Both miscues result in goals against and are the difference between a win and a loss.

• Despite a rough start Saturday night, which saw the Rockets down 2-0 after 20 minutes, it was a heck of a comeback for a team that typically plays with the lead. A goal from rookie Rourke Chartier followed by a wonderful set up by Ryan Olsen for Myles Bell’s team leading 18^th of the season had the Rockets on even terms late in the third period.  The killer was giving up the game winner less than a minute later when Seattle d-man Shea Theodore fired a point shot that seemed to change directions past goaltender Jackson Whistle. It was Whistle’s first loss of the season after going six straight starts with a win.

• The Rockets won’t give up four goals often. If they do it usually equates into a loss. It did Saturday night. It also did October 27^th in a 5-3 loss in Edmonton. The Rockets went 12 straight games without surrendering more than three goals against.

• The Rockets played Saturday’s game without captain Colton Sissons. Sissons, who centres Kelowna’s number one line with Bell and Dylen McKinlay, was hurt Friday after being checked from behind. Sissons hopes to get healthy in a hurry as his name will likely be added to a list of players that will be invited to take part in Team Canada’s main camp in Calgary later this month. The Rockets also missed the services of Carter Rigby, who was suspended one game for his involvement in a skirmish at the buzzer in Fridays win against the Warriors. Rigby was suspended because he was not on the ice when the buzzer sounded, yet got involved in an altercation at the conclusion of the game.

• Six. Count them. Six. The Rocket hit six cross bar and posts on the weekend.  A little puck luck wouldn’t have hurt. Twenty year-old J.T Barnett was particularly snake bitten Saturday in Seattle. Barnett hit a cross bar, failed to convert after splitting two T-Bird defenseman in the second period and saw a shot beat Glover before going dangerously towards the goal line but staying out.             

• If you are wondering, Myles Bell led all Rockets in November with 16 points (8+8=16). Ryan Olsen had 10 points (8+2=10) while Rourke Chartier was third with (5+4=9).

• Saturday’s loss against Seattle is the first of 11 games in December. Of those 11, seven will be played on the road. The only four home games are against Swift Current, Prince George, Kamloops and Everett.