Adversity nothing new for Rockets in quest for glory

Losing Colton Sissons for the majority of the 2013 playoffs is a tough pill to swallow. The team will be without its captain, most valuable player, top face-off man and arguably its hardest worker. But should we be surprised at the Kelowna Rockets run of bad luck when they are positioned at winning a Western Hockey League championship?
If you follow this team closely, an injury or loss of a high end or character player has been common place for this franchise dating back to 2002.
For whatever reason, the Rockets take the road less traveled before rising to the top.
Strange, but true.  

Kiel McLeod

Let me take you back to the spring of 2002 when the Kelowna Rockets were making their first appearance in the Western Conference final. In a series against the eventual Memorial Cup champion Kootenay Ice, Rockets 19 year-old forward Travis Moen would lose his father Brian to a heart attack after game three. Moen was shattered by the loss as were his teammates. Moen attended his fathers funeral in Saskatchewan and never returned, missing the final three games of that series, which the Ice eventually won in five games.
Fast forward to the spring of 2003 and the wonderful season 19 year-old centreman Kyle McLeod was enjoying. The second round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets had 39 goals and 90 points in 68 games that season. The big, strong McLeod would play in the first eight games of the playoffs before suffering an appendectomy. McLeod would watch from the sidelines as his team won a WHL championship over the Red Deer Rebels before eventually playing late in the 2003 Memorial Cup in Quebec City.
It wouldn't end there.
In the teams Memorial Cup hosting year (2004), captain Josh Gorges suffers a ligament tear in his knee, and instead of undergoing surgery to end his season, he wears a brace and competes and wins junior hockey's ultimate prize. 

Derek Yeomans

In 2005, on their way to a second WHL title, again the injury bug bit hard on the Kelowna Rockets. This time starting goaltender Derek Yeomans went down to a playoff ending knee injury after colliding with Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Steven Later in game one. Yeomans, who finished the game with a 28 save shutout performance, wouldn't return for the remainder of the series, nor the Memorial Cup. Back up Kristofer Westblom would win games two through five before raising the Ed Chynoweth trophy over his head as league champions.
Even in 2009, the Rockets last title, adversity came in the form of their most dynamic player going down in the championship final against the high powered Calgary Hitmen. Jamie Benn, who put opposing goaltenders into a cold sweat in their sleep, was knocked out of game two after a hard hit. Benn would miss games three, four and five before coming back in game six and promptly assisting on the game winning goal in overtime leading the Rockets to a game six series win and a third WHL championship.

Jamie Benn

So in review, the Kelowna Rockets have faced adversity of some sort in all three league titles they have won. In each case, other players have stepped up when common sense would suggest the Rockets were in a heap of trouble. Instead of succumbing to what fate had handed them, they fought back with grit, heart and determination before finding themselves in the winners circle.
Now, before the 2013 playoffs have even started the team has again been delivered with another dose of tough luck with the loss of Colton Sissons.
Again things won't come easy.
But if you are a Kelowna Rockets player and you want to win a championship, its just the way it goes down in these parts.

Rockets lose MVP for start of playoffs

The Kelowna Rockets will open the playoffs without their captain and most valuable player. Colton Sissons (pictured to the right during Sunday's awards ceremony) has been sidelined with an upper body injury suffered in the second last game of the regular season against the Vancouver Giants. Sissons had a career high 28 goals this season in arguably his final year in a Rockets uniform. Sissons admits it will be tough to watch his team during the best time of the year.
"We are going to need guys to step up and fill that void of leadership. I am going to be around obviously, so I will have an impact in the dressing room on our guys. We need everyone to step up here and take it to a new level.
Leading scorer Myles Bell agrees.
"We played without him in December when he was hurt and everyone stepped up. Having him out makes everyone better because everyone plays harder to fill those shoes".
Sissons missed 10 games with an upper body injury in December and the Rockets managed 8 wins in 10 games.

52! A new franchise record

• Don Hay has respect for Kelowna head coach Ryan Huska. The feeling is mutual. That may be the reason why Hay returned the game puck to Huska following the Kelowna Rockets record breaking 52nd win of the season Saturday night. Huska, noting that it was the Vancouver Giants head coaches one thousandth game in the WHL, promptly handed it back to the veteran bench boss. Huska's Rockets concluded a dream regular season with a 5-2 win over the Giants, winning their 52nd game of the season and breaking the team record of 51 wins set back in 2002-2003.    
• The Rockets finish the season as only one of three teams with 50 or more wins. Portland (56 and counting) and Edmonton (51) also hit the plateau. The Rockets ended the season with 108 points, one point shy of the 109 the team put up in 2002-2003.
• The 2002-2003 team had a defense comprised of Josh Gorges, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith and Mike Card. Brett Palin and Tomas Slovak, who is one of the best European d-man the team has developed, also patrolled the Rockets blue line that season. Those are some impressive names. In fact, eight of the players on the 2002-2003 team played in at least one NHL game. Blake Comeau, Troy Bodie and Cam Paddock were also on that team.  
• The win was significant in more ways than just setting a new franchise record. The 52 wins is one better than the Edmonton Oil Kings, meaning the Rockets finished in second place in the overall WHL standings. Both the Rockets and Oil Kings each earned 108 points this season but the Rockets clinch second because of more wins.    
• The Rockets ended the regular season with 309 goals, the second most in the WHL. Only two teams will score over 300 goals this season. The Rockets and Portland Winterhawks were both able to accomplish the feat.
• The Rockets allowed just 178 goals against. That was the third lowest total in the WHL behind Edmonton and Portland.On average the team allowed 2.47 goals against.
• Jordon Cooke tied for the league lead in wins with 37. Not bad for a first year starter. 
• Myles Bell was the teams leading scorer with 93 points. His 38 goals led the team as did his 55 assists.
• The Rockets will face the Seattle Thunderbirds in round one of the WHL playoffs. Game one is this Friday at Prospera Place with game two the following night. Game three and four are back in Seattle (Kent) next Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Game Notes vs. Cougars

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play their 70^th game of the season tonight when they host the Prince George Cougars. It is the eighth and final meeting of the season between their BC Division rivals. The Rockets are 6-1-0-0 in the first seven games, having out-scored PG 37-19. The Rockets claimed the BC Division regular season banner last Saturday in a 2-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers. The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won seven of their last eight games with victories over Kamloops (twice), Lethbridge, Victoria (three times) and Seattle. Overall, the Rockets have out-scored the opponent 35-16 in those eight games. The Rockets are 26-6-2-0 in their last 34 games. The Rockets have twelve regulation losses in their last 58 games (44-11-2-1). The Rockets have won 41 of their last 52 (39-10-3-0) games overall. The Rockets are in Vancouver tomorrow night before hosting the Giants on Saturday.

Seasonal Series Scoring:
Period        1      2    3   Total
Rockets:   11   17    9     37
Cougars:    7     9    3     19

*The Rockets have scored the opening goal of the game in six of the seven games. The Rockets have out-shot the Cougars in four of the seven games in the seasonal series.  The Rockets power play is 8 for 23 (35%) while the Cougars are 5 for 30 (17%) with the extra man. 

Most Wins in Franchise History:
2002-2003: 51 – WHL Champions
2012-2013: 49 - ?
2008-2009: 47 – WHL Champions
2003-2004: 47 – Memorial Cup Champions
2005-2006: 46 – Eliminated 2^nd round
2004-2005: 45 – WHL Champions
1992-1993: 45 – Eliminated in 7 games in rd one

100 Points Club: The Rockets have 102 points. It is the first time in seven seasons the team has hit that 100 point mark. The last time the Rockets registered 100 points was 2004-2005 when they managed 104 points. The Rockets franchise has reached 100 or more points only three times. (2012-2013, 2004-2005, 2002-2003).            

Home Cook’n: The Kelowna Rockets have lost a league low five times on home ice (29-5-0-0) this season. The team has scored 161 goals (4.8 per game) and has allowed 67 goals against (2.00 per game).  The Rockets have scored at least 3 or more goals in every home game this season except three, all against the Kamloops Blazers and once to the Portland Winterhawks (5-1). The Rockets have scored four or more goals in 24 of their 34 home games. Jordon Cooke and Jackson Whistle have combined for six home ice shutouts this season. The team has allowed two or fewer goals at home this season in 23 of 34 games.

This and That: Rockets alumnus Lucas Bloodoff was named the CIS player of the year in men’s hockey last night in a ceremony in Saskaton. Bloodoff plays with the Saint Mary’s Huskies… The Rockets are rated as the 5^th best team in the country in this week’s CHL Top 10 junior rankings…The Rockets have 17 players that have scored at least one game winning goal this season….The Rockets have played in 19 – one goal games this season. The Rockets are 10-5-3-1 in those games…The Rockets have been shut out three times this season by Kamloops, Portland and Spokane. All three have happened on the road…. Ryan Olsen played in his 200^th career March 8^th in Kamloops…Cody Fowlie played in his 200^th career game February 28^th against Seattle.…The Rockets were 7-5-0-0 in February….Myles Bell was the leading point getter in February with 6+11=17….The Rockets have scored 293 goals this season. The team record for goals in a season is 338 set back in 1995-96.….Rockets Myles Bell has 89 points, becoming the first Rockets player since Colin Long (91) in 2008-2009 to register 80 or more points in a season. ….The Rockets have hit the 40 win plateau for the 9^th time in franchise history…The Rockets have made the playoffs for the 17^th time in the franchises 18 year history….The Rockets 23 game home ice winning streak was the third longest winning streak on home ice in WHL history. It was snapped February 8th in a 5-3 loss to Portland….Dylen McKinlay is the only Rocket to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 43 of their last 58 games with four games being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 152-65 on home ice this season….Dylen McKinlay has six shorthanded goals…Since relocating from Tacoma to Kelowna for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have picked up 675 wins over the last 18 seasons…Since entering the WHL in 1991, the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets have scored 4 thousand 621 goals (4,621)…The Rockets have participated in two shootout game this season. That is a league low. Last season the Rockets were involved in a league high 15…Since November 1^st the Rockets have lost nine times in regulation…Five of the teams thirteen regulation losses came in the first five weeks of the season…JT Barnett played in his 250^th career game February 8^th against Portland…Tyrell Goulbourne has 19 fighting majors this season…Zach Franko played in his 200th career game February 14^th against Everett.….Ryan Olsen is the first 18 year-old forward since Jamie Benn to score over 30 goals in a Rockets uniform. Benn scored 33 times in 2007-2008…The Rockets have 29 home ice wins. The 2002-03 team had 31 home ice victories.

Bloodoff receives Canadian university hockey's highest honour

It is the highest honour given to a player in Canadian university hockey.

Kelowna Rockets alumni Lucas Bloodoff has been named the Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) player of the year.
Bloodoff led his team, the Saint Mary's Huskies, in scoring this season.
He is best known in the Okanagan for captaining the Kelowna Rockets to a WHL Championship in 2009.

Nothing to play for? Not necessarily.

What do the final three games of the regular season mean for the Kelowna Rockets?
Now that the team has clinched the BC Division regular season banner many fans are saying these games mean little, but wait a minute here!
The Rockets are still in a fight with the Edmonton Oil Kings for second place in the overall standings. What does second place mean in the big picture? Don't forget that if the Rockets were to make it all the way to the WHL final they would have the luxury of home ice advantage, especially if that meant a date with the defending league champion Edmonton Oil Kings.
Without question a lot of hockey and luck stands in the way of that occurring but wouldn't the Rockets be kicking themselves if that indeed happened and they wasted them away rather than putting a concerted effort forward to win them?
With a two point lead, the Oil Kings have just two games left against the Red Deer Rebels.
Until the Rockets are mathematically eliminated from having any chance at second place in the WHL standings, its pedal to the medal. 

It wasn't suppose to happen but it did!

Let's be honest with one another. We didn't expect the Kelowna Rockets to win the BC Division regular season title before the puck was officially dropped back in late September? I could come on this blog and be the media know it all and state that I knew it was going to happen but it would be a load of BS.
You know the media type I'm talking about don't you? The guy with all the answers. The guy who knew Myles Bell was capable of close to 40 goals. The media mouth piece who predicted 20 year-old Dylan McKinlay would have a career year. The guy that knew the Rockets would have no problem scoring goals even though the coaching staff were sweating bullets in June and July, not because of the Okanagan heat, but over the question on who would manufacture offense.  
What we did know was the Rockets team would be slightly better than the year prior. The key word here is slightly. The Rockets traded away their top point getter to Saskatoon this summer and reining MVP Brett Bulmer moved on to pro hockey. Even starting goaltender Adam Brown, who broke two team records last season for games played and saves made, became ineligible to return to the hockey club after playing out his 20 year-old season. Those were three HUGE holes to fill.
The only sure thing heading into this season was the Rockets would be a year older on defense after taking their lumps with three rookies (Martin, Bowey, Lees) making up one of the youngest d-cores in the league in 2010-2011.
Honestly, a seven or eight win improvement would have been considering a massive step forward from the 31 victories the team earned last season. 
This team wasn't mentioned with the Portland Winterhawks, Kamloops Blazers or Edmonton Oil Kings at the start of the season. Nor should they have been. Only in early November were small pockets of fans thinking the Rockets could play with the elite.
But they couldn't catch Kamloops could they? They were 15 points in the Blazers rear view mirror on November 1st. Not a chance!
Quietly, the Rockets steadily improved after winning just eight of their first 16 regular season games (8-6-1-1). When the Blazers came back down to earth after earning a point in their first 17 games, what was considered a pipe dream all of a sudden became a possibility that the Rockets could close the gap and raise a banner high into the rafters at Prospera Place.
In November and December the team won 18 of 22 times and were a perfect 12-0-0-0 at home.
Maybe this team is special? What we know now, it is.
While it is the fourth BC regular season banner the team has won since the division was created in 2001-2002, the 2013 banner will have special significance. Why? It was the way in which it was won and the cast of characters that pulled it off when no one believed at the start of the season that it could indeed happen.

Audio - Final seconds from Saturday's 2-1 win

Goulbourne's game winner key in banner win

• You had the sneaky suspicion it would be Tyrell Goulbourne's night after rolling up his Tim Horton's coffee cup and finding out he had won a barbeque. The third year forward then went out on the ice and scored the game winning goal in the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 win Saturday night over the Kamloops Blazers. It was Goulbourne's 5th game winning goal helping his team earn the BC Division regular season title. It was the teams 4th title in franchise history after earning banners in 2011, 2005 and 2004. Here is Goulbourne's game winner: Note: I was so shocked at what I had just witnessed that I was at a loss for words.

Rockets - BC Division regular season champs!

The Kelowna Rockets are the 2012-2013 BC Division regular season champions. A 2-1 win Saturday night over the Kamloops Blazers allowed the Rockets to win the title for the 4th time in franchise history. As the picture above would suggest, time to make room for another beside the 2011 banner.  

Game notes vs. Blazers

 Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play their 68^th game of the regular season and second to last road game of the 2012-2013 campaign with a stop at ISC. The Rockets are 0-2-2-0 in the first four games in Kamloops, having been out-scored 19-12. The Rockets last win in Kamloops was March 2/2012 in a 6-3 victory. Oddly enough the Rockets were out-shot 46-18 yet won the game. These two teams meet tomorrow night to close out the ten game seasonal series. The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won five of their last six games with victories over Lethbridge, Victoria (three times) and Seattle. Overall, the Rockets have out-scored the opponent 30-13 in those six games. The Rockets are 24-6-2-0 in their last 32 games. The Rockets have eleven regulation losses in their last 56 games (42-11-2-1). The Rockets have won 39 of their last 50 (37-10-3-0) games overall.

Beating Blazers @ ISC: The Rockets are 0-2-2-0 in four games at the ISC this season. The Blazers have opened the scoring in all four games and have out-shot the Rockets in all four games (156-119). This is the seasonal series scoring in the first four games in Kamloops:

Period:    1     2     3    OT   Total 

Rockets:  3    6     3     0       12
Blazers:   6    6     5     2       19

Five Games to Go: The Rockets have five games left in the regular season. Three of those five games are on home ice to conclude the regular season. The Rockets sit three points up on the Kamloops Blazers for first place in the BC Division. Of those five games, two are against Kamloops/Vancouver with a single game against Prince George.

Most Wins in Franchise History:

2002-2003: 51 – WHL Champions
2008-2009: 47 – WHL Champions
2012-2013: 47 - ?
2003-2004: 47 – Memorial Cup Champions
2005-2006: 46 – Eliminated 2^nd round
2004-2005: 45 – WHL Champions
1992-1993: 45 – Eliminated in 7 games in rd one

Home Cook’n: The Kelowna Rockets have lost a league low five times on home ice (28-5-0-0) this season. The team has scored 159 goals (4.8 per game) and has allowed 66 goals against (2.00 per game).  The Rockets have scored at least 3 or more goals in every home game this season except three, with losses to Kamloops (3-1) and (3-2) and to Portland (5-1). The Rockets have scored four or more goals in 24 of their 33 home games. Jordon Cooke and Jackson Whistle have combined for six home ice shutouts this season. The team has allowed two or fewer goals at home this season in 22 of 33 games.

This and That: The Rockets have been shut out three times this season by Kamloops, Portland and Spokane. All three have happened on the road…. Ryan Olsen will play in his 200^th career game tonight in Kamloops…Cody Fowlie played in his 200^th career game February 28^th against Seattle.…The Rockets were 7-5-0-0 in February….Myles Bell was the leading point getter in February with 6+11=17….The Rockets have scored 288 goals this season. The team record for goals in a season is 338 set back in 1995-96.  The Rockets average 4.3 goals per game….Rockets Myles Bell has 87 points, becoming the first Rockets player since Colin Long (91) in 2008-2009 to register 80 or more points in a season. ….The Rockets have hit the 40 win plateau for the 9^th time in franchise history…The Rockets have made the playoffs for the 17^th time in the franchises 18 year history….The Rockets have 2 road games left in the regular season with both against BC Division teams…Jordon Cooke was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for December. Cooke was 6-0-0-0 and posted a goals against average of 2.00….The Rockets 23 game home ice winning streak was the third longest winning streak on home ice in WHL history. It was snapped February 8th in a 5-3 loss to Portland….Dylen McKinlay is the only Rocket to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 43 of their last 58 games with three games being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 152-65 on home ice this season….Dylen McKinlay has six shorthanded goals…Since relocating from Tacoma to Kelowna for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have picked up 674 wins over the last 18 seasons…Since entering the WHL in 1991, the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets have scored 4 thousand 618 goals (4,618)…The Rockets have participated in two shootout game this season. That is a league low. Last season the Rockets were involved in a league high 15…Dylen McKinlay leads the team in plus/minus with a +50. It is the highest +/- total for a Kelowna Rockets player ever. Jesse Schultz was +40 in 2002-2003…Since November 1^st the Rockets have lost nine times in regulation…Five of the teams thirteen regulation losses came in the first five weeks of the season…JT Barnett played in his 250^th career game February 8^th against Portland…Tyrell Goulbourne has 19 fighting majors this season…Zach Franko played in his 200th career game February 14^th against Everett.….Ryan Olsen is the first 18 year-old forward since Jamie Benn to score over 30 goals in a Rockets uniform. Benn scored 33 times in 2007-2008…Dylen McKinlay has 24 goals, none on the power play…The Rockets have scored the most home goals in the WHL (159)…The Rockets have 13 shorthanded goals this season, second best in WHL. The team record is 30 shorthanded goals in 1992-93.

Who’s Hot: Ryan Olsen has 5 goals in his last ten games. Olsen has four goals in seasonal series vs. Blazers…J.T Barnett has 4 goals in his last eight games…Myles Bell has points in eight of his last nine games (5+9=14)… Colton  Sissons has points in 31 of his last 37 games….Cody Fowlie has 3+5=8 in his last six games…Jackson Whistle has goals against average of 1.67 in five appearances. Whistle has won his last five starts.

 

Game Notes vs. Royals

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets and Victoria Royals meet for the 8^th and final time this season. The Rockets are 6-1-0-0 in the first seven games, having out-scored their BC Division rivals 37-13. The Rockets have been especially good on home ice having out-scored the Royals 16-4. These two teams last met February 22^nd and 23^rd in Victoria with the Rockets earning 8-3 and 7-2 wins. The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won four of their last five games with victories over Lethbridge, Victoria (twice) and Seattle. Overall, the Rockets have out-scored the opponent 26-10 in those five games. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Kamloops Friday before hosting the Blazers Saturday night. The Rockets are 23-6-2-0 in their last 31 games. The Rockets have eleven regulation losses in their last 55 games (41-11-2-1). The Rockets have won 38 of their last 49 (36-10-3-0) games overall.

Six Games to Go: The Rockets have six games left in the regular season. Four of those six games are on home ice to conclude the regular season. The Rockets sit one point up on the Kamloops Blazers for first place in the BC Division. Of those six games, two are against Kamloops with two against the Vancouver Giants. Single games are against Victoria and Prince George.

Most Wins in Franchise History:
2002-2003: 51 – WHL Champions
2008-2009: 47 – WHL Champions
2003-2004: 47 – Memorial Cup Champions
2005-2006: 46 – Eliminated 2^nd round
2012-2013: 46 -  ?  
2004-2005: 45 – WHL Champions
1992-1993: 45 – Eliminated in 7 games in rd one

Home Cook’n: The Kelowna Rockets have lost a league low five times on home ice (27-5-0-0) this season. The team has scored 155 goals (4.8 per game) and has allowed 63 goals against (2.00 per game).  The Rockets have scored at least 3 or more goals in every home game this season except three, with losses to Kamloops (3-1) and (3-2) and to Portland (5-1). The Rockets have scored four or more goals in 23 of their 32 home games. Jordon Cooke and Jackson Whistle have combined for six home ice shutouts this season. The team has allowed two or fewer goals at home this season in 22 of 32 games.

This and That: The Rockets are 7-0-0-0 in Thursday games. They have out-scored the opponent 35-6….The Rockets have been shut out three times this season by Kamloops, Portland and Spokane. All three have happened on the road….This Friday in Kamloops, Ryan Olsen will play in his 200^th career game…Cody Fowlie played in his 200^th career game February 28^th against Seattle.…The Rockets were 7-5-0-0 in February….Myles Bell was the leading point getter in February with 6+11=17….The Rockets have scored 284 goals this season. The team record for goals in a season is 311 set back in the 2002-2003 season. The team needs to average 4.2 goals per game in their final seven regular season games to tie that record. The Rockets average 4.3 goals per game….Rockets Myles Bell has 87 points, becoming the first Rockets player since Colin Long (91) in 2008-2009 to register 80 or more points in a season. ….The Rockets have hit the 40 win plateau for the 9^th time in franchise history…The Rockets have made the playoffs for the 17^th time in the franchises 18 year history….The Rockets have 2 road games left in the regular season with both against BC Division teams…Jordon Cooke was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for December. Cooke was 6-0-0-0 and posted a goals against average of 2.00….The Rockets 23 game home ice winning streak was the third longest winning streak on home ice in WHL history. It was snapped February 8th in a 5-3 loss to Portland….Dylen McKinlay is the only Rocket to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 43 of their last 57 games with two games being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 148-62 on home ice this season….Dylen McKinlay has six shorthanded goals…Since relocating from Tacoma to Kelowna for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have picked up 673 wins over the last 18 seasons…Since entering the WHL in 1991, the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets have scored 4 thousand 614 goals (4,614)…The Rockets have participated in one shootout game this season. That is a league low. Last season the Rockets were involved in a league high 15…Dylen McKinlay leads the team in plus/minus with a +52. It is the highest +/- total for a Kelowna Rockets player ever. Jesse Schultz was +40 in 2002-2003…Since November 1^st the Rockets have lost nine times in regulation…Five of the teams thirteen regulation losses came in the first five weeks of the season…JT Barnett played in his 250^th career game February 8^th against Portland…Tyrell Goulbourne has 19 fighting majors this season…Zach Franko played in his 200th career game February 14^th against Everett.….Ryan Olsen is the first 18 year-old forward since Jamie Benn to score over 30 goals in a Rockets uniform. Benn scored 33 times in 2007-2008…Dylen McKinlay has 24 goals, none on the power play…The Rockets have scored the most home goals in the WHL (155)…The Rockets have 13 shorthanded goals this season, second best in WHL. The team record is 30 shorthanded goals in 1992-93…Myles Bell has 36 goals. 19 have been scored on home ice with 17 on the road..This Saturday (March 9) Zach Franko will turns 20….Damon Severson hasn’t scored in 15 games…Colton Heffley hasn’t scored in 18 games. His last goal was January 24^th against Seattle….Zach Franko hasn’t scored in 13 games…Cody Fowlie is four points shy of 100 for his career.    

Who’s Hot: Ryan Olsen has 5 goals in his last nine games…J.T Barnett has 4 goals in his last eight games…Myles Bell has points in eight of his last nine games (5+9=14)… Colton  Sissons has points in 31 of his last 36 games….Cody Fowlie has 3+5=8 in his last five games…Jackson Whistle has goals against average of 1.67 in five appearances. Whistle has won his last five starts.

 

Rockets game notes vs. Hurricanes

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets and Lethbridge Hurricanes are meeting for the second and final time this season. These two teams met back on December 12^th – in Lethbridge – with the Rockets earning a 3-1 win. Carter Rigby and J.T Barnett scored while Colton Heffley providing an empty netter in a tight hockey game. Damon Severson had two assists and was named the first star. Jordon Cooke made 20 saves in the win.  Kelowna out-shot Lethbridge 27-21. The Hurricanes are making their first stop in Kelowna since January 20/13 when they earned a 6-3 win. Jordon Cooke was pulled in that game after giving up three goals in under three minutes in the second period. Adam Brown allowed just one goal the rest of the way. The Rockets enter tonight’s game riding a three game winning streak after victories over Victoria (twice) and Seattle. Overall, the Rockets have out-scored the opponent 19-6 in those three wins. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Kamloops to face the Blazers tomorrow night before hosting Victoria on Wednesday. The Rockets are 22-5-2-0 in their last 29 games. The Rockets have ten regulation losses in their last 53 games (40-10-2-1). The Rockets have won 37 of their last 47 (35-9-3-0) games overall.

Eight Games to Go: The Rockets have eight games left in the regular season. Five of those eight games are on home ice to conclude the regular season. The Rockets sit five points up on the Kamloops Blazers for first place in the BC Division.  Of those eight games, three are against Kamloops with two against the Vancouver Giants. Single games are against Lethbridge, Victoria and Prince George.

Most Wins in Franchise History:

2002-2003: 51 – WHL Champions
2008-2009: 47 – WHL Champions
2003-2004: 47 – Memorial Cup Champions
2005-2006: 46 – Eliminated 2^nd round
2012-2013: 45 -  ?  
2004-2005: 45 – WHL Champions
1992-1993: 45 – Eliminated in 7 games in rd one

Home Cook’n: The Kelowna Rockets has lost a league low five times on home ice (26-5-0-0) this season. The team has scored 148 goals (4.8 per game) and has allowed 62 goals against (2.00 per game).  The Rockets have scored at least 3 or more goals in every home game this season except three, with losses to Kamloops (3-1) and (3-2) and to Portland (5-1). The Rockets have scored four or more goals in 22 of their 31 home games. Jordon Cooke and Jackson Whistle have combined for six home ice shutouts this season. The team has allowed two or fewer goals at home this season in 21 of 31 games.

This and That: Cody Fowlie played in his 200^th career game Thursday night…The Rockets were 7-5-0-0 in February….Myles Bell was the leading point getter in February with 6+11=17….The Rockets have scored 277 goals this season. The team record for goals in a season is 311 set back in the 2002-2003 season. The team needs to average 4.2 goals per game in their final eight regular season games to tie that record. The Rockets average 4.3 goals per game….Rockets Myles Bell has 85 points, becoming the first Rockets player since Colin Long (91) in 2008-2009 to register 80 or more points in a season. ….The Rockets have hit the 40 win plateau for the 9^th time in franchise history…The Rockets have made the playoffs for the 17^th time in the franchises 18 year history….The Rockets are rated as the 5^th best team in the country according to this week’s CHL Top 10 rankings. Last week the Rockets were rated 6^th….Ryan Huska and the Kamloops Blazers are being inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame. The Blazers teams – 1993-94 and 1994-95 - will be inducted during a ceremony in Penticton in July…The Rockets have 3 road games left in the regular season with all 3 against BC Division teams…Jordon Cooke was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for December. Cooke was 6-0-0-0 and posted a goals against average of 2.00….The Rockets 23 game home ice winning streak was the third longest winning streak on home ice in WHL history. It was snapped February 8th in a 5-3 loss to Portland….Dylen McKinlay is the only Rocket to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 42 of their last 55 games with two games being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 148-62 on home ice this season….Dylen McKinlay has six shorthanded goals…Since relocating from Tacoma to Kelowna for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have picked up 672 wins over the last 18 seasons…Since entering the WHL in 1991, the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets have scored 4 thousand 607 goals (4,607)…The Rockets have participated in one shootout game this season. That is a league low. Last season the Rockets were involved in a league high 15…Dylen McKinlay leads the team in plus/minus with a +51. It is the highest +/- total for a Kelowna Rockets player ever. Jesse Schultz was +40 in 2002-2003…Since November 1^st the Rockets have lost eight times in regulation…Five of the teams thirteen regulation losses came in the first five weeks of the season…JT Barnett played in his 250^th career game February 8^th against Portland…Tyrell Goulbourne has 19 fighting majors this season…Zach Franko played in his 200th career game February 14^th against Everett.….Ryan Olsen is the first 18 year-old forward since Jamie Benn to score over 30 goals in a Rockets uniform. Benn scored 33 times in 2007-2008…Dylen McKinlay has 23 goals, none on the power play…The Rockets have been shorthanded 300 times this season, the second most of any team in the WHL…Rockets have scored most home goals in the WHL (148)…The Rockets have 13 shorthanded goals this season, second best in WHL. The team record is 30 shorthanded goals in 1992-93…Myles Bell has 35 goals. 18 have been scored on home ice with 17 on the road.  

Who’s Hot: Ryan Olsen has 4 goals in his last seven games…J.T Barnett has 4 goals in his last eight games…Myles Bell has a seven game point streak (4+9=13)… Colton Sissons has five goals in his last nine games….Sissons has points in 30 of his last 34 games….Cody Fowlie has 3+2=5 in his last three games…Jackson Whistle has goals against average of 1.67 in four appearances. Whistle has won his last four starts.