Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Quick Thoughts Heading Into Game Three

  • Kelowna Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton called his teams effort in the first two games "disappointing". Hamilton believes his team is better than what they've shown in the first two games and they need to be more physical.
  • Hamilton says in game one the forwards were "OK, yet our defense was terrible". In the second game he said the defense played better and the forwards didn't play. Hamilton says Mitchell Callahan's line was the best unit in the first two games. Hamilton says it's no slight to Callahan, but his team isn't going to win with just that line contributing.
  • Hamilton wasn't shying away from naming names, when I asked him who needs to step up in game three. He pointed to the obvious. Jamie Benn, Colin Long, Cody Almond, Ian Duval and Lucas Bloodoff were all pointed out by Hamilton as players that need to step up and make an impact on the outcome of the game.
  • Hamilton doesn't foresee Shane McColgan playing any games in the playoffs. The 15 year-old has joined the team for the remainder of the season, but only in a practice capacity. Hamilton says the only way McColgan would play is if someone is injured. Hamilton says the level of play in the playoffs is far greater than what McColgan experienced when he joined the team prior to the Christmas break.
  • Jamie Benn admits his team was taken by surprise by the Tri City Americans in the first two games of this series. The Americans ability to control the play by simply out-working and Rockets to loose pucks, and failing to give it up, made for long stretches of play inside the Rockets zone.
  • Don't be surprised if you see a Torrie Jung sighting tonight. The Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender is expected to watch both game three and four. I've made arrangements to meet Jung in the broadcast booth, with the hopes of chatting with him, both on the air, and off it.
  • We shouldn't complain about the officiating tonight. Sean Raphael and Andy Thiessen will be at the controls. While we are just two games into the second round, I believe the officiating in round two is improved from what we saw in round one.

8 comments:

fan said...

Benn shouldn't have been surprised with Tri cities as it is up to the coach to get them prepared

KBF said...

Surprised? Damn, I guess that's evidence of the arrogance that has returned to Kelowna I suppose. The Ams are, and have been a better team all year long than the Rockets. No surprise they are up 2-0 despite what Regan tries and tells you. Haven't seen such arrogance.

Jared Comeau said...

7-2 loss speaks wonders for their skill....I'm surprised we're in the hole we are....

bigkev said...

regan can u block kbf from making comments.

hes wining his team was such a Disappointment.

Jeff said...

Hey Regan,

I'm not sure of any other way to let you know here. But I'm not sure how familiar you are with Senior "AAA" Hockey and how the ruling works and everything. In Alberta if you win the province you can add another goaltender, the team I cheer/work for The Bentley Generals added Cody Rudkowsky after he agreed to come aboard.

As well as having former Rocket D man Darren Deschamps on the team, had a heck of a season I might add, though his knees are not very good apperently, but he played through the pain and played exceptional.

But the main point here is I notice former Rockets goalie Kelly Guard listed on the Lloydminster Border Kings roster on the Allan Cup website. He did not play for them during the season, and I'm not sure he'll even play during the Allan Cup tourney.

See for yourself here:

http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/teamplayerstats.html?teamid=184229&seasonid=3928

scroll down, you'll also see former Kootenay Ice BJ Boxma as another goalie.

I figured I'd let you know just in case yourself or any other Rockets fans wanted to know his current status.

Regan Bartel said...

Interesting. I will speak with Rockets coach Kim Dillabaugh about Kelly Guard, as the two talk frequently. Thanks for the message.

StolzHockey said...

Speaking of a hole, KBF must have his head shoved up one after tonight. (If he didn't already after he watched it rain brooms in his own arena)

I'm not sure I agree with banning KBF, though. Up until he crawled out from under that rock it was a myth that people from Kamloops could read, write, or even communicate like normal human beings.

We could make millions if we turned this primate over to the media.

Jeff said...

I'm not sure if he's actually going to play or not. Many teams in the Allan Cup often add another goaltender as insurance I suppose. I found it out early tonight via the Allancup.ca message forum. So I figured I'd pass it along. LBK has a good history, though are not a favorite to win this year.

Deschamps has also not forgot his WHL roots either. I'm a bit of a hat guy and collect a lot of jerseys and so happened to be wearing a Giants hat, he saw this and said "Oh that's a bad hat, we need to fit you with a Kelowna Rockets hat" Which I already got.