Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Rockets game notes vs. Hurricanes

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Lethbridge Hurricanes are meeting for the first of just two times this season. The Hurricanes are in Kelowna March 5th. Last season these two teams met twice, with the home team winning 3-2. In the Rockets last appearance in Lethbridge (Feb 24/10), Geordie Wudrick scored his 22nd and 23rd goals of the season in the one goal loss. Overall, the Rockets enter tonight’s game having won seven of their last eleven games and thirteen of their last eighteen (13-5-0-0), yet have lost two straight and two of the last three on this Alberta road trip. Following tonight’s game the Rockets conclude the swing Friday in Calgary. The Rockets sit one point back of Vancouver for first place in the BC Division.

Rockets recent game: The Rockets were shut out for the third time this season in a 2-0 loss last night in Medicine Hat. This was essentially a one goal game before Emerson Item scored into an empty net (shorthanded) to make it a two goal margin. Adam Brown was named the games second star, yet was credited for the loss in goal. The Rockets were 0 for 5 on the power play.

Who’s Hot: Shane McColgan has one goal in his last twelve games. McColgan has 1+6=7 in his last nine games though…Mitchell Callahan has 4+4=8 in his last nine games…Brett Bulmer has 2+3=5 in his last seven games. Tyson Barrie has gone ten games without a goal yet has points in five of his last eight games (0+9=9)…Geordie Wudrick has 8 goals in his last nine games.

Who’s Not: Cody Chikie has just two goals in his last 18 games.

New Recruit: The Rockets were pleased to announce on Tuesday that 15 year-old Madison Bowey has committed to playing with the Rockets this season. Bowey, from Winnipeg, was the Rockets 2nd round pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. The Rockets exchanged draft picks with the Prince George Cougars to grab Bowey with the first selection in round two. Bowey will make his Rockets debut tonight against the Hurricanes.

This and That: Tyson Barrie became the 11th player in Rockets’ history to be named to the Canadian World Junior Team. Barrie is joined on that list by Rockets’ defenceman like Shea Weber, Josh Gorges, Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn…Forward Mitchell Callahan leaves tomorrow morning from Calgary for the USA World Junior Team’s main camp. Callahan is joined by Medicine Hat’s Emerson Etem as WHL invitees. Callahan was born in California to Canadian born parent’s Mike and Kelly Callahan. His father, Mike, was born near Toronto and moved down to California to play hockey….The Rockets have not allowed a power play goal in six straight games. The Rockets are 25 for 25 over that period. The last time the Rockets allowed a power play goal was December 1st against the Seattle Thunderbirds…The Rockets are playing game six of seven straight against teams outside of the Western Conference….Adam Brown was the WHL goaltender of the month for November. Brown went 9-1-0-0 with a goals against average of 1.96 and a save percentage of .934….European’s Gal Koren and Andreas Stene will be playing for their countries at the World Junior Hockey Championships at Christmas….Two members of the Rockets will participate in the Under 17 Hockey Challenge next month in Manitoba. Rookies Damon Severson and Colton Heffley have been named to Team West…. The Rockets have been involved in fourteen-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 9-5-0-0 in those fourteen-one goal games…Adam Brown has started twenty of the last 22 games…The Rockets were involved in 11 shootout games last season. The Rockets were 7 and 4 in those games…The Rockets franchise played in its 1400th regular season game last night in Medicine Hat. The team has 715 regular season wins….Rockets 17 year-old forward Shane McColgan is rated as the 15th best prospect in the WHL for the upcoming NHL draft. Central Scouting released its first of three rankings last month… The Rockets have been held to two or fewer goals in fourteen of their 32 games this season. ...Tyson Barrie is now the Kelowna Rockets franchise leader for points by a defenceman. Barrie has 195 career points. Barrie passes Burt Henderson (1993-1996 - 186 pts )… Last season the Rockets were 5-7-0-0 in 12 games in December. ..Ryan Huska was signed to a three year contract extension last Thursday. Huska is signed through the 2013-2014 season. Huska is a coach on Team Canada….Sixteen year-old Tyrell Goulbourne has joined the team for the final three games of the road trip. Goulbourne is playing midget hockey in Edmonton this season. He was taken in the 5th round of the 2009 draft.

1 comment:

fan said...

congrats Tyson.....we were so nervous waiting with you for that final cut & can only imagine how you were. it always makes it extra special when we have a ROCKET to cheer for. also congrats to Curtis Hamilton... GO CANADA GO