scamperdog
03-15-2007, 06:37 PM
Chilliwack victory eliminates Kelowna from playoff race
By J.J. Adams
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
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http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=20435
First, there was hope. Then there was none. Instead, it was replaced by grim
acceptance. And perhaps a few tears. The Chilliwack Bruins are going to the playoffs. And the Kelowna Rockets, for the first time in their 15-year history that spans a border, 400 miles and two cities, won‘t be. Down 2-0 to the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday night, the Bruins awoke from their hibernation to rally for a 5-3 victory, clinching the final playoff berth in the WHL‘s B.C. Division. Rockets coach Jeff Truitt, who watched the game via webcast, said the experience was an emotional yo-yo.
“You are emotionally tied to the game, there‘s no doubt about that. As the game went on, your heart sank,” he said. “It was a wild third period, with goals coming all over the place. It was a pretty teeter-totter game. Spokane, for the most part, carried the game early. Then Chilliwack came back . . . give them credit for that. But there‘s nothing you can do about it, from this far away. Chilliwack played better than we did down the stretch, and they earned the right to go to the playoffs."
The Rockets now face the prospect of playing their final two games – at home Friday night against Kamloops and Saturday versus Prince George – with little to strive for. Or, at least, no goals that would result in them playing beyond this weekend.
“There‘s a pride factor, and there are some personal goals. We‘re going to play hard for 72 games. We wouldn‘t have it any other way,” said Truitt.
While emotions were running high in Kelowna, there was ectstasy for the expansion Bruins in Spokane.
“There hasn‘t been anything easy about this year for us, but the one thing we managed to find during the season was a belief in one another,” head coach Jim Hiller told the Vancouver Province. “Tonight was just a microcosm of that, because the game kind of went like our season. We were down early, had some adversity, but kept plugging away, plugging away. . . . That really sums up what we‘ve been doing.”
It will be an off-season of “what-ifs” as the twists and turns that befell the Rockets are put under a microscope. From the unloading of star Troy Ofunkany to Regina, to the loss of goalie Kris Westblom to a knee injury, the entire year will be scrutinized by fans, management and the players themselves. But there is a ray of light, said Truitt.
“(The youngsters) learned what it takes to get to the playoffs,” he said. “It‘s been a good learning experience, to see that you have to be consistent, work hard, and bring that high intensity every night. But my heart goes out to those (graduating). . . . They‘ll bring their best effort for the next couple of games, and try to end their career on a high note.”
By J.J. Adams
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Email this article
Send a Letter to the Editor
Printer friendly page
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=20435
First, there was hope. Then there was none. Instead, it was replaced by grim
acceptance. And perhaps a few tears. The Chilliwack Bruins are going to the playoffs. And the Kelowna Rockets, for the first time in their 15-year history that spans a border, 400 miles and two cities, won‘t be. Down 2-0 to the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday night, the Bruins awoke from their hibernation to rally for a 5-3 victory, clinching the final playoff berth in the WHL‘s B.C. Division. Rockets coach Jeff Truitt, who watched the game via webcast, said the experience was an emotional yo-yo.
“You are emotionally tied to the game, there‘s no doubt about that. As the game went on, your heart sank,” he said. “It was a wild third period, with goals coming all over the place. It was a pretty teeter-totter game. Spokane, for the most part, carried the game early. Then Chilliwack came back . . . give them credit for that. But there‘s nothing you can do about it, from this far away. Chilliwack played better than we did down the stretch, and they earned the right to go to the playoffs."
The Rockets now face the prospect of playing their final two games – at home Friday night against Kamloops and Saturday versus Prince George – with little to strive for. Or, at least, no goals that would result in them playing beyond this weekend.
“There‘s a pride factor, and there are some personal goals. We‘re going to play hard for 72 games. We wouldn‘t have it any other way,” said Truitt.
While emotions were running high in Kelowna, there was ectstasy for the expansion Bruins in Spokane.
“There hasn‘t been anything easy about this year for us, but the one thing we managed to find during the season was a belief in one another,” head coach Jim Hiller told the Vancouver Province. “Tonight was just a microcosm of that, because the game kind of went like our season. We were down early, had some adversity, but kept plugging away, plugging away. . . . That really sums up what we‘ve been doing.”
It will be an off-season of “what-ifs” as the twists and turns that befell the Rockets are put under a microscope. From the unloading of star Troy Ofunkany to Regina, to the loss of goalie Kris Westblom to a knee injury, the entire year will be scrutinized by fans, management and the players themselves. But there is a ray of light, said Truitt.
“(The youngsters) learned what it takes to get to the playoffs,” he said. “It‘s been a good learning experience, to see that you have to be consistent, work hard, and bring that high intensity every night. But my heart goes out to those (graduating). . . . They‘ll bring their best effort for the next couple of games, and try to end their career on a high note.”