nivek_wahs
12-31-2007, 09:56 AM
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=83089
Rockets look to ring in the New Year in style
By Doyle Potenteau
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Kelowna Rockets will ring in the New Year somewhere around Merritt this evening.
They may also be celebrating a win over the Chilliwack Bruins.
In what will be their final game of 2007, the Rockets visit the Bruins for a 7 p.m. tilt tonight at Prospera Centre. Kelowna (20-13-2-4) enters the contest having lost its last two games, while Chilliwack (18-16-3-1) is fresh of a weekend split in Prince George.
On Friday, the Rockets fell 4-3 to Kamloops after the Blazers scored two power-play goals in the third period to overcome a 3-2 deficit. One night later in Vancouver, the Rockets coughed up four power-play goals in a 5-2 loss to the Giants. Combined, Kelowna has surrendered six power-play goals in 13 shorthanded scenarios.
To put this in perspective, during the Rockets‘ six-game Prairie road trip just prior to the WHL‘s annual Christmas break, Kelowna gave up just three power-play goals (24-27).
“It looked like we had turned the corner (before Christmas),” said Rockets assistant coach Jeff Finley. “Our penalty kill during that trip was good. Lately, it hasn‘t been good; we‘re taking needless, undisciplined penalties.
“We play well five-on-five, but our penalty kill is letting us down. It‘s like we‘re back to playing without urgency and desperation again.”
While the Rockets are trying to work out those poor penalty-taking kinks, they‘ll probably be doing so without captain James McEwan, who‘ll likely be out of action for an indefinite period of time with a wrist injury.
The 20-year-old winger suffered a skate cut during a first-period fight on Saturday with Giants winger Garet Hunt. On Sunday afternoon, McEwan underwent surgery, and later rejoined his team that night.
According to the Rockets, he‘s OK, but no word was given on how long he‘ll be of action, if any, or if any tendons were cut. McEwan, who was playing in his 200th regular-season game, was accidentally cut by Hunt halfway through the fight when the two fell to the ice but got back up and resumed throwing.
As for Chilliwack, the Rockets will be facing a team without its top player. The Bruins will be without sniper Oscar Moller, who is playing for Sweden at the 2008 world junior hockey championship in the Czech Republic. Prior to leaving for the tournament, the 5-foot-11 winger from Spanga, Swe., had tallied 25 goals, including 10 on the power play, and 50 points in 34 games.
How much does Moller mean to Chilliwack? Well, consider this: His linemate, Mark Santorelli, who leads the Bruins and league in scoring with 60 points (18-42), has just two assists in four games without Moller.
Notably, second in the league scoring race is Rockets centre Colin Long with 57 points (20-37). Moller is currently fifth, but he‘s not expected to return to Chilliwack until Jan. 5 at the earliest, as is Rockets blue-liner Luke Schenn, who is playing for Canada.
With both teams missing their star players, neither should have an advantage for tonight‘s contest.
“Against Vancouver, we wanted to come out strong, and we did,” said Finley. “We wanted to score the first goal early because Vancouver has a tendency of coming out strong in the first period and taking an early lead. We did that, but then we started taking penalties.
“Not only does that take away momentum, but it means we can‘t roll four lines, and we think that‘s one of the strengths of our team. We like to wear other teams down that way and establish a forecheck. We know (Moller) means a lot to Chilliwack, and they‘re going to miss him, but they‘re still a hard-working team.
“Even without Oscar, we‘re going to have our hands full.”
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna also without 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Barrie, who is playing for Team Pacific at the world under-17 challenge in London, Ont. . . . Kelowna lead the season series with Chilliwack at 2-1-0-0. In their last meeting, though, the Bruins posted a 3-1 win at Chilliwack on Dec. 2.
Rockets look to ring in the New Year in style
By Doyle Potenteau
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Kelowna Rockets will ring in the New Year somewhere around Merritt this evening.
They may also be celebrating a win over the Chilliwack Bruins.
In what will be their final game of 2007, the Rockets visit the Bruins for a 7 p.m. tilt tonight at Prospera Centre. Kelowna (20-13-2-4) enters the contest having lost its last two games, while Chilliwack (18-16-3-1) is fresh of a weekend split in Prince George.
On Friday, the Rockets fell 4-3 to Kamloops after the Blazers scored two power-play goals in the third period to overcome a 3-2 deficit. One night later in Vancouver, the Rockets coughed up four power-play goals in a 5-2 loss to the Giants. Combined, Kelowna has surrendered six power-play goals in 13 shorthanded scenarios.
To put this in perspective, during the Rockets‘ six-game Prairie road trip just prior to the WHL‘s annual Christmas break, Kelowna gave up just three power-play goals (24-27).
“It looked like we had turned the corner (before Christmas),” said Rockets assistant coach Jeff Finley. “Our penalty kill during that trip was good. Lately, it hasn‘t been good; we‘re taking needless, undisciplined penalties.
“We play well five-on-five, but our penalty kill is letting us down. It‘s like we‘re back to playing without urgency and desperation again.”
While the Rockets are trying to work out those poor penalty-taking kinks, they‘ll probably be doing so without captain James McEwan, who‘ll likely be out of action for an indefinite period of time with a wrist injury.
The 20-year-old winger suffered a skate cut during a first-period fight on Saturday with Giants winger Garet Hunt. On Sunday afternoon, McEwan underwent surgery, and later rejoined his team that night.
According to the Rockets, he‘s OK, but no word was given on how long he‘ll be of action, if any, or if any tendons were cut. McEwan, who was playing in his 200th regular-season game, was accidentally cut by Hunt halfway through the fight when the two fell to the ice but got back up and resumed throwing.
As for Chilliwack, the Rockets will be facing a team without its top player. The Bruins will be without sniper Oscar Moller, who is playing for Sweden at the 2008 world junior hockey championship in the Czech Republic. Prior to leaving for the tournament, the 5-foot-11 winger from Spanga, Swe., had tallied 25 goals, including 10 on the power play, and 50 points in 34 games.
How much does Moller mean to Chilliwack? Well, consider this: His linemate, Mark Santorelli, who leads the Bruins and league in scoring with 60 points (18-42), has just two assists in four games without Moller.
Notably, second in the league scoring race is Rockets centre Colin Long with 57 points (20-37). Moller is currently fifth, but he‘s not expected to return to Chilliwack until Jan. 5 at the earliest, as is Rockets blue-liner Luke Schenn, who is playing for Canada.
With both teams missing their star players, neither should have an advantage for tonight‘s contest.
“Against Vancouver, we wanted to come out strong, and we did,” said Finley. “We wanted to score the first goal early because Vancouver has a tendency of coming out strong in the first period and taking an early lead. We did that, but then we started taking penalties.
“Not only does that take away momentum, but it means we can‘t roll four lines, and we think that‘s one of the strengths of our team. We like to wear other teams down that way and establish a forecheck. We know (Moller) means a lot to Chilliwack, and they‘re going to miss him, but they‘re still a hard-working team.
“Even without Oscar, we‘re going to have our hands full.”
ICE CHIPS: Kelowna also without 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Barrie, who is playing for Team Pacific at the world under-17 challenge in London, Ont. . . . Kelowna lead the season series with Chilliwack at 2-1-0-0. In their last meeting, though, the Bruins posted a 3-1 win at Chilliwack on Dec. 2.