Malc
01-12-2009, 04:51 PM
By Doyle Potenteau
Defence, defence, defence.
Question: What, for most this decade, have been the Kelowna Rockets' top three priorities? If you guessed defence, you're right. One need only look at how many NHL blue-liners have played for Kelowna since 2000, like Josh Gorges and Shea Weber.
Today, though, it appears the Rockets are focusing on offence and fire-wagon hockey.
On Saturday, the Western Hockey League's trading deadline came to a close, and just before the buzzer expired, the Rockets picked up an experienced forward in Ian Duval from the Moose Jaw Warriors and a new No. 1 goaltender in Mark Guggenberger from the Swift Current Broncos. What the team really wanted, and tried getting, however, was a veteran defenceman.
But that never came to pass, and Kelowna will have a young, if overburdened, defence when post-season play rolls around in late March. Knowing that, the Rockets went out and picked up Duval, a 20-year-old centre, in exchange for 18-year-old winger Jesse Paradis.
Kelowna's rationale? If we can't beat you with defence, then we'll light you up with offence.
Yes, with offensive weapons Colin Long and Jamie Benn plus newcomers Mikael Backlund and Duval, it appears fire-wagon hockey will be Kelowna's theme for the rest of the season.
"Our first three lines have to be the best three lines in order for us to be able to overcome what we don't have on defence," said Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton.
Not all, though, think Kelowna will light up the scoreboard, with one being Rockets head coach Ryan Huska.
"Well, I don't think it's going to be (fire-wagon hockey), but we're going to have to rely on our forwards heavily," said Huska, adding defence will be a team commitment and not just laid on the shoulders of Kelowna's blue-liners. "The more comfortable our back-end gets, and the simpler they can keep their game, I think they'll do just fine. It's something we're going to have to do as a group.
"We need to make sure our forwards continue to buy in to help them out and support them and allow them to play with that composure. That's a lot we're putting on our forwards, but now they're an older and more mature group, and they should be able to handle that."
Whether Kelowna can play fire-wagon hockey or not, one item is undeniable: The Rockets are a much older group today than they were at this time last week. Duval and Guggenberger are both 20, as is enforcer Ryley Grantham, who was traded for on Thursday, and forward Mikael Backlund is 19. And come post-season play, age is a big bonus.
"You'd think so," said Huska. "There will be nights where we're going to need guys to step up and play very well.
"If you're going to look at our forwards now, we should have a lot of depth. So if someone isn't playing (well), there are other guys who'll be able to do that."
With Kelowna already having sewn up a playoff position – likely the No. 3 or 4 seed, with the Vancouver Giants having locked down both first place in B.C. Division and Western Conference standings – time spent between now and late March will be used to gather steam for post-season play.
Looking further ahead, the Rockets should win their first-round match-up and will face either Vancouver or Tri-City in the second round – which is why these trades were made, as a Rockets-Giants meeting is likely.
"It's not just the Giants; Spokane and Tri-City are both excellent teams," said Hamilton. "We're going to have to be a lot better than we have been to compete against them.
"The way I watched our team, we're great against some of the weaker teams, but we haven't been very good against the best teams. And if we're going to win, we gotta beat the best teams."
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=157628
Defence, defence, defence.
Question: What, for most this decade, have been the Kelowna Rockets' top three priorities? If you guessed defence, you're right. One need only look at how many NHL blue-liners have played for Kelowna since 2000, like Josh Gorges and Shea Weber.
Today, though, it appears the Rockets are focusing on offence and fire-wagon hockey.
On Saturday, the Western Hockey League's trading deadline came to a close, and just before the buzzer expired, the Rockets picked up an experienced forward in Ian Duval from the Moose Jaw Warriors and a new No. 1 goaltender in Mark Guggenberger from the Swift Current Broncos. What the team really wanted, and tried getting, however, was a veteran defenceman.
But that never came to pass, and Kelowna will have a young, if overburdened, defence when post-season play rolls around in late March. Knowing that, the Rockets went out and picked up Duval, a 20-year-old centre, in exchange for 18-year-old winger Jesse Paradis.
Kelowna's rationale? If we can't beat you with defence, then we'll light you up with offence.
Yes, with offensive weapons Colin Long and Jamie Benn plus newcomers Mikael Backlund and Duval, it appears fire-wagon hockey will be Kelowna's theme for the rest of the season.
"Our first three lines have to be the best three lines in order for us to be able to overcome what we don't have on defence," said Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton.
Not all, though, think Kelowna will light up the scoreboard, with one being Rockets head coach Ryan Huska.
"Well, I don't think it's going to be (fire-wagon hockey), but we're going to have to rely on our forwards heavily," said Huska, adding defence will be a team commitment and not just laid on the shoulders of Kelowna's blue-liners. "The more comfortable our back-end gets, and the simpler they can keep their game, I think they'll do just fine. It's something we're going to have to do as a group.
"We need to make sure our forwards continue to buy in to help them out and support them and allow them to play with that composure. That's a lot we're putting on our forwards, but now they're an older and more mature group, and they should be able to handle that."
Whether Kelowna can play fire-wagon hockey or not, one item is undeniable: The Rockets are a much older group today than they were at this time last week. Duval and Guggenberger are both 20, as is enforcer Ryley Grantham, who was traded for on Thursday, and forward Mikael Backlund is 19. And come post-season play, age is a big bonus.
"You'd think so," said Huska. "There will be nights where we're going to need guys to step up and play very well.
"If you're going to look at our forwards now, we should have a lot of depth. So if someone isn't playing (well), there are other guys who'll be able to do that."
With Kelowna already having sewn up a playoff position – likely the No. 3 or 4 seed, with the Vancouver Giants having locked down both first place in B.C. Division and Western Conference standings – time spent between now and late March will be used to gather steam for post-season play.
Looking further ahead, the Rockets should win their first-round match-up and will face either Vancouver or Tri-City in the second round – which is why these trades were made, as a Rockets-Giants meeting is likely.
"It's not just the Giants; Spokane and Tri-City are both excellent teams," said Hamilton. "We're going to have to be a lot better than we have been to compete against them.
"The way I watched our team, we're great against some of the weaker teams, but we haven't been very good against the best teams. And if we're going to win, we gotta beat the best teams."
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=157628