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Malc
02-06-2009, 02:45 PM
By Larry Fisher

Ryan Huska could have his hands full this weekend. That's a good problem to have, however, as the Kelowna Rockets' coach expects to have a healthy lineup at his disposal for the first time in a long time. Kelowna is home to the Everett Silvertips tonight and the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday (both 7 p.m. starts at Prospera Place) before travelling to Spokane to face the Chiefs on Sunday evening.

"Knock on wood," said Huska. "Every team goes through it, but because of (Kyle St. Denis's) injury it's been a little longer for us since we've had a totally healthy lineup.

"Most of our guys have done a pretty good job of elevating or raising their level of play while guys have been out of the lineup. Now, once we get that healthy lineup, hopefully it stays that way as we work down the stretch."

The Rockets, fresh off a 6-1 thumping of the Blazers in Kamloops on Tuesday, have picked up points in six straight games, despite playing without the likes of St. Denis and Ian Duval. St. Denis will return to the lineup tonight after missing 37 games over the course of 20 weeks since breaking scaphoid bone in his right hand during a 6-0 win over the Chilliwack Bruins on Oct. 24. Huska wasn't certain where the diminutive 18-year-old forward from Trail, who tallied seven goals and 18 points in 15 games to start the season, would slot in. "We haven't quite decided yet, but Kyle is going to be worked back into the lineup slowly," Huska said. "We're going to try to give him a regular five-on-five shift and then power-play time every once in a while as well, to try to get him going again. But it's important for us not to expect too much out of him right away."

Duval, meanwhile, sat out the past two games with a concussion sustained against Medicine Hat in the Rockets' 10-1 rout last Friday. He won't dress tonight, but is expected to draw back in on Sunday. Duval, a 20-year-old forward from Winnipeg, has been dynamite since coming to the Rockets from Moose Jaw at the Jan. 10 trade deadline.

The six-foot, 183-pound centre has points in six of eight games with Kelowna, totalling five goals and 11 points. Duval was riding a six-game point streak prior to being hurt.

Defenceman Aaron Borejko (head) is the other missing link. Borejko was injured during a 2-1 overtime loss to the Thunderbirds in Seattle last Saturday, but Huska was hopeful the 17-year-old Edmonton native would also be back sooner than later. The rest of the Rockets are good to go this weekend, though, as they hope to keep going strong.

"We're playing some pretty good hockey right now, and it's nice to get a bunch of games in a row," Huska said. "Hopefully we can start off the weekend on a good note with two solid games at home here."

ICE CHIPS: Everett dropped a 3-2 shootout decision in Kamloops on Wednesday, and has been struggling as of late. The Silvertips have only won once in their last 10 games – a 5-0 shutout of the cellar-dwelling Portland Winter Hawks last Saturday – with five points to speak of in that stretch, including another shootout loss to Kamloops and an overtime defeat to Tri-City... Everett is led by 17-year-old Abbotsford product Kellan Tochkin, with 14 goals and 55 points in 53 games, and 20-year-old sniper Shane Harper, with 24 goals and 51 points in 53 games... The Silvertips are backstopped by 18-year-old Chilliwack native Thomas Heemskerk, who is 4-7-0-1 with a 3.45 goals-against-average and a .903 save-percentage since being acquired from Kootenay... Everett (22-23-6-2) is holding down sixth spot in the Western Conference standings with 52 points – five back of Kamloops and two up on the Seattle Thunderbirds... Kelowna (30-19-1-2) is fourth with 63 points, six clear of Kamloops and six behind third-place Spokane... Kelowna F Colin Long is tied for ninth among WHL scoring leaders and is tops on the Rockets with 23 goals and 65 points in 48 games. F Jamie Benn is second on the Rockets and tied for 18th in league scoring with 59 points in 38 games. His 34 goals are the second most in the WHL, trailing only Joel Broda of the Calgary Hitmen who recently hit the 40-goal plateau... Mark Guggenberger will get the start in goal for Kelowna tonight. The 20-year-old netminder is 5-2-1-1 with a 2.22 GAA and .903 save-percentage since being acquired from Swift Current.

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=163042

Malc
02-09-2009, 03:00 PM
By Doyle Potenteau

All Kyle St. Denis wanted was a solid return. He got that and more. In his first game back following a lengthy hand injury, St. Denis had a remarkable return, a stellar effort that included helping set up Kelowna's game-winning goal as the Rockets defeated the Everett Silvertips 2-1 in overtime in WHL action on Friday night. Only an all-world effort from Everett netminder Thomas Heemskerk prevented St. Denis from first-star honours, as the Silvertip 'stopper was the difference in what should have been a blowout. Kelowna outshot Everett 47-16 yet could only put two pucks past Heemskerk.

"I can't really talk right now; I'm pretty tired from the game," said St. Denis, who, late in overtime, threw a centring pass from Everett's endboards into the slot. Teammate Mikael Backlund took the feed, then wired home his fifth goal of the season, sending the sellout crowd of 6,084 to its feet.

"But it was an exciting night," continued St. Denis, an 18-year-old from Trail. "We had a lot of chances to score, but that goal was a big one for us. It was a big win.

"I followed the puck into the corner, and in the corner of my eye, I saw a white jersey, so I knew I had to pass it to him. (Backlund) took a quick shot and it was in. It was unbelievable. We outshot them by quite a bit, and I thought we should have had the game in the first or second, but there's games like that and their goalie played pretty well. But we kept working hard and our chances came."

Colin Long, with his 24th goal of the season, also scored for Kelowna (31-19-1-2), which soundly outplayed Everett yet trailed 1-0 late into the third period. With the win, the Rockets now have points in their last seven games. Tyler Maxwell, with his 20th goal, replied for Everett (22-23-7-2). A rebound into a half-empty net following a Byron Froese backhand from the left post, Maxwell's marker opened the scoring at 4:18 of the third following a scoreless first and second. Heemskerk made 45 saves for the Silvertips, while Mark Guggenberger stopped 15 shots for the Rockets, who entertain the Kamloops Blazers (26-25-1-4) tonight at Prospera Place. Game time is 7 p.m. Strangely, or maybe prophetically, St. Denis not only helped set up the last shot of the game, but he also registered the first, a shot from the right faceoff circle 15 seconds into the contest.

"It's great to see Kyle back in the lineup," Long said of St. Denis, who's still on his point-a-game progress with 19 points in 16 games. "He's a great guy in the room, and he's a guy everyone loves to root for. We were all really excited for him."

ICE CHIPS: Kelowna's scratches were C Ian Duval (concussion) and D Aaron Borejko (concussion). Duval will likely miss tonight's game but be ready for Sunday's road game in Spokane... Kelowna was 0-for-6 on the power play; Everett was 0-for-3... The three stars were Heemskerk, St. Denis and Maxwell.

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=163312

Malc
02-09-2009, 03:01 PM
By Doyle Potenteau

The Kamloops Blazers celebrated a milestone on Saturday night. Turns out, though, the Kelowna Rockets crashed their party.

Jamie Benn and Kyle St. Denis both had two-point nights for Kelowna, each with a goal and assist, as the Rockets powered past the Kamloops Blazers 5-1 in WHL action on Saturday night. The contest was the Blazers' 2,000th game since the franchise relocated from New Westminster to Kamloops in 1981.

St. Denis' goal was his first since Oct. 22 in a 5-0 win over Chilliwack. Two nights later, the 18-year-old forward from Trail suffered a fractured scaphoid bone in his right hand in a 6-0 victory over Chilliwack and would miss Kelowna's next 37 games.

He returned to action on Friday night and helped spark the Rockets to a 2-1 overtime victory against Everett. In that contest, the five-foot-six winger had the game's first shot on net, just 15 seconds in, and he also had a hand in the last one, setting up Mikael Backlund's game-winning shot with a smooth backhand pass. Since his return, St. Denis has three points in two games, giving him 21 points in 17 games.

"I really wasn't expecting (a return) like this; I just tried to work hard, and the points came," said St. Denis, who couldn't recall his last goal. "But I guess I'm feeling pretty good. As the game goes along, I'm getting pretty tired. I think I'm going to have to shorten my shifts, and try to keep my feet moving, but, yeah, (the return) has been going pretty well."

Stepan Novotny, who opened the scoring early in the first period, Evan Bloodoff and Colin Long, with his 25th goal of the season, also scored for Kelowna (32-19-1-2), which led 1-0 and 3-1 at the period breaks. With the win, the Rockets are 6-0-1-1 in their past eight games and are also 7-0 this season against the Blazers.

Benn's goal was his 35th of the season, while Kelowna defenceman Tyson Barrie also had a two-point effort with two assists. Novotny's goal came at 4:31 of the first following a botched Rockets pass to centre ice. Novotny picked up the loose puck just outside of Kamloops' blue-line, blazed his way to a breakaway, then beat Kamloops netminder Justin Leclerc with a quick backhand blocker-side.

Tonight, the Rockets close out a busy three-game weekend by visiting the Spokane Chiefs (34-15-0-3), which posted a 3-2 shootout road decision over the Kootenay Ice on Saturday. The Chiefs, who outshot the Ice 41-38, have won 12 of their last 13 games, the lone exception being a 4-0 shutout loss to Vancouver on Friday.

Kenton Dulle, with his 22nd goal, replied for Kamloops (26-26-1-4), which lost 6-1 on home ice to Kelowna on Tuesday night. The Blazers entered Saturday's game riding a 4-3 shootout win over Everett on Wednesday, but, as was the case Tuesday, were simply outmatched by a better skilled team.

Leclerc made 38 saves for the Blazers. At the other end, Adam Brown made 14 stops for Kelowna in his first start since Jan. 23, an appearance that lasted just 8:10, having let in two goals on four shots in a 5-4 shootout loss to Chilliwack.

As Saturday's game wore on, the Blazers lost their cool, and, as a result, rough play began, which led to a series of fights late in the third.

"It got a little out of hand at the end, but when the score gets up like that, sometimes that happens," said Rockets winger Lucas Bloodoff, who was part of a three-fight melee with 1:22 remaining in the game.

Prior to that fracas, another melee took place with five minutes involving Mitchell Callahan and Kamloops' Tyler Shattock after Callahan was knocked into Kamloops' net and knocked it over. Shattock also swapped fists with Tysen Dowzak in the game.

"It was old-time hockey," continued Bloodoff, who fought Josh Caron following a hit on Rockets forward Cody Almond. "and there's nothing wrong with that every once in a while."

Almond wound up fighting, and beating, Linden Saip, while Kenton Dulle fed Collin Bowman in a centre-ice tilt in that three-melee tilt.

"Games like that, they get ugly at the end," said Callahan, who finished the game with 13 penalty minutes, a major for fighting and four minors. In his melee, "Generally, teams get frustrated, but it's all part of hockey; there's nothing you can do to control that."

Two months ago, the Rockets were struggling, winning one game, then losing the next. Now having won three in a row and six of their last seven, it appears Kelowna is beginning to find its stride.

"We're learning that hard work wins games," said Callahan, a rookie who now has 10 fights this season. "If we continue to work hard, we're going to win games."

Said Bloodoff: "We're starting to string games together. We're getting a lot more goals and shots are nearing the 50 mark; those are signs of success. Every win we get, I think, will help build our confidence."

ICE CHIPS: Kelowna's scratches were C Ian Duval (concussion) and D Aaron Borejko (concussion). Kamloops' scratches were Brandon Underwood (thumb, 2 weeks) and D Michal Siska... Kelowna was 3-for-10 on the power play; Kamloops was 0-for-9... The three stars were Benn, St. Denis and Barrie... The Blazers won their 1,000th game on Jan. 31 against Medicine Hat, a 6-4 home win, while the team's 1,000th road game will be Wednesday in Red Deer.

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=163450

Malc
02-09-2009, 03:02 PM
By Doyle Potenteau

One inch to the left, and who knows what would have happened to the Kelowna Rockets on Sunday night. All Mark Guggenberger knows is that his team is two points richer this morning.

Defenceman Tyler Myers came up with a game-winning save on Sunday night for Kelowna, as the Rockets posted a 2-1 road victory over the surging Spokane Chiefs in WHL action. Entering last night's game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Chiefs had won 12 of their last 13 games.

And in the final minute, it appeared Spokane may post win No. 13.
The Chiefs pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and came within an inch of tying the game when a shot rang off the post and ...

"It trickled through the crease and almost across the line," said Guggenberger, Kelowna's goalie. "Then Tyler saved the day by clearing it to the corner.

"We were definitely lucky (for Spokane) to hit the post, but Myers was calm in clearing it off the goal-line."

"It hit the post square on and then the net came off. But it did hit the post," Rockets head coach Ryan Huska said of Spokane's almost goal.

Kelowna wasn't the only team to receive a lucky break last night. With 1:15 remaining, and Spokane's net empty, Rockets forward Mikael Backlund rung a shot off the Chiefs' post from Spokane's blue-line in a one-on-one rush. Had Backlund scored, the Chiefs' almost goal – a shot from the left side with Myers in front, along with teammate Tysen Dowzak battling Spokane's Drayson Bowman – would have been a non-issue.

Colin Long, with two goals, his 26th and 27th markers of the season, scored for Kelowna (33-19-1-2), which now has points in its last nine games (7-0-1-1). Sunday's win also completed a weekend sweep that saw Kelowna defeat Everett 2-1 in overtime on Friday night, then Kamloops 5-1 on Saturday evening.

"It was a very good weekend by the boys, and we're getting some good goaltending right now," said Huska. "When you're only giving up one goal a night, you're giving yourself a very good chance to win."

Jared Spurgeon replied for Spokane (34-16-0-3), which is now 0-2 this season against Kelowna.

Long opened Sunday's scoring at 7:36 of the first period with a shorthanded goal, while Spurgeon evened the score late in the second. In the third, Long rounded out the scoring with a power-play tally at 7:18.

Like Kelowna, Spokane was also playing its third game of the weekend. The Chiefs lost 4-0 to Vancouver on Friday at home and beat Kootenay 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday in Cranbrook.

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=163590