Tipped Off
04-14-2006, 09:48 AM
Kelowna Capital News
Rockets face uphill battle to overcome deficit
Sean Connor/Capital News
Leland Irving and the Everett Silvertips will try to pin down Justin Keller and the Kelowna Rockets tonight in Game 5 of the WHL’s Western Conference semi-final.
By Warren Henderson
Staff Reporter
Apr 14 2006
Blake Comeau is all for history repeating itself. Only this time around, the Kelowna Rockets’ forward would like to see it happen in reverse.
In 2004, the Everett Silvertips roared back from a three-games-to-one deficit in the Western Conference final to beat the Rockets in seven games.
In 2006, the tables have been turned—Kelowna needs three straight victories over the ‘Tips in the best-of-seven conference semi-final to avoid extinction from the Western Hockey League playoff landscape.
“Every guy on the whole team knows it’s possible…Everett did it to us before, now we’re going to have to do the same if we want to keep playing,“ said Comeau, whose Rockets host the ‘Tips tonight in Game 5.
“Obviously we didn’t want to be down 3-1, but that’s the situation and there’s no quit on this team. There needs to be desperation on every shift for the rest of the series.”
Trailing 3-1 in a playoff series is unfamiliar territory for Rocket teams of the recent past. Not since 2001 when they fell 4-1 to the Kootenay Ice in the conference final has Kelowna faced as big of an uphill climb. Still, Kelowna bounced back against Seattle after being down 3-2 last April. And two seasons ago, the Rockets showed their resiliency rebounding from a 2-0 disadvantage to beat Tri-City in six games.
This spring, the Rockets dug a hole for themselves by losing back-to-back games in Washington this week.
Despite out shooting Everett 73-40 and enjoying the edge in overall play, it was the hometown Silvertips who found ways to score when they needed to, winning 2-0 on Tuesday, and overcoming a 2-0 deficit on Wednesday to post a 3-2 victory over the Rockets.
Troy Ofukany was the only Rocket to beat ‘Tips goalie Leland Irving scoring both goals.
While head coach Jeff Truitt doesn’t point the finger at any of his players for a lack of offensive production in the series, veterans such as Justin Keller, Blake Comeau, Tyler Spurgeon and Troy Bodie haven’t been delivering quite as hoped. The quartet has combined for just two goals in the first four games, a partial result of Everett’s stifling defensive style.
Truitt said Kelowna’s ability to come back in the series will be based on a complete team effort, not simply the exploits of three or four players.
“We need everybody playing their best game on (Friday),” said Truitt. “We have to go right after them. We can’t be conservative. Everybody in the dressing room needs to stand up and be counted.”
Kelowna product and WHL rookie Kyle Beach has been a bit of a thorn in the Rockets side in the last two games, playing the role of instigator while scoring a goal and adding an assist.
Beach, 16, Everett’s first round bantam draft pick in 2004, re-joined the ‘Tips this week after finshing out his season with Okanagan midget Rockets.
Another Kelowna native, Brady Calla, has also helped make life difficult for his hometown team, scoring the winner in Game 1 and assisting on the ‘Tips second goal on Wednesday night by John Lammers.
Game 6 of the conference semi-final, if needed, will be played Sunday night in Everett, with a seventh game scheduled for Tuesday, April 18 back in Kelowna.
Rockets face uphill battle to overcome deficit
Sean Connor/Capital News
Leland Irving and the Everett Silvertips will try to pin down Justin Keller and the Kelowna Rockets tonight in Game 5 of the WHL’s Western Conference semi-final.
By Warren Henderson
Staff Reporter
Apr 14 2006
Blake Comeau is all for history repeating itself. Only this time around, the Kelowna Rockets’ forward would like to see it happen in reverse.
In 2004, the Everett Silvertips roared back from a three-games-to-one deficit in the Western Conference final to beat the Rockets in seven games.
In 2006, the tables have been turned—Kelowna needs three straight victories over the ‘Tips in the best-of-seven conference semi-final to avoid extinction from the Western Hockey League playoff landscape.
“Every guy on the whole team knows it’s possible…Everett did it to us before, now we’re going to have to do the same if we want to keep playing,“ said Comeau, whose Rockets host the ‘Tips tonight in Game 5.
“Obviously we didn’t want to be down 3-1, but that’s the situation and there’s no quit on this team. There needs to be desperation on every shift for the rest of the series.”
Trailing 3-1 in a playoff series is unfamiliar territory for Rocket teams of the recent past. Not since 2001 when they fell 4-1 to the Kootenay Ice in the conference final has Kelowna faced as big of an uphill climb. Still, Kelowna bounced back against Seattle after being down 3-2 last April. And two seasons ago, the Rockets showed their resiliency rebounding from a 2-0 disadvantage to beat Tri-City in six games.
This spring, the Rockets dug a hole for themselves by losing back-to-back games in Washington this week.
Despite out shooting Everett 73-40 and enjoying the edge in overall play, it was the hometown Silvertips who found ways to score when they needed to, winning 2-0 on Tuesday, and overcoming a 2-0 deficit on Wednesday to post a 3-2 victory over the Rockets.
Troy Ofukany was the only Rocket to beat ‘Tips goalie Leland Irving scoring both goals.
While head coach Jeff Truitt doesn’t point the finger at any of his players for a lack of offensive production in the series, veterans such as Justin Keller, Blake Comeau, Tyler Spurgeon and Troy Bodie haven’t been delivering quite as hoped. The quartet has combined for just two goals in the first four games, a partial result of Everett’s stifling defensive style.
Truitt said Kelowna’s ability to come back in the series will be based on a complete team effort, not simply the exploits of three or four players.
“We need everybody playing their best game on (Friday),” said Truitt. “We have to go right after them. We can’t be conservative. Everybody in the dressing room needs to stand up and be counted.”
Kelowna product and WHL rookie Kyle Beach has been a bit of a thorn in the Rockets side in the last two games, playing the role of instigator while scoring a goal and adding an assist.
Beach, 16, Everett’s first round bantam draft pick in 2004, re-joined the ‘Tips this week after finshing out his season with Okanagan midget Rockets.
Another Kelowna native, Brady Calla, has also helped make life difficult for his hometown team, scoring the winner in Game 1 and assisting on the ‘Tips second goal on Wednesday night by John Lammers.
Game 6 of the conference semi-final, if needed, will be played Sunday night in Everett, with a seventh game scheduled for Tuesday, April 18 back in Kelowna.