10 years since Rockets first MC appearance

It's been 10 years!
Ten years since the Kelowna Rockets made their first ever appearance at the Memorial Cup.
The venue was the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, the site of the 2003 event. It  featured the WHL champion Kelowna Rockets, the Quebec Remparts, Kitchener Rangers and Hull Olympiques.
The Rockets represented the WHL after a six game series win over the Red Deer Rebels. 
That season the WHL champions were led by 20 year-old Jesse Schultz (pictured right), a 53 goal man during the regular season who was an impact player in the post season (12 goals - 16 assists = 28 points in 19 playoff games) where he was named MVP.
The Rockets roster also included Josh Gorges, Shea Weber, Cam Paddock, Mike Card, Duncan Keith and Blake Comeau.
That's right, seven players (Schultz included) from the 2003 team would see time in the NHL. They were that good.    
The eventual Memorial Cup champions that season, the Kitchener Rangers, had the likes of NHL'er Mike Richards, Derek Roy and Steve Eminger.
The Rockets would win just one game at the Cup, a 3-2 victory over the host Quebec Remparts. Despite the 1 and 2 record in the round-robin, the Rockets advanced to the semi finals where they would lose 2-1 to the Hull Olympiques. Kitchener would beat Hull 6-3 a day later in the championship game.   
As disappointed as the Rockets were to leave the 2003 Memorial Cup in Quebec City empty handed, who would have thought that only a season later they would win the title in front of the hometown crowd before making a third consecutive appearance, this time in London Ontario, in 2005.
The stop in Quebec City was a sign of things to come.

Richdale wins

Kelowna golfer Samantha Richdale is the winner of a CN Canadian Women's Tour event in Tsawwassen.

Richdale shot a final round 73 today, winning the event by four strokes.

The win is worth 10 thousand dollars and an exemption into the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open in August.

When UBC Okanagan opened its doors to students in 2005, one of their goals was  to compete against the best in Canadian university sports.

Almost eight years later, UBC Okanagan has reached its goal.

The university was granted full membership status in Canada West athletics allowing them to compete in basketball, volleyball and now soccer in 2014.

UBC Okanagan Athletic Director Rob Johnson says the university can offer elite athletes more than just a strong learning experience.

"Now we can go to those student athletes and say, this is a realistic option for you in men's and women's soccer, volleyball and basketball. That is attractive to a lot of people".   

Johnson says UBC Okanagan is also interested in competing in Canada West football down the road.

Hamilton's season is over

The hockey season is over for Kelowna resident Curtis Hamilton.

The 21 year-old underwent season ending 'knee' surgery today.

The second round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2010 spent this season with the  American Hockey League's Oklahama City Barons.

Next season is Hamilton's final year of an entry level contract.

A special day for an Okanagan football player.

Vernon resident Matt Walker was drafted by the BC Lions.

The 21 year-old will compete for a spot on the Lions as a defensive back, a position he started playing after a brief stint two years ago with the Okanagan Sun.

'There starting safety got injured so it was a predicament that they said hey, do you want to try this for a practice or two just to help out.  I tried it out and haven't looked back ever since."   

Walker attended the Lions spring training camp last month and did enough to convince the Lions to draft him.

Last season, Walker, played with the UBC Thunderbirds. 

Adam Foote's son now Kelowna Rockets property

Lyon Messier, Tyson Barrie, Adam Brown and J.T Barnett. You can now add to that list Cal Foote. Who is Cal Foote?
The 14 year-old was selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the second round of Thursday's WHL bantam draft.
What does the Denver, Colorado resident have in common with the players mentioned above? All five have prominent fathers that have connections to the NHL and four of the five at one time wore Kelowna Rockets colours.
Lyon Messier is Mark Messier's son. Lyon spent a small amount of time with the Rockets during the 2007-2008 season. Tyson Barrie is the son of former Tampa Bay Lightning owner Len Barrie. Adam Brown is the son of Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Newell Brown. J.T Barnett is the son of former Wayne Gretzky agent Mike Barnett. Cal Foote is the son of former NHL d-man Adam Foote. Foote (pictured) is apparently interested in playing in the WHL rather than going the NCAA route, which many, but not all American born players tend to do. If Cal (Callun is his whole name) is even half the player his dad (Adam) was, the Rockets made a nice pick in the second round.

Things that make me go hmm....

• The Portland Winterhawks are one win away from advancing to the Western Hockey League final. With a three games to one lead on the Kamloops Blazers, the Hawks can advance to the league final for a third consecutive year with a win in game five. How many teams can brag about that? Unfortunately people don’t remember who advances to the league final, only the team that hoists the Ed Chynoweth Cup over their head.
• It has been interesting to hear the comments coming from the Blazers coaches in their Western Conference final series with Portland. It sounds so familiar to what the Kelowna Rockets were saying in round two. The Blazers need to be more disciplined and their best players need to be their best players. It is a phrase used far too often, but it is so true. If your elite players fail to hit the score sheet your team is in a heap of trouble.
• How has the officiating been in the Western Conference final? The Blazers can’t be happy with a non call/non suspension after forward Brendan Ranford was hit late in the third period in game four by Winterhawks forward Keegan Iverson. Ranford was hurt on the play but there was no call from either of the two referees. I didn’t see the hit, so can’t comment on if it was dirty or not. Regardless, the number of power plays granted to each team has been relatively close, something we failed to see in round two when the Blazers met the Kelowna Rockets.      
• The Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops is getting a new score clock in time for next season. The new clock includes new high definition video boards which were desperately needed. The score clock at ISC is nine years old.
• Madison Bowey goes for gold for Canada at the Under 18’s in Russia. It is another great experience for the Kelowna Rockets defenceman to play with the elite in his age group. You have to wonder if that increases his stock heading into the NHL draft. Can’t hurt it, can it?
• The WHL Bantam Draft goes Thursday of next week and the Rockets pick second last. Good position to be in considering it is an indication you had a successful regular season. The last time the Rockets picked this late was in 2004. Director of Player Personnel Lorne Frey picked Saskatoon born defenceman Luke Schenn 20th overall.
• Good for Don Hay. The Vancouver Giants head coach still has it. Maybe some junior fans thought the veteran coach lost it after his team ended up dead last in the WHL this season. Hay has guided the Under 18 team to the gold medal game and has again shown he is one of the best at his craft.
• The Giants will undoubtedly select Edmonton’s Tyler Benson with the first pick in Thursday's bantam draft. Good on them for picking up an exceptional player. Not since Brendan Gallagher and Gilbert Brule have the Giants had a forward that puts the fear into the eyes of the opposition. Benson is going to be fun to watch whether you are cheering for the Giants or against them.             
• I sure feel for the Edmonton Oil Kings after losing captain Griffin Reinhart for the remainder of the playoffs after undergoing foot surgery. That is a huge loss for the defending champions and comes at a terrible time. It falls in line with the Rockets loss of captain Colton Sissons in the second to final game of the regular season. It is a huge blow to any line up. The only advantage the Oil Kings have over the Rockets is they are defending league champions and have incredible veteran depth.

Jung headed to CHL finals

A former goaltender with the Kelowna Rockets finds himself four wins away from a pro hockey championship.
Torrie Jung, who wore a Kelowna Rockets uniform for two seasons from 2006 to 2008 before being traded to the Edmonton Oil Kings, is now playing for the Central Hockey League's Wichita Thunder.
The Thunder, with Jung as the starter, is 8 and 0 in the CHL playoffs heading into the league final Friday against either the Allan Americans or the Missouri Mavericks.
Game seven in the Americans/Mavericks series goes Tuesday night.
Jung's team advanced to the league finals after a series sweep of the Fort Worth Brahmas. The Brahmas starting goaltender was Kristofer Westblom.
Westblom played four seasons with the Kelowna Rockets from 2004 to 2008.

Spurgeon has European title to go along with Memorial Cup

Tyler Spurgeon is a winner.

The 27 year-old won a Memorial Cup championship with the Kelowna Rockets in 2004 and now has added a pro championship to his trophy case.

Spurgeon helped his team - Klagenfurt - win the Austrian Elite League championship with a four game sweep over Vienna.

"It was their 30th championship that we ended up winning there. It was pretty exciting time for everyone in the city. They had been waiting, the past couple of years considering we had made it to the finals and we didn't win so everyone was pushing that we would get that thirtieth one".

Spurgeon has played three season in Klagenfurt and admits it does resemble Kelowna in a lot of ways.

"One thing that is similar between the two was the fan support we had. It is funny because the two cities are on huge lakes and summer towns with mountains. I really feel at home there in Austria."    

Spurgeon even had a chance to play with Buffalo Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers earlier this season when the former Rockets defenceman elected to play overseas for Klagenfurt during the NHL lockout.

You need a little hockey luck to win a championship

Let's face it; you need a little luck or good fortune along the way to win a WHL championship. Oh sure, good goaltending, timely scoring and character players need to emerge to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup, but if the 'Hockey God's' aren't looking upon you favorably you are severely hooped.
Use the Kelowna Rockets as an example. In the 2013 playoffs, the Rockets suffered far too many obstacles in order to obtain the ultimate prize. The injury to captain Colton Sissons in the second last game of the regular season was a back breaker. Many fans wondered why it had to happen late in the season and why to the teams’ heart and soul player? And why was the injury so significant? Why did Carter Rigby and Mitch Wheaton have to suffer shoulder injuries that were so serious, neither could play in the first round of the playoffs? Why did MacKenzie Johnston get knocked out of the opening round playoff series with Seattle before Jesse Lees suffered a similar fate in game four? It forced the Rocket to use just five d-men to get past the T-Birds in a series that should have never gone seven games. It ended up taxing both the forwards and d-man and left them anything put fresh for a second round date with the Kamloops Blazers.
In round two against Kamloops, why did the officiating staff stick it to the Rockets in game four? Why did the team have to compete against more than just a Blazers team who needed no help in generating quality chances even strength? No breaks from the officiating staff and the injury bug biting mercilessly translated into a quick exit from the playoffs and no championship title.
Good fortune was a factor in a WHL title in 2005 though. The Rockets found themselves in the Western Conference final against the high powered Kootenay Ice. In game six at Prospera Place, Ice goaltender Jeff Glass was putting on a clinic. With Kootenay holding a slim 1-0 lead late in the third period and game seven looking like a sure thing back in Cranbrook, the Rockets were granted a power play late in the game. Defenceman Mike Card would take the puck behind the Rockets net and skated with it up the ice. Instead of dumping the puck in the corner, Card surprised Glass by firing a long range shot from center ice that somehow beat the 19 year-old goaltender, tying the game at one. In overtime the Rockets would score the game winning goal. On to the finals they went where they captured the league title with a rather easy five game series with the Brandon Wheat Kings. But why did Mike Card's shot from centre ice beat Glass, who was indestructible through 56 minute?
Fast forward to 2009 when the Rockets faced power house Calgary in the league final. In game six, the Rockets are awarded a power play in overtime after Alex Plante takes a hooking penalty. Tyson Barrie goes on to score the game winning goal sending the Rockets to the Memorial Cup for the fourth time in franchise history. But why was a penalty called on Plante in overtime? Was it good fortune that played a factor in one official calling a penalty in O.T? Had Calgary won that game the series would have gone back to the Saddledome for a game seven where the Hitmen would have been the odds on favorite to wrap up the series.
Again, good goaltending, timely scoring and character players need to emerge in order to have a long playoff run into the month of May. But if you don't think a little luck or good fortune along the way isn't necessary in winning a league title and representing the WHL at the Memorial Cup, you are fooling yourself.

The straw that stirred the Kelowna Rockets drink

Colton Sissons is a rare breed. He can shoot, skate and score. Sissons can lead in the dressing room and will fight when provoked. That may explain why he was named the MVP of the Kelowna Rockets. He could do it all. Is he the best Rockets captain ever considering he could do so many things so well? There is no debating he was the straw that stirred the Kelowna Rockets drink.

Jordon Cooke audio from morning press conference

Here is Jordon Cooke reflecting on the ups and downs of being a #1 goaltender, not only during the regular season, but the playoffs.

Rockets' open/close season with overtime loss to Blazers

• The Kelowna Rockets season started with an overtime loss in Kamloops. Ironically, the teams magically season would end the exact same way. Kale Kessey scored less than four minutes intro extra time in a 4-3 win, eliminating their BC Division brethren in four games. The only thing keeping this game from getting out of reach was a strong penalty killing unit and the play of goaltender Jordon Cooke. After being pulled in game three, Cooke rebounded with a worthy performance in what I would consider a statement game. Cooke had to be sharp as the Blazers were granted 10 power plays, including four in the first period. Playing shorthanded, the Rockets fell behind 3-1 only to fight back with two-third period goals to send the game into overtime for a second straight night.
• The Rockets showed great resilience despite playing their sixth game in nine days. They were gassed killing off penalty after penalty yet found a way to claw back. It was interesting to see the officiating crew wanting to show the TV audience that they indeed were in full control. In an elimination game, leading scorer Myles Bell is assessed a ten minute misconduct for something he said to one of the officials. With Bell in the box, J.T Barnett and Cole Linaker would score in a 4 and a half minute span and it was a brand new game.
• While Blazers forward Brendan Ranford was by far the best forward in the series, goaltender Cole Cheveldave was really the story in games three and four. Had Cheveldave been even average in those two games, the chances of playing a game five in Kelowna would have been extremely great. The 19 year-old made countless tremendous stops, including a few late in the game to send the contest into overtime.
• The goals by Cole Linaker and J.T Barnett were the first-third period goals the Rockets scored in the series. The biggest goal came off the stick of Tyson Baillie though. Back in the line up after being suspended for two games, Baillie got the ball rolling in the second period with a quick shot that tied the game at one. Baillie proved again he is a heart and soul player. Those are the individuals you win with when the going gets tough. Baillie really sparkled in the playoffs and emerged as a clear go-to-guy.
• J.T Barnett's presence in game three and four were immense. The 20 year-old, who unfortunately had his junior career end in overtime, added much needed offense on a team that saw their top two point producers during the regular season go quiet. Barnett played with desperation and was a true leader in every sense of the word. 
• Cody Fowlie was another 20 year-old that gave so much to his team in game four. Fowlie was blocking shots and was doing everything he could in order to help his team. Fowlie's shot block on Blazers d-man Joel Edmundson in the third period was undoubtedly painful but inspiring for his teammates.
• Eight of the ten Rockets goals in the series were even strength. The only power play goal the team scored was Myles Bell's blast in game three. Ryan Olsen had a shorthanded goal in game three. The Blazers scored 18 goals in the four games, with 12 of them coming even strength.
•  The crowd in Kamloops over the last two night's was tremendous. While not a sell out in either game three or four, they made significant noise and provided the building with an amazing atmosphere.  
• The Rockets may hang their heads today, but the picture will become clearer in the days ahead of just how special they were. It was just that - a team. I don't think I've witnessed a group of players come together and play so well with no one individual outshining the next. With the losses of Barnett, Fowlie and Dylen McKinlay to graduation, the only other player that won't return next season is captain Colton Sissons. That's it. Of the 24 players on the roster, 20 return to defend their BC Division regular season title next season. That is an impressive number.
• It was fun calling games on the radio for a team that won 56 times (regular season/playoffs) . I have so many great memories to take away. How about tying a franchise record for wins on home ice? How about chasing down the Blazers for first place and winning the BC Division regular season banner? And don't forget the thrill of coming back from being down three games to none in their opening round playoff series to Seattle to become only the second team in WHL history to win a playoff series.
• Thanks for listening to our broadcasts on AM 1150. I appreciate the dedication and support colour analyst Gord McGarva gave me again this season. While not a broadcaster by design, Gord has made huge strides over the years by learning by doing. We often discuss how we both can be better. It is that type of open friendship that makes it work. I am indeed grateful to have Gord alongside in the broadcast booth.