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By Pieter Uni
The Kelowna Rockets’ recent surge has the team and the town buzzing, but don’t believe all the hype surrounding their six-game winning streak.
While the team has seen its fortunes turn around after enduring a horrific stretch that saw the Rockets lose 12 of 13, their current winning ways don’t mean the team is necessarily poised to make waves in the WHL.
The Rockets have been helped by a lineup that is slowly getting healthier, but for the most part, the team can thank a soft schedule for their recent on-ice success.
In their six consecutive victories, the team has beaten Prince George, the league’s worst team, three times and Seattle, which sits in second last place in the Western Conference, twice. The sixth win came against a very good Medicine Hat team who are arguably one of the top teams in the WHL, but it is against the best teams in the league that the Rockets have struggled.
In 17 games this season against the top teams in the league, the Rockets have only five regulation wins.
The team has lost four times to the Tri-City Americans, three times to the Vancouver Giants and Everett Silvertips and once against the Brandon Wheat Kings. All of the aforementioned teams sit in the top six of the league standings and while every win counts, the team must prove it can beat a true contender consistently before Rockets fans can begin dreaming of playoff success.
To be the best, you need to beat the best, and to date the Rockets haven’t measured up.
Snap shot
You may hate Brian Burke, but the Leafs GM fleeced the Calgary Flames this past week.
Toronto grabbed defenceman Dion Phaneuf, only 24, who will look to regain the form that once had him as a shoe-in to make Canada’s Olympic team before his abysmal performance this year with Calgary. The youngster has been deemed over-rated after being a Norris-finalist only two years ago, but Phaneuf could realize that by playing better positionally rather than going for the career-ending hit, and if he does, he will fulfill the lofty promise he entered the league with.
But Phaneuf isn’t the name to remember in this deal. Calgary was also relieved of prospect Keith Aulie, a 6′6, 215 defender who played with the 2009 gold-medal winning Canadian junior team. He isn’t NHL ready, but he has more promise than the likes of Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman or Jamal Mayers.
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Question….and for how many of the games that you speak of have the Kelowna Rockets been healthy? Full Roster? average age of the team during the losing streak?
I think that you should find out these facts too….being fair and all. Also don’t put too much stock into the fact that the Rocket fans arn’t thinking of playoff success, this team may just surprise you.
Do I think that they will win the WHL…no, but with the experience that this very young team is getting and the amazing coaching staff, round one could be fun…but round 2 will be more fun.
and and even more exciting thought…..Next year is going to be FANtastic.
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