Seasonal series may be deceiving

• The Rockets and Americans met four times this season, with the Am's winning all four games by a combined score of 20-5. Looks bad on paper right? Let's remember that the Rockets opened the 2009-2010 road schedule in Tri City with a 6-1 loss. Not making excuses, but the Rockets no longer have six players from that night that are currently playing with the existing team. Of those six, only Kyle St. Denis is technically with the organization.
• It was weird scheduling this season. The Rockets and Americans met four times in Kelowna's first 31 games. So essentially they didn't see each other in the second half of the season. Is it fair to say the Rockets were a much different team in the second half? I think it is. The Americans didn't change much. They were as good in the first half as they were in the second half. You don't play consistent hockey all season long and come three wins shy of 50. They were darn good from start to finish. Hello - 97 points!
• Here are the scores in the seasonal series: (6-1 L) and (5-1 L) in Tri City and (4-2 L) and (5-1 L) in Kelowna.
• The Rockets were 4 for 25 on the power play in the seasonal series (16%) while the Am's were 4 for 19 (21.1%)
• The Americans out-shot the Rockets 128-107 in the four games. The Americans averaged 32 shots on goal while the Rockets fired 26.8 shots the other way.
• The Americans out-scored the Rockets 7-1 in the first period in the four games and 7-2 in the second period. The third wasn't much better, where the Ams had 6 goals compared to the Rockets two.
• These two teams met in last years Western Conference semi finals with the Rockets winning in six games. The Rockets were 1 and 2 at the Toyota Center in that series, losing 4-3 and 3-2 before earning a 5-2 win April 10th in game five.
• Since the Rockets re-located to Kelowna for the start of the 2005-06 season, these two teams have met three previous times in the playoffs. In 1996, Tri City was a winner in six games in the opening round. In 2004, the Rockets used six games to advance to the conference finals. Obviously last season the Rockets won a second round series, also in six games.
• Rockets captain Lucas Bloodoff was a 6th round draft pick of the Americans in the 2004 WHL Bantam draft. Bloodoff never played a game with the Americans, before being traded to Kelowna June 2/2006.
• Riley McIntosh is now a 19 year-old d-man with the Americans. McIntosh, a second round pick of the Rockets in 2005, was picked just behind Tyler Myers and ahead of Brandon McMillan, who was the Rockets 3rd round selection in that draft.
• 333 miles. That's the distance from Kelowna to Tri City. In kilometers that adds up to 535 k. The trip can easily be completed in five hours for those wishing to watch the Rockets on the road. If you compare that distance to an opening round playoff series with Everett, the difference is just 25 kilometers more.
• It's interesting to note that no less than a days grace has been given between games played in the two cities. In other words, you won't see the teams battling in Tri City one night and then busing through the night to play in Kelowna the next. We saw that in round one where the two teams played in Everett in game five and raced each other back to Kelowna for game six one night later.

A hot overage goaltender can take you a long way

Danny Battochio.
Who?
Danny Battochio.
If that name sounds vaguely familiar, he was a 20 year-old goaltender who played for the Ottawa 67's at the 2005 Memorial Cup in London, Ontario.
Battochio backstopped a 67's team that finished the 2004-2005 regular season with 34 wins, just one fewer than the Kelowna Rockets this season.
The 67's would finish as the 6th seed in their conference, the same seeding position as the Rockets in 2009-2010.
With Battochio providing solid goaltending, the 67's would beat third seeded Barrie in round one.
The 67's would then upset Sudbury in round two before using just four games to sweep Peterborough in the conference final.
The magic would eventually run out on Battochio and the 67's, who would lose to London in the 2005 OHL final. But because the Knights were hosting the Memorial Cup, the 67's got in as the league runner-up.
It's interesting that should the Brandon Wheat Kings win the league title this season, the runner-up will be awarded a Memorial Cup birth.
What Battochio and his 6th seeded Ottawa 67's teammates showed in 2005 is that indeed a red hot overage goaltender and a solid work ethic by the players in front of him can out duel teams with a significantly higher skill level.
Is Mark Guggenberger the next Danny Battochio to lead a 6th seeded team on a magical playoff ride?
Who knows.
What is clear is a 20 year-old goalie can take you a long way in the playoffs, even if you are a 6th seed.
Want proof?
Look no further than Danny Battochio.

Guggenberger saved his best for last

• Mark Guggenberger's performance in last years WHL final is still haunting several members of the Calgary Hitmen. You can now add the Everett Silvertips to that list. The 21 year-old goaltender was the best player on the ice Monday night, and needed to be, in a 2-1 win over the Tips, in the seventh and deciding game of their opening round playoff series. The Rockets win the series four games to three.
• Guggenberger, who gave up a soft opening goal in game six, closed the door shut in a third period dominated by the Tips. Everett stormed the net in the final period looking for the equalizing goal, but either found a shot hitting a shin pad of a Rockets defender or hitting a portion of Guggenberger's 6 foot 3 frame.
• One of the main reasons why the Tips dominated play in the third was the Rockets top players were exhausted after attempting to kill off five power plays in the second period alone. Fatigue was a factor coupled with the Tips being a creative team in the offensive zone. They threw everything at the Rockets in the third period, but a 'Kevin Constantine shot blocking clinic' had the Tips unable to find the back of the net.
• For the first time in this series the Rockets opened the scoring. Radko Gudas, injected back in the lineup after missing four games with a shoulder injury, took an early roughing penalty. Dallas Jackson's point shot was tipped at the side of the net by Geordie Wudrick to give the Rockets the 1-0 lead. It was Wudrick's WHL leading 8th goal of the playoffs.
• Captain Lucas Bloodoff is credited with the game winning goal in the second period, a goal that had to be reviewed because of a possible high stick. On the ice the officials did not call it a goal, yet on video it clearly showed the goal was good.
• The Tips appeared to be tight in game seven. Forward Clayton Cumiskey has a breakaway early in the first period and essentially doesn't get a shot off after fumbling the puck, and top scorer Shane Harper also has a glorious scoring chance on Guggenberger late in the third period and also loses control of the puck.
• This was the Rockets second seven game series win since the team re-located to Kelowna. The Rockets beat Seattle in 2005. The Rockets also lost in 2004 to Everett in seven games and lost to Seattle in an opening round seven game series in 2008.
• The seven game series win will never take away the sting of losing to the Tips in 2004, but it will ease the pain a bit. The Rockets were huge favourites in 04, and lost, while the Tips were 21 points better than the Rockets in this years playoff and suffered the same fate.
• The most surprising defenceman in this series for me was Rockets rookie Colton Jobke. Again a great effort by the 17 year-old in game seven, playing alongside Collin Bowman. Jobke is making smart decisions with the puck, and is being rewarded with ice time. Do you notice that he often gets blasted into the end board by a big hit after attempting to clear a puck? But do you also notice that Jobke is fearless to go for the puck and isn't scared to get hit to make a play? Impressive.
• The Rockets advance to the second round of the playoffs where they face the Tri City Americans. The point differential between the two teams is exactly the same as it was against the Tips. The Rockets and Americans met four times during the regular season with the Am's winning all four games. Funny thing is, the two teams didn't meet one another after the trade deadline. The last game they played against one another was December 5th.

Rockets Win!!

Rockets 2 Tips 1
Rockets win series in 7 games.

No secrets in game seven

• Tips head coach Craig Hartsburg told me this morning that 19 year-old Radko Gudas will play tonight. Gudas has missed the last four games with a shoulder injury. Gudas was seen taking light contact on his shoulder during this mornings workout at Comcast Arena. Gudas, a Western Conference second team all-star, led the Tips with a +45 rating and collected 151 penalty minutes. I would be surprised if he made those big open ice hits that we are accustomed to seeing, but never say never.
• Hartsburg also confirmed to me that d-man Chris de la Lande won't play. The 19 year-old was hurt in game three in Kelowna.
• Do you need to be motivated for game seven? You shouldn't. As a player, this is what you thirst for. You want nothing more than to play in a one game showdown where your hockey season is on the line. Few players get to experience a game seven at this level. The 40 players (18 skaters and two goaltenders x2) participating tonight should consider themselves the lucky few.
• The Rockets should be playing for the crest on the front of their jersey, but indeed it goes far beyond that in my view. Play for injured forward Cody Chikie, who will most certainly see some playing time in the second round if his team indeed advances. Chikie's season was essentially over once he broke his collar bone late in the season. That could all change with a gutsy effort from his teammates in game seven.
• Play for Kyle St. Denis. St-D would give a bad shoulder or a bum knee for a clear head. St. Denis would take any one's spot, backup goaltender included, to be on the Rockets bench tonight wearing his Rockets uniform. Feel fortunate you are in the lineup in game seven and play like it.
• I thought Tips head coach Craig Hartsburg said it best when explaining what the Rockets have that his team doesn't. He said, "the Rockets have intangibles that we don't. They play with grit, something we are learning to play with." The Rockets have the experience of playing in pressure packed games.
• All that's left is the opening face-off. May the team with the best determination, desire and work ethic win. The team that puts it all on the line tonight deserves to move on. It should be the best game of the series.

Game six was a lot of fun, but now it's time to get it done

• The Rockets have won three of the last four games in this playoff series. If that doesn't make you optimistic about the Rockets chances in game seven, I don't know what will. In saying that, it won't come easy. The Rockets will need to play with the same type of desperation they displayed on home ice in order to advance to the next round. Anything less will result is a disappointing loss.
• Grit and determination will rein supreme at the end of the day. The team that is willing to bring that to the table in game seven will win. Grit and determination will always prevail over skill.
• Is it just me, or when Rockets captain Lucas Bloodoff puts out a maximum effort and plays with determination, his teammates follow? Bloodoff was at his best in game six and he showed up twice on the score sheet. More importantly, others followed in his footsteps which made the Rockets a tough team to play against. Why was Tyler Matheson, Max Adolph, Codey Ito and Jessey Astles so effective in game six? Lucas Bloodoff's lead can not be overlooked.
• Did you notice who was on the ice in the final minutes of game six? Rookie d-man Colton Jobke did a tremendous job late in the game of keeping the Tips off the scoreboard. Jobke ended the game a +2 and collected two assists.
• You may be surprised to hear this, but the best Tips forward in this series has been Clayton Cumiskey. Sure, Shane Harper has produced offensively, but Cumiskey has been the real story of this series for the Tips. When you play that hard through six games and your line is often the first to receive ice time during the opening face-off, you can see that Cumiskey, Dan Iwanski and Scott MacDonald are being looked upon with favour by Everett head coach Craig Hartsburg.
• The big surprise for me in this series is the play of the Tips goaltenders. Neither has stolen a game for the Tips. I thought the duo of Thomas Heemskerk and Kent Simpson would outplay Adam Brown and Mark Guggenberger, but that hasn't been the case. All four goaltenders have allowed suspect goals in the first six games. The goaltender that outplays the other 200 feet down the ice tonight will undoubtedly see his team playing Friday night in round two.
• Considering this is the final game of the series, I want to congratulate both teams for a great six games. What a back and forth, momentum turning series this has been. Outside of game five, the games have all been in doubt until late in the 3rd period. It's been a fun series to be apart of. The fans have been great, especially the gentleman in Everett who turns on a red light when the Tips score and flashes it in front of my broadcast booth. While he is definitely cheering for the Tips, he is also wearing a Kelowna Rockets hat. Thanks to all the Tips fans that either e-mailed me personally or commented on this blog site. I appreciate you stopping by in my small space in cyber space for a quick visit.

It's off to Everett I go

I will share some thoughts when I arrive in Everett. Talk to you there.

March Update"Earl Makes the Paper"

Hi Everyone,
This has been a pretty good month. We have been to Hawaii and Calgary and best of all the Wings are winning. Earl's new name for his favorite team is "The Detroit Hot Wings" ha ha. We are so proud of how well his boys are doing.
Earl saw the oncologist this past week and this is the news. The nodule in his right lung that we have been watching has not grown significantly, which is good news, but there appears to be 2-4 new nodules..not such great news....so now we wait for another 3-4 months before we get another ct scan. The other problem is that one of his kidney's is dilated and they are doing some tests to figure out the cause. Other than that, Earl has his good days and his bad days and we continue to ask you to keep him in your prayers,
- that he would begin to feel better and stronger
- that the cancer would just stop growing
- that Earl would take responsibility for eating healthy and staying strong.

While we were in Detroit in February we met a young couple who were also from Winnipeg, and when they heard about Earls story and connection to Mike and the Red Wings thought it was a story worth telling. Below you will find 2 stories that were printed in the Winnipeg Sun on Sunday March 14 about Earl, Mike Babcock and their relationship.

ENJOY.
Debbie

“Earl, you own the Joe.”

Those words are uttered often when Winnipeg’s Earl Cook makes a pilgrimage to his hockey mecca, Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

It’s the home of his beloved Red Wings, a team with which Cook, who is battling cancer and had his left leg amputated because of it, has basically become part of due to his friendship with head coach Mike Babcock.

“He’s become a good friend of the Detroit Red Wings,” Babcock said, “and he’s become a good friend of mine.”

Cook, 22, is given free reign when he shows up at the venerable Motor City arena. He sits on the bench during the morning skate and darts around the locker-room after games.

“He’s got an opinion on everything!” Babcock said. “He’s got an opinion on who should shoot in the shootouts, he’s got an opinion on who should play with who and what goalie. I remember the last time he was in, we were playing Ottawa. He had the scouting report on (Brian) Elliott.”

Debbie Hopkins, who has been Cook’s foster mom for the last six years, is thankful the Wings have let her son live out a dream.

“Earl is given that experience, and he believes that he makes a difference,” she said. “And I think that’s the way Mike wants it.”

Babcock is always telling Cook that he knows a lot about hockey and specifically the Wings.

“I can’t tell you everything,” Cook said, “because some of it’s secret.”

Cook analyses tape with Detroit video coach Keith McKittrick. Johan Franzen calls him the team’s fourth coach. He has dumped Gatorade down Darren Helm’s jersey three times during practice and knows the St. Andrews product will exact his revenge soon.

He writes motivational messages on the white board. He’s met entertainer Kid Rock and befriended his brother, Billy Ritchie, whose hip and leg were amputated when he was six.

Due to behavioral and learning disabilities, Cook sometimes says whatever he’s thinking.

“I speak my mind,” said Cook, who has given motivational speeches around Winnipeg. “They like that about me.”

He even went up to Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg last spring during the Stanley Cup playoffs and told him he was struggling.

It was OK, though, because “me and him are tight,” Cook said. “I got his e-mail.”

Cook and Debbie are travelling to Calgary for Detroit’s game on Monday night against the Flames. Cook will no doubt catch up with his pals.

“I want to study for them, but I don’t know (Miikka) Kiprusoff’s weak spot,” Cook said. “I don’t know how to score on him. He’s too good.”

Babcock isn’t going to be happy to hear that.

Cook’s strongest bond is with the coach, but he has made an impact on the players as well during his dozen or so trips to watch them play.

A signed picture from defenceman Andreas Lilja reads: “To my best bud. You are an inspiration to us all. All the best.”

Cook also has a Wings calendar, and each player featured wrote a personal message of hope.

Cook’s bedroom is plastered in red and white. Pictures, jerseys, sticks and coffee mugs, not to mention a Curtis Joseph goalie helmet, are all over the house.

His prosthetic leg, which includes a rear end since he doesn’t have a hip, is painted red with a Wings logo on it. His good buddy Zetterberg even autographed the thing — while Cook was wearing it!

Cook believes his relationship with Babcock and the Wings is helping him strive to beat cancer. He and Debbie have tried to make trips to Motown just before he goes in for surgery.

“It brings my spirits up,” he said. “My Red Wings are my friends, and they’re cheering me on. I gotta do it for them, and I made a promise to other cancer patients before they died that I’m going to do whatever it takes to survive.”

Babcock’s wife lost one of her closest friends to cancer during the Olympics. His mom died of the disease as well. He invites kids stricken with cancer to every Wings home game.

None of them, however, left an impression like Cook has.

“There’s a few of them over the years that I’ve got to know better than others, but no one as good as Earl,” Babcock said.

“He’s just a great guy. He’s a piece of work. There’s nothing else you can say about him. He’s just fantastic, and his heart is huge. Sometimes when you don’t win, sometimes when you don’t feel like things are going as good as they should be, all you gotta do is think about him.

“You think about the hand he’s been dealt and how he embraces it. He’s an inspiration. He’s a remarkable man, is all I can say. He’s a gift from God.

“Earl’s going to be one of the survivors, and he’s also going to be one of the people who inspires people to make a difference, and I think that’s so important.”

kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca

When the doctor found another “something” in his lungs at Christmas time, Earl Cook wasn’t sure if he was ready to continue his cancer battle.

So his foster mom, Debbie Hopkins, sent an e-mail to one of Cook’s closest friends to ask if he could light a fire under her 22-year-old son.

That friend, who two months later would guide the Canadian men’s hockey team to Olympic gold in Vancouver, did just that.

Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock told Cook that it was overtime in Game 7. It was time to find another gear. He threw in a few salty words to make sure he got his point across.

“He gave Earl a locker-room talk,” Debbie said with a laugh. “And he doesn’t mince his words with Earl, either, which is really cool. As a mother, I don’t prefer that people use those kind of words with my children, but he treats him just like a player. And it’s awesome. It’s one of those situations where it’s OK.”

It’s OK because Cook, who has gone through more in his 22 years than anyone could ever imagine, responds to Babcock. One of the world’s most famous hockey coaches and the foster kid from Winnipeg have formed a deep friendship that just might be keeping the latter alive.

“If it weren’t for Mike, I wouldn’t want to keep fighting,” Cook said matter-of-factly. “Mike has given me the desire to live. There’s lots of times during each day I say I want to be dead right now, I don’t feel good.

“I get depressed sometimes, but Mike gets me out of it.”

Cook had it rough from the beginning. And when we say the beginning, we mean the beginning.

“Earl was born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,” Debbie said. “He was actually born drunk. And, actually, he was born in a toilet. His mother didn’t even know she had him. His older sister found him and saved his life.”

Cook was abused and diagnosed with failure to thrive. Doctors didn’t think he would make it past the age of two. He was placed in foster care as an infant, but the numerous behavioural and learning disabilities that were caused by his early experiences, like Asperger syndrome, are with him for life.

The fact he was diagnosed with cancer when he was 19 falls under the category of ‘Life’s not fair.’ The kid’s a fighter, though, and it’s his remarkable attitude that draws people to him.

“He’s a guy with an infectious personality,” Babcock said last week from Detroit. “The life he’s had … he’s a guy who’s found a way to make lemonade out of lemons, I guess you could say.

“I love when I jump in the car and it’s him on the phone. I turn it on, and I listen to him. It gives me inspiration.”

Cook and Babcock first made contact in July 2008, after Cook’s left hip and leg were amputated in Toronto. Cook was first diagnosed in 2007 with osteogenic sarcoma in his leg, the same kind of cancer Terry Fox had.

Cook had gotten to know part-time CTV Winnipeg sports anchor Dan Palsson, who in turn asked his friend, TSN’s Darren Dreger, if he could pay Cook a visit. Dreger stopped by and asked Cook who his favourite hockey coach was. Cook said Babcock. Fifteen minutes later the two were chatting on the phone.

“I was telling Mike how to run the lines, who to play with who and stuff and he listened to me,” Cook said. “And sure enough we went to the finals (in 2009).”

After the amputation, Cook had chemotherapy for the cancer that had spread to his lungs, but he wasn’t responding well to the treatment and the doctors weren’t hopeful.

So Debbie decided to get in touch with Babcock to see if Cook could come down for a game or two. He said yes. A friendship was born. Cook and Debbie have attended about a dozen Wings games over the last two seasons. When he’s unable to be there in person, Cook has Babcock’s direct line. They spoke three times on Thursday.

“If Earl ever calls, without a doubt he returns the call,” Debbie said. “Unless he calls at a completely inappropriate time, he will return the call within an hour.”

Debbie believes her son’s relationship with the Olympic- and Stanley Cup-winning coach is why Cook is still fighting off the disease today.

“It’s been everything,” she said. “It’s given him that motivation, the desire, the need to survive.”

kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca

Foot soldiers play big role in game six win

• Defenceman Tyson Barrie will get all the headlines following a 5-4 win over the Everett Silvertips, but it was the Kelowna Rockets foot soldiers that were the key in forcing a game seven in their Western Conference playoff series. Barrie was instrumental by scoring twice in the game six win, but it was key goals from rookie Codey Ito in the second period, and captain Lucas Bloodoff in the third, in the one goal win. It was Ito's first career playoff goal and Bloodoff's first of the series. I couldn't have come at a better time. Bloodoff's goal was the game winner.
• It was great to see Ito's goal with assists to foot soldiers Tyler Matheson and Max Adolph. Sixteen year-old Jessey Astles also needs to be credited for his hard work over the course of the game. Evan Bloodoff was especially solid in the third period thanks to his great speed.
• Shane McColgan also scored. It was McColgan's first of the playoffs. McColgan also assisted on the game tying goal from Tyson Barrie, despite being hurt in the second period by a hit from Tips forward Clayton Cumiskey.
• For the sixth straight game the Tips opened the scoring on a soft goal by Scott MacDonald. MacDonald's attempted pass from the end boards hits Mark Guggenberger's leg and goes in just 4:33 into the game.
• The Rockets are nursing a 3-2 lead when referee's Derek Zalaski and Devin Klein get busy by missing several infractions before whistling Rockets forward Spencer Main into the box for tripping. The Tips then score a disputed goal when Guggenberger makes a right pad save off of Tips forward Byron Froese, who appears to push Guggenberger's pad across the goal line. After video review, the goal stands. Then to make matters worse, Brandon McMillan is given a roughing minor which the Tips score on to make it 4-3 for the visitors before periods end.
• It marked the second time in this series that the Rockets came back to win after trailing after 40 minutes.
• For the first time all season long, a non sellout crowd watched the Rockets force a game seven. Just 5 thousand and 38 fans took in the game. It's the smallest crowd of the season. Who would think that it would take a playoff game not to sell out?.

AM 1150 audio from game six.

We are going to game 7

Rockets 5 Tips 4
series tied 3-3

Minor blunder

Ok, I am sleep deprived. I called Shane Harper the Tips captain in the below posting. I have since made the correction. I need a nap.

Was Tips overager Shane Harper imitating Lance Bouma?

• A clear indication of who wanted it more in game five came from Tips forward Shane Harper. What is Harper doing running around the Rockets zone like he's Lance Bouma? Isn't Harper a 42 goal scorer, not a hitter? Harper was going to do whatever it took to send the series back to Kelowna with his team up 3 games to two. Frankly, Harper's physical effort last night impressed me more than had he scored two goals.
• The Tips blank the Rockets by dressing just five defenceman. That should give you a good indication of what the visitors brought to the table last night. While the Tips deserve credit for sucking it up despite a battered and bruised back end, the Rockets just couldn't take advantage of the Tips misfortune.
• The last time the Rockets opened the scoring was the second last game of the regular season. Shane McColgan scored his 25th goal of the season in a 4-3 win in Vancouver. McColgan's goal came 3:15 into period one.
• Tyler Maxwell arose from the dead in game five. A 33 goal man during the regular season, Maxwell scored his first two goals of the series. Now it's Brandon McMillan and Shane McColgan's turn to produce on the scoreboard. Those two 25 goal scorers have yet to fire a puck past a Tips goalie in five games.
• Argue with me if you want, but my belief is that the Rockets expected this to be a seven game series. I anticipate them playing their hearts out tonight and forcing a game seven back in Everett Monday where all the chips are on the table. The Rockets have been this way all season. The light switch goes on and off. When they want to play hard, they look like world beaters yet when they are off, they are really off.
• As one of the ushers at Comcast Arena told me, "make sure to win game six so we can see you here Monday night". I asked him why he would say that? He said, "Because us ushers get paid on a per game basis, and we need the money".

Lousy starts for one team, terrific starts for the other

Game #1
Tips score 16:54 into first period

Game #2
Tips score 14:20 into first period

Game #3
Tips score :42 seconds into first period

Game #4
Tips score 1:58 into first period

Game #5
Tips score 1:00 into first period

* In the last three games combined the Tips have taken just 3 minutes and 40 seconds to open up the scoring.

Ouch!

The Everett Silvertips were prime for the pick'n Friday night, but it was the Tips that picked their spots in a 4-0 victory.
Kent Simpson celebrated his 18th birthday, making 21 saves, helping the Tips to the win.
Everett now has a three games to two lead in the series heading into game six Saturday in Kelowna.
The shutout loss was the Rockets first in the playoffs since 2006, when Leland Irving made 41 saves in a 2-0 win at the Comcast Arena on April 11/2006.

Here is the audio of the back breaker in game five. It's a short handed goal from Tyler Maxwell with 11 minutes gone in the second period. A Rockets power play goal would have made it a one goal game. Maxwell scores to make it a 3-0 lead for the Tips.

A visiting team has to win some time

• Why not tonight? The home team has won every game in this series with the Rockets being forced to win on the road to advance to the next round. While this series is tied at two wins apiece, the Tips are still driving the bus. They don't need to win on the road as long as they run the table at home. The Rockets - as the lesser seed - don't have that luxury.
• A light skate this morning for both teams prior to game five. The Rockets had a small group on the ice this morning at Comcast Arena. You don't see players like Tyson Barrie on the ice considering he logs enough ice time for two players.
• The Tips had a full compliment of players on the ice this morning, including injured defenceman Radko Gudas. Gudas was skating, but it appeared he wasn't going full out when shooting the puck. Gudas is out with a shoulder injury...I mean upper body injury.
• I spoke to Clayton Cumiskey this morning. The Everett Silvertips forward is the younger brother of former Kelowna Rockets defenceman Kyle Cumiskey. The interview will air tonight on AM 1150, but I will post it here for Tips fans that may be interested. (You can listen to it below).
• Cumiskey told me he played minor hockey with Rockets forward Geordie Wudrick. The two played hockey together in Abbotsford.
• I received a call this morning from Medicine Hat Tigers play-by-play man Bob Ridley. Ridley is hanging out in Cranbrook as the Ice and Tigers prepare for game five of their series tonight. That series is also tied at two wins apiece. Ridley, the elder statesman of the WHL broadcaster group, does not shy away from technology. He may be in Cranbrook, but he has the equipment that enables him to conduct a phone interview with me from his hotel room. 'Old school' he is not.
• I conducted an interview with Rockets defenceman Tyson Barrie this morning. That interview should be available on Jon Keen's WHL This Week, which can be accessed on the WHL website later today.
• I understand about two thousand tickets are still available for tomorrow night's game in Kelowna. You want to see some terrific hockey? Pick up a pair of tickets. Game time tomorrow is 7 o'clock.

Rockets game notes vs. Tips

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Tips are meeting in game five of a best of seven Western Conference quarter final series. In game one, the Tips were a 5-4 winner in overtime. In game two the Tips won 5-2. In game three the Rockets were a 5-3 victor and then in game four the Rockets used overtime in a 5-4 win. Game six in the series is tomorrow night in Kelowna with a possible game seven Monday night back in Everett. The Rockets are making their 18th appearance in the WHL playoffs in 19 seasons as an organization. The only playoff miss was back in 2006-2007. These two teams are meeting for the third time in the playoffs, with the Tips winning in seven games in 2004 and in six games in 2006. In both series, the Tips did not have home ice advantage, something they have the luxury of this time around. Overall the Tips have outscored the Rockets 17-16 in the first four games.

Scoring by period:
Period: 1 2 3 OT Totals
Rockets: 4 5 6 1 16
Tips: 7 5 4 1 17

Game four recap: Geordie Wudrick scored 46 seconds into double overtime leading the Rockets to a 5-4 win. Wudrick’s goal came on the power play. Wudrick also scored in the opening period as the Rockets erased a two goal deficit. Brett Bulmer, Antoine Corbin and Spencer Main also scored in the victory. Mark Guggenberger made 39 saves in the win. The Rockets were 2 for 3 on the power play while the Tips were 1 for 3.

Game three recap: Geordie Wudrick and Mitchell Callahan each scored twice leading the Rockets to a 5-3 win over the Tips. Brett Bulmer scored the game winner with exactly four minutes left in the third period. Tyson Barrie chipped in with three assists. Mark Guggenberger made 22 of 23 saves in a relief appearance. The Rockets were 2 for 2 on the power play.

Game two recap: Ryan Murray, Shane Harper and Chris Langkow each scored once and added two assists leading the Tips to a 5-2 win Saturday night. Geordie Wudrick scored both goals for the Rockets in the loss. Adam Brown made 26 saves in the setback. The Rockets were 0 for 2 on the power play while the Tips were 2 for 6 with the extra man. Overall the Tips out-shot the Rockets 31-26.

Game one recap: Daniel Iwanski scored the game winner at the 5:18 mark of overtime lifting the Everett Silvertips to a 5-4 win over the Kelowna Rockets. The Rockets erased a two goal deficit and actually had a 4-3 lead late in the game before the Tips tied it. Brett Bulmer, Geordie Wudrick, Collin Bowman and Antoine Corbin scored for the Rockets, while Adam Brown made 46 saves. The Rockets were 1 for 5 on the power play while the Tips were 2 for 3.

Game five success: The Rockets were 2 and 1 in game five situations in last year’s playoffs. The only loss was in game five of the WHL final against Calgary. The Rockets suffered a 6-1 loss.

Game Day Tidbits: The Rockets won four overtime games in last years playoffs…Tyson Barrie (WHL final), Mikael Backlund (Western Conference final), Jamie Benn (Western Conference semi final) and Cody Almond (Western Conference quarter final) scored…Geordie Wudrick has seven playoff goals. That leads the WHL in goals scored in this years playoffs….Brandon McMillan has four assists in this series. McMillan has a point in all four playoff games. If you add his point totals from the regular season, McMillan is riding a 14 game point streak…. Adam Brown has started three of the first four games of the series…Wednesday’s start by Guggenberger was his first WHL playoff start since game six of last years league final….The Tips have opened the scoring in all four games in the series….The home team has won every game in this series…The winning team in all four games has scored five goals….Six players on the Rockets roster have 33 games of WHL playoff experience. Lucas Bloodoff (7+7=14), Brandon McMillan (0+9=9), Tyson Barrie (5+23=28 points), Collin Bowman (1+6=7) and Geordie Wudrick (13+5=18) lead the way…The Rockets are 5 for 12 on the power play in the series 41.7%...Wudrick’s seven goals in a playoff series is a franchise record. Jesse Schultz had five goals in a playoff series against Red Deer in the 2003 WHL final.

Tips GM Doug Soetaert on defenceman Ryan Murray

Quick thoughts from the road

• Scoring a power play goal in overtime isn't as rare as you may think. The Rockets scored two power play goals in overtime in last years playoffs. Jamie Benn scored in OT, on the power play, against Tri City in round two and Tyson Barrie scored in OT, on the pp, in game six against Calgary in the WHL final.
• Is sixteen year-old rookie defenceman Ryan Murray a possible Tip captain down the road? I asked that question to GM Doug Soetaert. Soetaert was non committal. "We will just take it day-to-day".
• Soetaert agreed that Murray is a special player. "I have never seen a sixteen year-old come into this league, I might be wrong, but has played in your top pairing as a 16 year-old, runs a power play, kills penalties and plays five on five. If he didn't have a late birthday it's been suggested he could be a top ten pick in this summers NHL draft."
• Did you see the Sutter sighting last night? The Director of Player Personnel for the Calgary Flames took in Wednesday's game. Duane Sutter was riding side saddle with brother Gary, who makes Kelowna his year round home.
• Tips forward Shane Harper must know how to prepare for games. Why? Harper has scored the opening goal in two of the four games in this series, and has scored three of his four goals in the series in the opening period. Harper led the WHL in scoring the first goal of the game, by opening the scoring 15 times during the regular season.
• Because of a quick turnaround between games five and six, I won't be posting a recap following Friday's game in Everett. Game six is just 24 hours later in Kelowna. I am not traveling with the team in the playoffs, so driving late at night and an early morning return to Kelowna doesn't make it possible.
• The 'Habscheid Hex' has reached 11 seasons. Since the dismisal of head coach Marc Habscheid, the Kamloops Blazers have not advanced past the first round since 1999, the year Habscheid led the team to the WHL final.

First to five wins

• While his former team was being eliminated from the WHL playoffs in overtime Wednesday night, Geordie Wudrick was doing his best in the extra session to help his new team get back in a playoff series. Wudrick scored 46 seconds into double overtime in a 5-4 win over the Everett Silvertips, tying this best of seven series at two wins apiece. Wudrick’s old team, the Swift Current Broncos, were eliminated from the 2010 playoffs with a 3-2 overtime loss to Brandon.
• Wudrick’s overtime winner was his 7th goal in this years playoffs. It came after Tips overage forward Chris Langkow was assessed a slashing penalty after hauling down Rockets defenceman Dallas Jackson. Was it a penalty? It would be called in regulation time, so should it be any different in overtime?
• How impressive are Wudrick's 7 goals in this series? Jamie Benn had four goals in a second round playoff series against Tri City and netted four goals against Vancouver in last years Western Conference final. Has a Rockets player, outside of Wudrick, scored seven goals in one playoff series? Not to my knowledge. Wudrick is the first!
• Jesse Schultz had five goals in a series against Red Deer in the WHL finals in 2003.
• The winning goal involved goaltender Mark Guggenberger. Guggenberger fires the puck to centre ice to a waiting Tyson Barrie. Barrie skates on right wing inside the Tips zone, finds Wudrick, who fires a hard wrist shot over the glove hand side of Thomas Heemskerk.
• Overtime was a sluggish affair, with the two teams playing their fourth game in six nights. The best scoring chance came when Rockets forward Mitchell Callahan fired a low shot that Heemskerk found with his right pad, to keep the game even at 4-4.
• It was another rough start for the Rockets, who were down 2-0 less than six minutes into the game. But the key goal for the home team came when Spencer Main made a Jamie Benn like move, by stuffing the puck short side on Heemskerk just 34 seconds after Markus McCrea made it 2-0 for the visitors.
• Main’s goal was the start of three unanswered goals for the Rockets in the first period, who also received a solid effort from rookie Brett Bulmer. Bulmer scored with 55 seconds left in the opening period to give the Rockets their first lead of the series – 3-2 – when entering the first intermission.
• The second period will go down as the best period of hockey for the Tips in this series and a forgettable one for the Rockets. I would guess 85% of the play was inside the Rockets zone. The Tips came in waves, getting goals from hard working Clayton Cumiskey and a laser beam wrist shot from defenceman Ryan Murray on the power play. The only good news for the Rockets at periods end was the fact that they trailed by just a single goal.
• If you are wondering, the Rockets won just one game during the regular season when trailing after two periods. The comeback in game four after trailing 4-3 heading into the final frame was impressive.
• The Rockets received the tying goal from rookie Antoine Corbin. It was Corbin’s second goal of the series. Who would have thought that Corbin would have more goals in this series than 25 goal man Shane McColgan? McColgan, not for a lack of trying, has failed to score in the first four games.
• In a conversation with Doug Soetaert before the game, the personable GM of the Everett Silvertips revealed that Western Conference second team all-star defenceman Radko Gudas in fact did not make the trip to Kelowna for games three and four.
• Do I dare go out on a limb again and predict who we will see in goal for the Tips in game five? Look for Kent Simpson to get the start. Why? Its his 18th birthday of course!
• Sorry for the late post. Internet problems courtesy of Telus are to blame.

AM 1150 audio from game four!

Wudrick's shot wins it

Geordie Wudrick scores in the second overtime period leading the Kelowna Rockets to a 5-4 win over the Everett Silvertips. More later.

March Update

Hi Everyone,

Well time sure speeds by! Since our last update Earl and I have been to Mexico, Detroit/Windsor/Niagara Falls and Hawaii and we leave on Saturday for a quick trip to Calgary to watch the Wings play and hopefully WIN against the Flames. We have had lots of fun and I will tell some of those stories and add some pictures later. For now I want you to know a little about what's going on with Earl medically.

In the last number of months and prior to our vacation Earl was having daily headaches. We talked to our nurse today and reported Earl's headaches, vomiting and a few other symptoms to her. Upon consulting with the Dr. she informed us that a CT Scan of his head will be done tomorrow at 8:40 am. Please pray for this test and of course for Earl and myself. We are sure hoping that the news will be good and that nothing will be found.

Debbie