Does Evan Bloodoff follow the same path as Colin Long?

• At this time last year the Rockets had two concerns. Would Tyler Myers return to the team as a 19 year-old and would Colin Long be back as an overage player? Lightning won't strike twice this year, as 19 year-old defenceman Tyson Barrie is injured and won't play in the NHL this season. That said, 20 year-old Evan Bloodoff could impress the Coyotes to the point that they offer him a contract and put him in the minors in San Antonio, which is what they did with Long one year ago.


• At this time last year we were already two games into the regular season. Not only were the Rockets 0-1-0-1 in their first two regular season games, but they iced a team minus some of their best players. The early start had several players participating at NHL training camps which meant they, and others across the league, were not icing the best team possible. Instead they had young players chewing up big minutes when they were ill prepared to do so. The end result was sloppy play for both teams involved. Had the league not started a week later this season the Rockets would have been minus Tyson Barrie, Shane McColgan, Brett Bulmer, Colton Jobke, Mitchell Callahan and Evan Bloodoff . Now with the regular season starting a week later, only Barrie should be missing when the team opens the season at home Saturday night against Prince George. A later start was the right choice.


• It has become a regular occurrence on Dan Russell's Sportstalk program and this season is no exception. Be listening Thursday as the five radio broadcasters in the BC Division join Dan for a preview of what we expect from our teams this season. The program will likely air in the 10 or 11 o'clock hour Thursday night. You can hear Dan Russell's show on AM 1150, seven days a week from 9 until midnight. Of the five BC Division broadcasters, only Randy Merkley (Chilliwack) and myself are returning. Jon Keen (Kamloops), Andy Neil (Prince George) and Dan Elliot (Vancouver) are all new in the broadcast booth.


• I always think of the parents at this time of the year as they see their 16 year-old son's moving on to major junior hockey. For many it's the first time away from home. They are in good hands in Kelowna, no question, but having your son playing 19 hundred kilometers from home is still tough. Who is 19 hundred kilometers from home? Rookie forward Zach Franko and his family from Winnipeg, Manitoba are obviously finding life difficult right now.


• In case you were wondering, last season the Rockets were 2 and 3 during the pre-season.


• Did you notice Geordie Wudrick wearing sweater #12 during Saturday's pre-season game? Wudrick wore #11 last season and had sweater #18 with the Swift Current Broncos. Will the 20 year-old be changing his digits this season?


• What veteran player has yet to record a point with the Kelowna Rockets? Forward Sean Achim has yet to record a point in 21 games in a Rockets uniform.


• Last week the Rockets organization was holding tryouts for anthem singers. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer a human singing the national anthem by picking up a microphone and physically standing on the ice over a pre-recorded anthem being piped in over the loud speakers.