Rockets game notes vs. Oil Kings

Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets face the Edmonton Oil Kings for the second time this season. These two teams met in Kelowna back on November 10^th, with the Rockets earning a hard fought 2-1 win. The Rockets are making their first appearance in Edmonton since a 4-0 shutout victory on February 26/10. Adam Brown made 24 saves in the win. Overall, the Rockets enter tonight’s game having won seven of their last nine games and thirteen of their last sixteen (13-3-0-0). Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Medicine Hat Tuesday and Lethbridge Wednesday night. The Rockets close out the five game road trip in Calgary next Friday.

Rockets recent game: Evan Bloodoff scored twice and added an assist leading the Rockets to a 5-1 win last night over the Rebels in Red Deer. Line-mate Geordie Wudrick had two goals while Colton Sissons added a single. Adam Brown made 37 saves in the teams 17^th win of the season. The Rockets were 0 for 3 on the power play but were 5 for 5 on the penalty kill, including two 5 on 3 disadvantages.

Who’s Hot: Shane McColgan has one goal in his last ten games. McColgan has 1+5=6 in his last seven games though…Mitchell Callahan has 3+4=7 in his last seven games…Brett Bulmer has 2+3=5 in his last five games. Tyson Barrie has gone ten games without a goal yet has points in five of his last eight games (0+9=9)…Geordie Wudrick has 8 goals in his last seven games.

Who’s Not: Cody Chikie has just two goals in his last 16 games.

Trade Winds Blow: The Rockets acquired 20 year-old defenceman Zak Stebner from the Tri City Americans Tuesday along with a 7^th rounder for a 4^th rounder in 2011 and an 8^th rounder in 2012. Stebner joins his 6^th WHL team after previous stops in Red Deer, Prince Albert, Kamloops, Calgary and Tri City. Stebner was a part of the Calgary Hitmen’s WHL championship team last season. The 20 year-old was originally a second round pick of the Rebels in 2005 WHL Bantam Draft.

This and That: Forward Mitchell Callahan was one of just two WHL players to be named to the training camp roster for the USA world junior team. Callahan is joined by Medicine Hat’s Emerson Etem as WHL invitees. Callahan was born in California to Canadian born father Mike and American born Kelly Callahan. His father, Mike, was born near Toronto and moved down to California to play hockey….The Rockets are playing game four of seven straight against teams outside of the Western Conference….Tyson Barrie has left the team to take part in the training camp for the Canadian World Junior team. Barrie is attempting to become the 11^th player in Rockets history to represent the Rockets at the WJHC… Adam Brown was the WHL goaltender of the month for November. Brown went 9-1-0-0 with a goals against average of 1.96 and a save percentage of .934….European’s Gal Koren and Andreas Stene will be playing for their countries at the World Junior Hockey Championships at Christmas….Two members of the Rockets will participate in the Under 17 Hockey Challenge next month in Manitoba. Rookies Damon Severson and Colton Heffley have been named to Team West….The Rockets have opened up the scoring in eight of their last ten home games…The Rockets have failed to score a power play goal in just ten of their first 30 games this season….The Rockets have scored 97 goals after thirty games this season. Last season after thirty games the club had 96 goals….The Rockets have allowed 91 goals against this season. Last season after thirty games the team had allowed 88 goals against….Last season the Rockets were 13-15-1-0 after thirty games….The Rockets have been involved in thirteen-one goal games this season. The Rockets are 9-4-0-0 in those thirteen-one goal games…Adam Brown has started eighteen of the last 20 games…The Rockets were involved in 11 shootout games last season. The Rockets were 7 and 4 in those games…The Rockets franchise is playing its 1399^th regular season game tonight. The team has 715 regular season wins….Rockets 17 year-old forward Shane McColgan is rated as the 15^th best prospect in the WHL for the upcoming NHL draft. Central Scouting released its first of three rankings last month… The Rockets have been held to two or fewer goals in twelve of their 30 games this season. ...Tyson Barrie is now the Kelowna Rockets franchise leader for points by a defenceman. Barrie has 195 career points. Barrie passes Burt Henderson (1993-1996 - 186 pts )… Shane McColgan has been held off the score sheet just nine times this season. The same holds true for Tyson Barrie….Last season the Rockets were 5-7-0-0 in 12 games in December. ..Ryan Huska was signed to a three year contract extension last Thursday. Huska is signed through the 2013-2014 season. Huska is a coach on Team Canada.