Rockets burn Blazers 7-1

McColgan’s 3 points fuels 7-1 rout of Kamloops

Special to The Daily Courier

Adam Brown may be the hottest Kelowna Rocket right now, but Geordie Wudrick and the rest of his team isn’t far behind.

In front of 6,163 home fans, Brown turned aside 35 shots to give the Rockets their fourth straight victory in a 7-1 pasting of the Kamloops Blazers. And in doing so, Brown narrowly missed earning his second shutout in as many games.

The game’s first star, Brown stood his ground all night, holding down the fort and making a dozen saves in what was the deciding second period — a frame which saw  the Rockets score three times en route to the whitewash.

“They were pretty good at getting traffic in front of the net, but I did my best to work my way around them, and I came up with the saves,” Brown said. “We’re playing really well right now; the team’s really buzzing and helping me out back there and we’re playing a really solid team game.”

Wudrick, Cody Chikie and Shane McColgan all scored twice each for Kelowna, and Brett Bulmer added one, as the Rockets feasted on netminder Jeff Bosch, then his replacement, Cam Lanigan, who came on in relief in the third period. The win came on the heels of Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Everett.

After a relatively sedate first 20 minutes, Chikie opened the floodgates for the Rockets at the 8:29 mark of the second, cutting up left wing and wiring a 45-foot slapshot that went through Bosch’s legs. Despite not playing their best hockey of the night in the middle stanza, and actually getting outshot 12-6, the Rockets withstood a Kamloops charge.

Seven minutes after Chikie’s goal, Wudrick stepped up and scored his 18th goal of the season, pulling the puck around the net from behind and stuffing it past Bosch’s left skate. 

Taking a cue from Wudrick’s manoeuvre, Chikie decided the same move might work again, and it did, pushing Kelowna into a 3-0 lead with less than a minute until intermission.

While the break proved a convenient time for Kamloops to make a goaltending switch, it made little difference to the Rockets, and they continued where they left off, peppering Bosch’s replacement. McColgan, with his first of the night, then Wudrick, with his second, took advantage of Lanigan in quick succession to give Kelowna a 5-0 lead.

McColgan added another, as did Bulmer, while Kamloops’ Chase Schaber finally solved Brown with 4:10 left to put the only blemish on the Rockets’ night.

“I thought that line was our best line by far tonight,” Rockets interim head coach Ryan Cuthbert said of Chikie plus Spencer Main and Gal Koren, who combined for five points on the night. “Other guys contributed and did some good things, but consistently . . .  I thought they all worked and played extremely well together.”

Cuthbert also added that he “definitely liked our first period and our third period – the way we finished the game, it was a great job. In the second, we were lucky to get some goals, but, all in all, a pretty good night for us."

The Rockets were 0-for4 on the power play, while the Blazers went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. 

Now halfway through the season, the win improved the Rockets record to 21-15-0-0 and moved them into first place in B.C. Division standings, one point ahead of second-place Prince George (19-15-2-1) and six clear of the fifth-and-last place Blazers (17-19-1-1).

The Rockets are now 2-2 against Kamloops this season, and will get a chance to improve on that, as they face the Blazers two more times in their next five games, starting this Sunday when they will travel to Kamloops for a 6 p.m. rematch. Before that, though, Kelowna will host Spokane (21-10-3-2) on Saturday night. Game time is 7 p.m.

Huska: Emotion, magnitude of World Juniors unforgettable

By Ed Klajman

Special to The Daily Courier

BUFFALO — Ryan Huska knows all about the pressure of major championship tournaments.

 Huska has three Memorial Cup rings as a player, one as an assistant coach and made an appearance two seasons ago for the first time as a head coach. But despite all of that, his time spent during this holiday season as an assistant coach on Canada’s World Junior team is exposing him to a pressure cooker that’s on a whole different level.

 “(The) Memorial Cup, you’ve got pressure from your hometown. You want to perform for the people back in Kelowna, and the media attention is big, but it’s nothing like this,” the 35-year-old said while gesturing to a pack of television cameras and print reporters gathered around Team Canada players after their 10-1 victory over Norway on Wednesday. “This is the whole country that’s involved here, and the amount of people that follow our team in particular — the crowd that’s in Buffalo is pretty much sold out every night — is crazy. The magnitude is the biggest difference between the two events.”

He added that everything about this experience has been great.

 “Hockey Canada is very organized, very prepared and, really, they cover every base,” said Huska. “And the other great thing is you get to spend a lot of time with some terrific coaches who have different ideas, and you get a chance to work together in this situation.” 

 When asked about the possibility of being head coach of the national junior team next year, Huska was coy.

“I would do whatever they would ask of me, to be honest with you. It’s been such a great experience so far, and, hopefully, our group can keep progressing the way we have so far in this tournament,” he said.

The most intense pressure is yet to come. Canada has a big game today against Sweden. The winner goes to Monday’s semifinals; the loser plays in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

 “I’m excited, for sure, without a doubt,” he said. “The energy level’s going to get that much higher.”

Rockets blank Silvertips

Bloodoff nets 3-point night in whitewash

Special to The Daily Courier

The Kelowna Rockets and Everett Silvertips both looked to be suffering a touch of the post-Christmas blues, as they returned to WHL action following a 10-day layoff at Prospera Place on Tuesday night.

However, Kelowna managed to quickly get back on track, while their visitors didn’t in what was a 4-0 win for the home team. And one player who didn’t look to have missed a step over the holiday break was Rocket forward Evan Bloodoff, who scored a pair of power-play goals and added an assist to pace Kelowna to its 20th win of the season. 

The time between Christmas and early January means major-junior teams find their rosters cleaned out of their best players to various international tournaments, with the end results being a lot of scrambling, both on and off the ice. With the Rockets down five regulars plus head coach Ryan Huska, and the visitors without three key players, the mid-season crispness was lacking on both sides, but Kelowna kept its composure when it mattered.

“It was one of those nights after a long layoff,” said Rockets acting head coach Ryan Cuthbert. “It was going to be a bit scrambly with different guys getting thrown in different situations.”

While both teams last played on Dec. 18, the Silvertips took far too many penalties on Tuesday, getting 51 minutes to Kelowna’s 13. And the Rockets made them pay the power-play price, cashing in  four out of 10 times —  including twice at five-on-three. Everett was 0-for-1.

Starting off on the right foot, Bloodoff banged in a gift rebound on the doorstep of Everett goaltender Kent Simpson to put the Rockets up at the 8:52 mark of the first. He followed that with his second of the night on a nice second effort to cash in at 5:50 of the second, sliding the puck past Simpson again.

“I think we were all pretty excited to get back playing,” said Bloodoff. “We just came out with a lot of energy, and it kind of took off from there. I thought we played really well.”

The Rockets were without star defenceman Tyson Barrie (Team Canada), Mitchell Callahan (F, Team U.S.A.) and Andreas Stene (F, Team Norway) who are all at the World Junior Championship in Buffalo, along with forward Colton Heffley and defenceman Damon Severson, both lost to Team West as the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge being held in Manitoba. Everett made do without Rasmus Rissanen (World Junior, Finland) plus Nick Walters and Jari Erricson, who are also at the U17 tournament.

With solid goaltending from Adam Brown, who turned aside all 26 Silvertips shots, the Rockets kept the ‘Tips in check and after taking a 2-0 lead into the second intermission, added another two in the third courtesy of Shane McColgan and Geordie Wudrick, both while playing five-on-three, to put it away for good. Simpson turned aside 19 Rockets shots in the loss.

The Rockets, already weakened by all the temporary departed, suffered a setback when veteran defenseman Colton Jobke took a knee early in the second period from the Silvertips Markus McCrea. Less than a half-minute into the frame, after making a pass up-ice from the right side in his own zone, Jobke’s left leg met that of the incoming McCrea. He went down in pain, was helped off the ice and did not return to the bench for the remainder, leaving the Rockets to finish with only four blue-liners.

According to Cuthbert, he will be evaluated today by Rockets medical staff and a decision made from there.

The win moved the 20-15 Rockets into first place in the B.C. Division, one point up on the Prince George Cougars, and three up on the Chilliwack Bruins. 

The Rockets are back in action again this Thursday when they host the 17-18-1-1 Kamloops Blazers, which currently sit in last place in the WHL’s B.C. Division, only one point shy of the fourth-place Vancouver Giants. Game time is 7 p.m.

Hamilton charged up over energy role

BUFFALO — Kelowna Minor Hockey product Curtis Hamilton finds himself fitting in perfectly on Canada at this year’s World Junior Hockey Championship.

 After a 7-2 win over the Czech Republic on Tuesday, bringing the team to 2-0 halfway through round-robin play, Hamilton has carved out a clear role for himself.  Playing on a version of Team Canada that has been described as a blue-collar and lunch-bucket group, Hamilton has been just that.

 “I’ve got to get out there and get some energy going for the guys, make some hits, keep things simple and just dump in some pucks – getting cycles going and just getting some pucks to the net and play a real simple game,” said Hamilton, a winger for the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades.

 The 6-foot-3 and 208 pound forward, who just turned 19 earlier this month, has excelled in his role as one of the teams go-to players on the penalty kill. Although Canada pulled away from the Czechs, the Europeans scored first in the game’s opening minute and had power play opportunities not long after that. But thanks to stellar shorthanded play by Hamilton, Canada stymied the Czechs and changed the game’s momentum.

 “I think it’s (penalty killing role) big. Coming in you’re just trying to earn a spot on the team, whether you’re a skill guy and playing the power play or grinding away like myself playing on the penalty kill,” said Hamilton, whose father Bruce is the president and GM of the Rockets. “It’s a lot of fun, just being able to get out there and do what I can to help the team is really good.”

  “It’s so much fun just being around so many good players here,” he added. “So many of these guys are going to be in the NHL in a year or two so I’m just trying to learn what I can from them. It’s just awesome to be around this kind of quality of player.”

Portland adds more depth to already stacked team

Well, if the Portland Winterhawks weren't already favoured to run away with the Western Conference pennant, they made a bigger case for themselves today by acquiring Craig Cunningham of the Vancouver Giants.

Below is a press release from the Winterhawks.

Here is a breakdown from Marc Weber of The Province.

The Portland Winterhawks have acquired center Craig Cunningham and a sixth round pick in the 2011 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft from the Vancouver Giants in exchange for forwards Spencer Bennett, Teal Burns, a first round pick in the 2011 Bantam Draft and a second round pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft.

Cunningham, a 20-year-old centre, was the Western Conference finalist for the WHL’s Player of the Year Award last season when he amassed 37 goals and 60 assists for 97 points, sixth in the league. He then added 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 16 playoff games. This season Cunningham has 10 goals and 35 assists for 45 points in 36 games, tying him for sixth in the league. 

“Craig is an elite player, as evidenced by being named the Western Conference finalist for the WHL’s Player of the Year Award last season. We’re very excited to have him join our team,” said Portland Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Mike Johnston.

For his career, Cunningham has registered 86 goals and 136 assists for 222 points in 295 games. Cunningham was a fourth round pick, 97th overall, by the Boston Bruins in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

Going to Vancouver are Spencer Bennett, 20, and Teal Burns, 18. Bennett was in his second season with the Winterhawks, and in 108 games had totaled 31 goals and 30 assists for 61 points. This season he has 21 points in 37 games. Bennett was a fifth round pick, 141st overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Burns was in his first WHL season, and had seven points in 37 games. He was Portland’s eighth round pick, 156th overall, in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. 

“We would like to thank Spencer and Teal for their hard work here,” said Johnston. “Spencer has developed into a solid prospect for the Flames, while Teal is a young player with a bright future. We wish both of them the best as they continue their careers.”

Full season, 18, 10 and 5-game ticket plans for the 2010-11 season are on sale now. Group rates start at just 10 people and every ticket includes a free Winterhawks hat. Contact the Winterhawks at 503-236-HAWK or seats@winterhawks.com to secure the best seats. 

Holiday break over; Rockets, league return to action

By Daily Courier Staff

The 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship is a double-edged sword for the Kelowna Rockets again this season.

While the organization is happy and proud to send its best to the annual international tournament — in this year’s case, head coach Ryan Huska plus captain and top defenceman Tyson Barrie representing Team Canada,  and gritty, point-producing forward Mitchell Callahan playing for defending champion Team U.S.A. — it will also bear the brunt of not having their services for up to seven WHL games.

Kelowna is also without import forward Andreas Stene, who is suiting up for his native Norway at the showcase.

Entering a busy stretch with four games this week — starting tonight against the Everett Silver-tips (7 p.m., Prospera Place) — and three more next week, the Rockets (19-15-0-0) will have their work cut out for them. Kelowna also hosts Kamloops (15-18-1-1) on Thursday and Spokane (19-10-3-2) on Saturday before closing out the weekend in Kamloops on Sunday. Those four teams, though, including Everett (16-15-2-3), won’t be nearly as impacted by world junior losses.

The Silvertips benefited from the return of top young rearguard Ryan Murray, who didn’t make the cut for Canada, perhaps losing his potential spot to Barrie. However, Everett will be without blue-liner Rasmus Rissanen, who is representing Finland after racking up four assists and 51 penalty minutes in 36 games.

Aside from Rissanen, the Tips should ice a complete squad led by the likes of high-scoring forwards Tyler Maxwell (43 points in 36 games), Kellan Tochkin (32 points in 32 games) and Landon Ferraro (16 points in 28 games).

Kelowna, meanwhile, is without two of its top four scorers in Callahan (33 points in 33 games) and Barrie (25 points in 23 games). In their absence, the Rockets will need leading scorer Shane McColgan (34 points in 31 games) to step up, along with Brett Bulmer (25 points in 33 games) and Geordie Wudrick (23 points in 34 games), among others. Stene had two goals and seven points in 25 games before leaving for the 2011 WJHC in Buffalo, N.Y., which started on Sunday and runs through to Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Kamloops will have its full lineup with no players in the tournament, while Spokane is left with a big hole on the blue-line for the second straight season as captain Jared Cowen is one of four returning players for Team Canada.

Next week, Kelowna is home to Moose Jaw on Thursday; in Seattle on Friday, Jan. 7; and is home to Kamloops on Saturday, Jan. 8.

It is unlikely, though, that trio will play, as the Rockets typically give their world-junior returnees some short time off to recover from the emotional highs and lows.

Huska may be back behind the bench, though, taking the reins back from assistant coaches Ryan Cuthbert and Dan Lambert.

The Rockets have already been without Huska since mid-December, when he left for Canada’s selection camp in Toronto following a 4-1 home loss to Swift Current on Dec. 8.

With Cuthbert acting as interim bench boss, the Rockets went 3-2 on a five-game Alberta road trip before breaking for Christmas. They opened with a 5-1 win in Red Deer on Dec. 10, then lost Barrie the next day as he joined Huska in Toronto, where he was one of 12 defencemen vying for seven roster spots. Without Barrie, Kelowna lost 2-1 in Edmonton on Dec. 11 and 2-0 in Medicine Hat on Dec. 14, before bouncing back for a 3-2 shootout win in Lethbridge on Dec. 15.

The latter was also Callahan’s last game with the club, as he headed for Team U.S.A.’s tryout camp in Troy, N.Y., where he was one of 29 players auditioning for the Americans’ 22-man roster. Yet another man short, the Rockets persevered by ending their trip with a 5-1 victory in Calgary on Dec. 17.

Over the last few seasons, Kelowna has been well represented at the world juniors. Last year, Brandon McMillan was part of Canada’s silver-medal winning squad — playing both forward and defence throughout the tournament, which ended with a 6-5 overtime loss to the U.S.

In 2009, Tyler Myers and Jamie Benn both helped Canada to gold in Ottawa, following in the footsteps of former Rockets teammate Luke Schenn, who was golden in 2008 in the Czech Republic. Other import players such as Stepan Novotny (Czech Republic) have also left Kelowna to attend the tournament in recent years.

Callahan excited to be wearing red, white and blue

If Mitchell Callahan gets his Christmas wish, it’ll be a late one: Playing against Tyson Barrie for gold in early January.

On Wednesday, Team U.S.A. named its roster for the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship, and Mitchell made the 22-player grade. A gritty forward with sandpaper for blood, the 19-year-old from Whittier, Calif., will be the fourth Rocket to be playing in the tournament, which runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Buffalo, N.Y. Also competing will be Barrie and head coach Ryan Huska for Canada and centre Andreas Stene for Norway.

Also playing for the U.S. will be forward Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers, who visit Kelowna 10 days after the gold medal game, on Jan. 15.

“I was pretty excited when they announced the team,” Mitchell said from Buffalo on Thursday following a pre-game skate, as the Americans prepped for an exhibition game against Finland at 8 p.m. EST. “We had a team meeting at 9 a.m., where they announced the roster, and right away I looked over at Emerson and kinda smiled at him because I was kinda doubting my chances and what-not.

“Honestly, I was 50-50 on making the team. I had no clue on whether I’d make the roster or not.”

Wednesday’s news was not only exciting for Callahan, but also for the Rockets, who have been annually feeding players to the tournament for the last 10 years.

“I’m really happy for Mitch,” Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton said of Callahan, who was drafted in the sixth round, 180th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL’s 2009 entry draft. “He’s worked hard to be the player that he is, getting drafted, then signed by Detroit. He’s worked really hard to get where he is.”

The news, however, may prove double-edged for Canadian fans. For if there’s one player who can quickly spark a team, it’s Callahan, as Rockets fans can attest to. And make no mistake: Callahan knows exactly what his role is: To provide that spark.

Photo: Curt Gogol of the Chilliwack Bruins, left, and Mitchell Callahan of the Kelowna Rockets — former teammates and linemates with Kelowna — chuck the knuckles during WHL action at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C., on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. The fight was a draw and Kelowna beat Chilliwack 9-3.

“We’re going to be a really fast team, a really skilled team,” said Callahan, adding Team U.S.A. was still juggling its line combinations. “We also have some guys who are going to be role players, and that’s me and (6-foot-2 forward) Chris Brown who can also hit. I don’t think anybody’s going to shy away from anything.”

The Americans’ roster is filled mostly with college players, though there are four from the AHL (5-foot-11 defenceman Nick Leddy; 5-11 forward Jerry D’Amigo; 6-1 forward Jeremy Morin; and 5-10 forward Kyle Palmieri) plus two others with CHL ties: goalie Jack Campbell of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and 5-9 forward Ryan Bourque of the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. Bourque is the son of former NHLer Ray Bourque.

All told, the Americans’ roster features 16 first- or second-round NHL draft picks, including nine who were chosen in the first round.

Callahan said apart from Etem, and roster cut Matthew Nieto (Boston University) of Long Beach, Calif., he didn’t know any of the other 26 players who attended U.S.A.’s selection camp in Troy, N.Y., that ran Dec. 17 to 23.

“Emerson and I have been pretty much hanging out together,” Callahan said of Etem, a six-foot forward from Long Beach, drafted in the first round, 29th overall in 2010 by the Anaheim Ducks. “He helped introduce me to the boys, and it’s good to have a guy like that around when you go into a camp not knowing anybody.”

Callahan also laughed when reminded of the Tigers’ upcoming visit on Jan. 15, stating “teammates today, but enemies when we’re playing each other.”

With the Americans entering the tournament as defending champions, having defeated Canada 6-5 in overtime in last year’s championship game in Saskatoon, Callahan is hoping for another showdown for gold between the North American neighbours.

“In the final,” Callahan said of wanting to play against Canada. “But if we do play them, it’ll be different. Playing with Barrie for the last couple of years, and having Ryan Huska over there as well . . . well, it’ll just be different. But, nonetheless, I want to play against them.

“I think it’ll be exciting and it’ll certainly be competition between the three of us. But, at the same time, it’s good to see them representing their country as well.”

13 WHLers named to Top Prospects roster

WHL press release


WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22nd, 2010

13 WHL Players Named to 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
Top 40 draft eligible CHL players will be led by Don Cherry and Doug Gilmour behind the bench

Toronto, Ont. — The Canadian Hockey League, in association with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment and Home Hardware Stores Limited, today announced the 40 CHL players eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft that will compete in the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game January 18-19 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON.

The 40 top prospects have been divided into two teams that will feature hockey icon Don Cherry behind the bench for Team Cherry, and Toronto Maple Leafs' all-time great Doug Gilmour who will serve behind the bench for Team Orr.

"On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League we are very excited to showcase 40 of the league's top prospects eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at Air Canada Centre January 18-19 where they will compete in front of hundreds of scouts in attendance and live on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS for CHL fans across the country," said CHL President David Branch.  "We are also honoured to have Don Cherry and Doug Gilmour as coaches of this prestigious event.  Don has been a tremendous builder of this event since it began in 1996, and Doug's participation will be exciting for the Maple Leafs' fans in attendance."

The rosters were selected by the 30 NHL General Managers with NHL Central Scouting and include 18 players from the Ontario Hockey League, 13 players from the Western Hockey League, and nine players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 

The rosters include all three players that were ranked first overall in their regional league in NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Draft Rankings including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels who will compete with Team Orr, while Swedish National Junior Team hopeful Gabriel Landeskog of the Kitchener Rangers will compete for Team Cherry alongside Team Canada forward Sean Couturier of the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

27 of the CHL's 60 teams are represented in this game including four players from the WHL's Portland Winterhawks along with four players from the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs.  Both the OHL's Kitchener Rangers and Oshawa Generals are each represented by three players.

The 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game marks the 13th year of involvement for Cherry who has coached head-to-head against Bobby Orr 11 different times including six-straight meetings when the event began in 1996 at Maple Leaf Gardens.  Last year in Windsor Team Cherry emerged with a 4-2 win over Team Orr to give Cherry his fifth coaching win in this event which also included a win over coaching opponent John Davidson in 2005.  Following the 2006 contest the CHL presented the Don Cherry and Bobby Orr Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Trophy for the first time to the winning team.  Engraved on the award are the names of every player to ever participate in this prestigious event.

Gilmour returns to Toronto where his number 93 jersey was honoured by the Maple Leafs in January, 2009.  He played six seasons with the blue and white from 1991-97 including three years as team captain.  In 1,474 career NHL games, Gilmour had his best season as a Maple Leaf scoring 127 points in 83 games as a nominee for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player, and winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy as Best Defensive Forward in the 1992-93 season.  He is currently in his third season as Head Coach of the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs.

The 2010 event in Windsor, Ont., featured 17 CHL players that were selected in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft including Taylor Hall who became the ninth player to compete in this event before being selected first overall when he was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in June.  Previous first overall picks following this game include Chris Phillips, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Rick Nash, Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares.

Home Hardware continues as the title sponsor of the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game for the twelfth straight year dating back to 2000 when the game was last played at Air Canada Centre.  Associate sponsors include Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM.

The game will be broadcast nationally live on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.


Team Cherry (Red)
Forwards (12):
Sean Couturier, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Phillip Danault, Victoriaville Tigres
Nicklas Jensen, Oshawa Generals
Tomas Jurco, Saint John Sea Dogs
Gabriel Landeskog, Kitchener Rangers
Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders
Matthew Puempel, Peterborough Petes
Rickard Rakell, Plymouth Whalers
Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks
Tobias Rieder, Kitchener Rangers
Mark Scheifele, Barrie Colts
Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs

Defencemen (6):
Myles Bell, Regina Pats
Scott Harrington, London Knights
Joe Morrow, Portland Winterhawks
Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers
Duncan Siemens, Saskatoon Blades
Tyler Wotherspoon, Portland Winterhawks

Goaltenders (2):
Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
David Honzik, Victoriaville Tigres

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach -Don Cherry
Assistant Coach - Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67's
Assistant Coach - Bert O'Brien
Training Staff:
Russ Hammond, Guelph Storm
Brian Miller, Peterborough Petes


Team Orr (White)
Forwards (12):
Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks
Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs
Colin Jacobs, Seattle Thunderbirds
Boone Jenner, Oshawa Generals
Lucas Lessio, Oshawa Generals
Shane McColgan, Kelowna Rockets
Vladislav Namestnikov, London Knights
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels
Zack Phillips, Saint John Sea Dogs
Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit
Vincent Trocheck, Saginaw Spirit

Defencemen (6):
Nathan Beaulieu, Saint John Sea Dogs
Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs
David Musil, Vancouver Giants
Xavier Ouellet, Montreal Juniors
Stuart Percy, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Reece Scarlett, Swift Current Broncos

Goaltenders (2):
Jordan Binnington, Owen Sound Attack
Liam Liston, Brandon Wheat Kings

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach - Doug Gilmour, Kingston Frontenacs
Assistant Coach - Stan Butler, Brampton Battalion
Training Staff:
Joey Garland, Windsor Spitfires
Kevin Emo, Barrie Colts

Mitchell, Etem make Team U.S.A. roster

Well, the WHL went 2-for-2 today, with its only two players attending Team U.S.A.'s selection camp in Troy, N.Y., and making the roster, which was released today by Hockey U.S.A

Wearing red, white and blue over the festive holidays will be Mitchell Callahan of the Kelowna Rockets and Emerson Etem of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Click here for the press release and here for Team U.S.A.'s roster.

I'll be contacting U.S.A. Hockey today in an attempt to line up phone interviews.

Photos: Callahan, left; Etem, right.

World Junior tournament drawing near

By Larry Fisher

The Daily Courier

For Ryan Huska and Team Canada's coaching staff, today is like Christmas Eve.

Huska, the Kelowna Rockets' head coach who is serving as an assistant to Dave Cameron, is like an anxious kid eyeing up his presents under the tree and dreaming of the potential once unwrapped. The presents, in this case, are the 22 players preparing to represent Canada at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. And although the wrapping paper won't officially come off until Canada's Boxing Day opener against Russia, Huska and company will get a sneak peak at what they are working with on Monday night. That's when Canada opens exhibition play against Switzerland (TSN2, 4 p.m.).

"Now we've had a couple practices under our belts and everybody's kinda looking forward to that first exhibition game," Huska said on Saturday afternoon from Niagara Falls, Ont., where Team Canada has set up shop at the Gale Centre, a facility featuring four ice-sheets and limited seating — somewhat similar in design to CNC in Kelowna. That will be Canada's home through next Friday — the real Christmas Eve — when the team heads south to Buffalo.

As for Monday night's tilt with Switzerland, Huska added, "We'll see if they've picked up what we've been trying to get across over the last few days, and then we can really start to build from there once we play that first game."

Canada also has tune-up games against Sweden on Tuesday and Finland on Thursday, as the club continues to take shape and build an identity ahead of the tournament.

"Dave likes a group that works both ends of the ice," Huska said of the type of team Canadian hockey fans can expect to watch. "You hear a lot of people talk about lunch buckets or that there is no first line, but there's four second lines. . . . I think we're going to be a group that plays hard by committee.

"I don't think there is a star per se on this team; it's a bunch of guys that have to be committed to playing the right way all the time for 60 minutes in order for us to win. With that, it's using our strengths, which is north-south and using our big size up front."

Canada has already started focusing on line combinations and system work. The sooner those elements click, the better off the team will be. And with a stiff first test against Russia, the goal is certainly to hit the ground running in Buffalo.

"We've kept the lines together over the last few days, and then we're going to go through some exhibition games with them to see if there is some chemistry developing between guys," Huska said. "And if there isn't, then we have time to shuffle some people around and try to find a combination that works."

Among those 22 players vying for starring roles is Rockets captain Tyson Barrie. As one of seven defencemen to crack Canada's roster, Barrie brings an offensive dimension, though it's not clear how exactly he'll fit into the puzzle.

"We're not there yet," Huska said of whether Barrie's defence partner and playing time had been determined. "Tyson's done very well so far. He's doing what's asked of him right now and I think he's enjoying his time so far.

"As with all the guys here, I think every day they're going to continue to get better as a group and really get a good understanding of how Dave's asking them to play."

The next five days in Niagara Falls will answer most — if not all — those questions. It will also be a chance for the players and coaching staff to bond off the ice.

"We're trying to keep our group away from things and get them together and spend a lot of time as a team — just try to prepare them as best as we can," said Huska, still elated with his role in the task at hand. "It's an honour, to be honest. That's where I get excited and I'm thrilled about this opportunity.

"Every kid dreams of playing at this time of the year and if you're not fortunate to do it, this (coaching) is the next best thing. It's an opportunity to represent your country and it's something that I'm very honoured and proud to be a part of."

Rockets end road trip on winning note

Brett Bulmer had a four-point effort for Kelowna, with one goal and three assists, as the Rockets ended their five-game Alberta road trip the same way they began it: With a 5-1 victory on Friday.

"This was a great trip; I liked our effort in pretty much every game," Kelowna assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert said after the Rockets‘ win in Calgary against the Hitmen.

The result gave the Rockets a 3-2 record on the Central Division trip, which began last Friday with a surprising 5-1 win over Red Deer. Following that, Kelowna lost 2-1 to Edmonton and 2-0 to Medicine Hat before bouncing back with a 3-2 shootout win over Lethbridge, then 5-1 over Calgary last night.

"A bounce here or a bounce there, and we could have been 5-0," continued Cuthbert, who is acting as head coach with Ryan Huska away as an assistant coach for Canada at the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championship. "But that‘s the way hockey goes sometimes. But right now, I‘m pretty happy with the way the team is coming along, how we‘re starting and how we‘re finishing games.

"Really, we had some very good games on this trip."

Shane McColgan, with two goals and one assist, defenceman Zak Stebner and Geordie Wudrick, with his team-leading 16th goal, also scored for Kelowna (19-15-0-0), which, with the win, leapfrogged into first place in B.C. Division standings.

As of today, the Rockets have 38 points, one more than the second-place Vancouver Giants (16-13-1-4), which lost 9-1 in Tri-City on Friday night. However, the Giants play tonight, as they visit Spokane, while Kelowna disbanded after the Calgary game for the WHL's annual 10-day Christmas break and doesn‘t play again until Dec. 28, when Everett visits Prospera Place.

Replying for Calgary (10-23-2-0) was Brendan Santini at 57 seconds of the second period.

McColgan, with his ninth goal of the season, opened the scoring at 6:44 of the first, with Bulmer making it 2-0 just 10 minutes later. Stebner made it 3-1 midway through the second, with Wudrick, at 12:31, and McColgan, at 15:13, scoring in the third. Adam Brown made 20 saves for Kelowna, while Brandon Glover turned aside 23 shots for the Hitmen.

The Rockets left Calgary after the game and should arrive home sometime this morning. According to Cuthbert, only two players plus coaches and management were on the bus back to the Okanagan — unlike the full load that headed out to Alberta.

"This was a good trip," reiterated Cuthbert, "and it began in Red Deer. We wanted to go .500 on the trip because this trip is tough and (with five games in seven days) it‘s a grind.

"Being in first place . . . that sounds good. But, honestly, the standings are a weird situation this season. Every day, it seems they change."

Rockets to visit Hitmen

Rockets wrap up road trip in Calgary tonight

By Larry Fisher

The Daily Courier

Shane McColgan bucked the monkey from his back on Wednesday night.

   

Now, the Kelowna Rockets need him to take the bull by the horns tonight. The skilled sophomore forward sniped the shootout winner for Kelowna in a 3-2 triumph over the host Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday. It was McColgan’s first goal in five games — though shootout markers don’t count toward statistics — and only the second time he’s lit the lamp in 13 games dating back to Nov. 12 when he scored in a 4-1 win over Prince George.

In the absence of captain Tyson Barrie — the team’s top blue-liner and power-play quarterback — and leading scorer Mitchell Callahan, the Rockets (18-15-0-0) will rely on McColgan to be an offensive catalyst tonight in Calgary against the Hitmen (10-22-2-0).

“It was a big-time goal from him; it was a great move,” Rockets assistant coach Ryan Cuthbert said of McColgan’s shootout effort.  

“But he’s just gotta keep shooting pucks and getting to the dirty areas, and maybe one will go in off his butt, then he’ll be good to go.”

Barrie is in Ontario preparing to help Team Canada at the upcoming world juniors, while Callahan is in Troy, N.Y., trying to crack Team U.S.A.’s roster for the same tournament, which runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Buffalo. Callahan, a gritty forward from Whittier, Calif., is one of 29 players auditioning for 22 available spots at the weekend selection camp.

McColgan, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., was also on the radar for the U.S. squad, but did not receive a camp invite. He is an under-age player, however, who only turns 18 on Jan. 1 and is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft. Despite his recent slump, McColgan is still second in team scoring with eight goals and 31 points in 30 games. He trails only Callahan, who has 15 goals and 33 points in 33 games.

Cuthbert, meanwhile, is filling in for bench boss Ryan Huska, an assistant with Team Canada. In an interim role, Cuthbert and fellow assistant Dan Lambert are 2-2 heading into tonight’s tilt in Calgary — the last stop on Kelowna’s road trip through Alberta.  

The Rockets started their first trek east of the Rockies with a 5-1 win in Red Deer, then dropped 2-1 and 2-0 decisions in Edmonton and Medicine Hat, respectively, before evening their record in Lethbridge.

“You look at all the games we’ve been in on this trip and we could easily be 4-0 right now,” Cuthbert said. “You always wish (your  

record) was better, but hopefully we can close it out with one more (win) in Calgary.”

The Rockets are missing Barrie most when it comes to their power play, which went 0-for-4 in Lethbridge and is a combined 1-for-19 on this trip.

“He’s the best power-play quarterback in the league when he’s on (his game), so it is tough,” Cuthbert said. “But in a lot of games, we’ve had chances, and we just gotta make sure we’re getting guys there to bury second chances.”

Barrie’s power-play partner for much of this season, Damon Severson, was a healthy scratch in Lethbridge. Cuthbert said that decision was based solely on allowing 15-year-old Madison Bowey an opportunity to make his WHL debut.

“(Bowey) played very well,” Cuthbert said of the midget call-up, who found his way onto the scoresheet courtesy a checking-from-behind minor penalty in the first period. “He does everything you like in a D-man. He makes the first pass all the time and he’s a great skater, so he’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

Tonight’s puck drop is 6 p.m. (AM 1150).