Kelowna Rockets look for season’s 1st win against Kamloops Blazers
Kobe Mohr and the Rockets face Kamloops tonight for a 5th time this season — and Mohr would like something to celebrate
Kobe Mohr admits his former teammates on the Kamloops Blazers haven’t been grinding him about their run against the Kelowna Rockets.
There have been no text messages or tweets highlighting the fact Kamloops is 4-0 against Kelowna this season, or 10-0 if you include parts of last season, a one-game playoff and the preseason — wow, that’s a long streak.
“They’re really good (about it),” Mohr said. “They’re just happy for me that I get another chance to play in the league.”
Yes, Mohr finds himself in a unique situation. Although he spent three of his five WHL seasons in Edmonton with the Oil Kings, the Blazers acquired him in early May 2018.
He spent last season in Kamloops, but the Blazers released him after six games this September after a trade for defenceman Max Martin.
Mohr landed with the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, apparently on the wrong side of the WHL’s 20-yearold player limit (teams can only have three).
Not that life was so bad in Drumheller. Mohr piled up six goals and six assists in eight AJHL games.
But he didn’t hesitate to answer when Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton called and asked him to join Kelowna.
“It’s good so far,” said Mohr, a 20-year-old Lloydminster native. “I’m getting settled in, learning the systems and getting close with the guys. It’s coming along slowly, but we’re getting there.”
The Rockets needed Mohr when Kyle Topping broke his ankle two weeks ago in Victoria against the Royals.
Hamilton wanted some veteran influence, and appreciates the intangibles that Mohr brings.
“He’s got a little character to him, which is really good,” Hamilton said. “He’s grasped (the opportunity) and he knows that he was given a chance here because of an injury. He’s going to make the best of it and convince us he should stay here for the entire year.”
The Rockets weren’t about to ease him into the WHL lifestyle, either. He’s seen time with some of Kelowna’s best forwards, and has also skated on special teams.
It’s translated into a modest one goal and two assists in five games.
“If you don’t give those guys opportunities, then they just feel like they’re along for the ride,” Hamilton said. “It’s important to put some responsibility on them as soon as they get here.”
Maybe he can trade some intelligence on how to beat the Blazers, too.
Mohr was a productive piece in Kamloops last season, scoring nine times and adding 18 assists in 66 games. He also added 69 penalty minutes.
Searching the archives for Mohr playing against Kelowna, you’ll find him fighting current Rocket Mark Liwiski and scoring a goal in last season’s play-in game after they ended the regular season tied.
Mohr put Kamloops ahead 2-1 early in the third period, and the Blazers prevailed 5-1.
Mohr was just a little excited. Cameras caught him sliding on his knees into the boards as teammates mobbed him. He enjoyed that moment, but that was then. Now, he’s a Rocket, and will happily turn his attention to helping Kelowna get a win against the B.C. Division leaders.
“It’s not a friendly rivalry to say the least. There’s a lot of bad blood,” he said. “Every night is a battle. … It’s essentially going to war. It’s all about grit and (whoever) is going to compete harder is going to get the win that night.”
Well, then, how do you beat Kamloops? The Blazers (13-6-0) have won four straight and eight of 10. They lead the second-place Vancouver Giants by two games, and are three ahead of Kelowna.
The Blazers have two of the top five scorers in the league — Connor Zary (13 goals, 17 assists) and Zane Franklin (11G, 18A). Scroll down the WHL scoring leaders, and you’ll find the third member of that line, Orrin Centazzo (11G, 14A).
“They’re playing as a group of five every time they’re on the ice,” Mohr said. “They’re buying into their systems and it’s showing in the statistics.
“They have one top line, and they’re good together,” he added, “so if you can shut them down then they’ve got to rely on secondary scoring, and they haven’t really had to rely on that yet this year.”
Tonight’s game will be the fifth already this season. They’ll play five more times after Christmas. For the Rockets, they may find the route to their own Memorial Cup may travel through Kamloops.
The first task tonight, then, should be shutting down that high-flying first line.
“You need a line that’s going to take pride in playing D-zone first,” Mohr said. “Until guys take pride in that role, they’re going to score goals.”
Should Kelowna win tonight, and scratch out a few more points against their biggest rival, you might even see Mohr celebrate a little.
“I’d like a little payback for sure,” he said. Game time tonight is 7 p.m.