Perfect start to season ends tonight for Rockets or Giants
Kelowna, Vancouver tied for division lead
It’s been a whirlwind start for the Kelowna Rockets, with three convincing victories to open the season. Enter the Vancouver Giants, who also have a perfect beginning.
Tonight at Prospera Place, the Rockets (3-00-0) will host the Giants (3-0-0-0) in what can only be called a surprising match of early B.C. Division leaders. Three weeks ago, pundits were predicting a two-horse race between Kelowna and Victoria for the division pennant.
The Rockets have kept pace with those prognostications, while the Royals (1-4-0-0) are off to a miserable start.
In Victoria’s vacuum, though, stepped the Giants, a rebuilding team projected to make the playoffs, but not be in the same class as Kelowna and Victoria.
On Sunday, the G-Men showed that maybe, despite their youth and new up-tempo offence, they do belong, as Vancouver beat Victoria 5-3 on Sunday, scoring three times in the final 10 minutes of the third period.
“It’s a sign of the maturity in our room,” Vancouver head coach Troy Ward told The Province after Sunday’s home win. “I really don’t think we’ve been rattled mentally yet.”
“We’re at a stage where we’re playing the young kids we’re pretty high on,” said Giants GM Scott Bonner. “We have a group of them and we’re going to have to play them. We’re going to take some lumps because we’re not playing a very defensive style like we did for 10 years. In saying that, it’s exciting, but it’s also high risk. There’s going to be some nights where we’re going to lose 9-4.”
The Rockets are tied for first with Brandon for most goals (21) in the league and are tied for second in fewest goals (5) with Everett and Seattle.
Edmonton and Spokane have the fewest goals against (4). The Giants have 13 for and 7 against. Only Brandon and Kelowna have scored more than 20 goals so far, though the Wheat Kings have played one more game.
“I’m happy with our start,” said Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton. “I think we’re going to become a better team once we get a couple more pieces in place that have been sitting out hurt. When we get (rookie forwards) Dillon Dube (foot/ankle) and Tanner Wishnowski (upper-body injury) back, they’ll give us a little bit more. We’re going to be a team where some good players are going to be sitting out some nights. But that’s the way it’s going to be at the start.”
“I look at what Bruce and (assistant GM Lorne Frey) have done there, they have three lines that can score, then they bring along another line, and usually by Christmas those guys are real good, too,” said Bonner. “So we’re trying to emulate what they’ve been doing. They’ve had a lot of success and they also entertain.”
Bonner added “we played Kelowna it seemed like every game in the pre-season, so I’m sure there’s some animosity amongst the players, just because it seems we played them every weekend.
“They’re a team we have the most respect for — I think their management, coaches, etc., have done a good job, and hats off to them — but our job is to try to take back the B.C. Division title, and the sooner the better.”
Sometime this month, the Rockets’ crowded over-age scenario will be solved. With four 20-year-olds, Kelowna is one over the limit. Currently, the four 20s are Tyrell Goulbourne, who’s away with the Philadelphia Flyers but is expected back, fellow forwards Colton Heffley (3 goals, 5 points) and Carter Rigby (2 g, 4 pts.) and defenceman Cole Martin (0 g, 2 pts.). Martin is a lock to stay in Kelowna. The league’s over-age cutdown date is Oct. 15, though teams are granted additional time for extenuating circumstances, such as lengthy NHL training camp visits.
“From an over-age perspective, once we know Goulbourne is coming back,” said Hamilton, “it’s in the best interest to make a decision. These guys have been with us for a long time, and, to be fair to them, it’ll be important to find them a good spot to go to.”
ICE CHIPS: Heading into last weekend’s trip to Prince George, the Rockets were 7-1 against the Cougars. After wins of 8-7 and 7-2, Kelowna is 2-0 against P.G. this season. . . . Last season, the Rockets were 7-1 against the Giants. . . . Ward replaced Don Hay, who left to coach Kamloops after the Giants released him from his contract. . . . Ward, 52, was the former head coach of the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat for the past three seasons. This past off-season, the Heat relocated to Glens Falls, N.Y., and is now led by former Rockets head coach Ryan Huska.