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05-01-2009, 08:14 AM #1Hockey Manager
WHL: Rockets Ready for New Challenge
From Castanet.net
Rockets ready for new challenge
by Wayne Moore - Story: 46656
May 1, 2009 / 5:00 am
Kelowna Rockets are back in the Western Hockey League final for the first time in four years and the third time in franchise history.
The one difference, as they prepare for Friday's opening game against the Calgary Hitmen, the Rockets are not the team to beat.
In 2003, the Rockets took out Red Deer in six then two years later, dispatched the Brandon Wheat Kings in five.
This time, it's Calgary which owns home ice advantage and comes into the best-of-seven as the decided favourite.
Assistant Coach, Jeff Finley, says the Hitmen are fairly similar in make-up to the Vancouver Giants, the team the Rockets eliminated in six games to get this far.
"They have two very skilled lines. They have quick forwards and their defence is very good, much like Vancouver. They are great puck handlers, great at moving the puck and they all have good shots from the points," says Finley.
"It'll be the same game plan as against Vancouver. The strength of our team is the size and speed of our forwards. We feel we can wear a team down if we play in their end as much as possible, be physical, control the puck and make the team play defence as much as we can."
The Rockets were able to wear down Vancouver's defence, something which paid dividends, especially during games five and six.
The Hitmen are a perfect 12-0 in the playoffs, a stat not lost on the Rockets. Head coach Ryan Huska, says it'll be a challenge, but one the team is more than ready for.
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Full story at the link above.
I can't wait for this one to get started tonight. I doubt I'll be able to stay up late enough to watch the games but I will certainly be pulling for my Rockets!Habs fan and collector! Main PC's: Carey Price, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and of course...
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05-01-2009, 10:32 AM #2
Tyler Myers is a Sabres prospect, good luck to you guys and I can't wait to see him in the blue and gold full time!
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05-01-2009, 11:53 AM #3
Go Rockets!!!!
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05-01-2009, 01:11 PM #4
Good luck to the Rockets. This won't be a easy series for them. Calgary is a very strong team and had the 2nd best record in WHL history this season.
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05-01-2009, 01:35 PM #5Hockey Manager
It's definitely their biggest challenge so far. They were able to slay the Giants but like you said, the Hitmen were in a class of their own this season. Sign of hope: we beat them 2-1 near the end of the regular season in their own building.
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05-03-2009, 01:53 AM #6
Well man if it counts in David and Goliath terms..... Hit em, and hit em hard, and often!
If the rockets win, I'll have a ton of happy cousins in Kelowna, that I'll be visiting later in July.Searching for: Jagr, Palffy, Stumpel, and Boyd
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Originally Posted by RGM81 
