For the first half of the season, top spot in the B.C. Division proved to be an elusive goal for the 乌鸦传媒攗ntil their final game before the midseason break.
Heading into Christmas, the Rockets (20-11-3-1) and Victoria Royals (20-13-3-0) are deadlocked for the division lead, with Jason Smith乌鸦传媒檚 club holding two games in hand.
Since going 5-5-1-1 over their first 12 games, the Rockets have raised their game to a new level the last two months, going 15-6-2-0.
乌鸦传媒淚 think we乌鸦传媒檝e done a lot of good things,乌鸦传媒� said Smith, the Rockets乌鸦传媒� head coach whose club is riding a 10-game home-ice winning streak. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e grown as a team and continue to get better. We乌鸦传媒檙e getting contributions from some guys that maybe weren乌鸦传媒檛 expected, and they乌鸦传媒檙e showing improvement every day.
乌鸦传媒淥ur young guys in goal (James Porter and Roman Basran) have done a real good job of stepping up. We乌鸦传媒檙e playing more complete games. The coaching staff is excited we乌鸦传媒檝e got the results we have and obviously we want to continue.
After starting their pre-holiday eastern tour at 1-3, the Rockets finished strong with a 7-3 win Friday in Prince Albert and a 5-1 victory Saturday in Saskatoon, both without the services of
乌鸦传媒淲e started well in Regina, but then had trouble putting together complete games,乌鸦传媒� said Smith, in his second season as Rockets乌鸦传媒� head coach. 乌鸦传媒淭owards the end of the trip, the guys buckled down and did a lot of really good things.乌鸦传媒�
The Rockets乌鸦传媒� last two victories coincided with Kole Lind乌鸦传媒檚 return to the lineup. The 19-year-old forward, who was cut last Thursday from Canada乌鸦传媒檚 national junior squad, scored a hat trick in Prince Albert, then followed up with three assists a night later in Saskatoon.
乌鸦传媒淥bviously he was disappointed in being released but he didn乌鸦传媒檛 allow the frustration of disappointment to carry over when he came back to our team,乌鸦传媒� Smith said of Lind. 乌鸦传媒淭he effect it had, I think, was a big motivator for him to just go out and play his game.
乌鸦传媒淚t was disappointing for him but it乌鸦传媒檚 important to understand it乌鸦传媒檚 about the long haul in hockey, to continue bringing that compete and work ethic and earning that first pro contract.乌鸦传媒�
Lind will no doubt be cheering for two of his teammates over the holidays. Dube and Foote will playing for Canada at the , beginning on Boxing Day in Buffalo.
The Rockets first action following Christmas is Wednesday, Dec. 27 at home to the Kamloops Blazers. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.
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