There will be more jockeying for positions at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre than any place this side of Hastings Racetrack.
The Kelowna Rockets (20-1-1) appear poised to reclaim the top position in the Canadian Hockey League’s BMO top-10 poll this week thanks to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League losing their last last two games and falling to 16-3-1, due mainly to star Connor McDavid’s hand injury.
The Victoria Royals (11-10-2), however, could have a say in Kelowna’s ranking fate when the Western Hockey League clubs meet tonight and Wednesday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“It’s been a fun season. We’re not perfect every night, but we’re finding ways to win games. And that’s important,” said Rockets rookie head coach Dan Lambert.
It has been a seamless transition as Lambert, the Kelowna assistant coach the past five seasons, took over the head coaching job in the off-season when Ryan Huska departed to coach pro in the AHL.
“You always wonder if the players are going to respect you [in the new role] . . . but the response from the players has been great,” said Lambert, the former WHL Swift Current Broncos star, who played 29 NHL games for the Quebec Nordiques, but mostly mino-pro for the Long Beach Ice Dogs and then 10 years in the German Elite League until 2009.
No kidding about the response. These Rockets are firing on all cylinders and are coming off a two-game weekend sweep of the Cougars in Prince George.
“We have good depth and our leadership group is the hardest-working group on the team,” noted Lambert.
Among those Rockets leaders are Rourke Chartier and Nick Merkley, tied for the WHL scoring lead with 40 points each — nine points ahead of third-place Cole Sanford of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Chartier leads the league in goals with 23, eight more than Kelowna teammate Tyson Baillie’s 15 and nine ahead of the 14 by third-place Sanford and Victoria’s Austin Carroll.
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If Kelowna is vying for top ranking position nationally, Rockets defenceman Madison Bowey is in a battle personally against Joe Hicketts of the Royals for the WHL lead in defencemen scoring.
“I don’t look at [the scoring standings],” said the Washington Capitals prospect Bowey, who has 26 points to leader Hicketts’ 28, but two more goals with seven.
“If the points come, they come. It’s not a big deal for me, as long as the team is winning.”
Hicketts and Bowey met personally for the first time last week when they were teammates on the WHL team in the Subway Super Series games against the Russian juniors.
“It’s hard for a guy that size [Hicketts is five-foot-eight and Bowey six-foot-two] to succeed in this league, but [Hicketts] is skilled and plays hard,” said Bowey.
Right back at you, said Hicketts.
“[Bowey’s] play is outstanding,” said the Royals rearguard.
“He’s [got a plus-20 rating], which shows he does things right at both ends.”
The Royals defenceman the 19-year-old Bowey knows best is 20-year-old Travis Brown, a fellow offensive-minded rearguard. They grew up together playing on the same Peewee, Bantam and Midget teams in the Assiniboine Park area of Winnipeg.
“We’re good buddies, but on the ice now, we’re very much competitors,” said Brown.
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