As his team hits the quarter mark of the 2017-18 season, Bruce Hamilton admits the are more or less in the position he expected.
At 8-6-2-1, the Rockets sit second in the B.C. Division, eight points back of first-place Victoria and four ahead of Vancouver.
香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檙e pretty much where we thought we香蕉视频直播檇 be in this kind of race,香蕉视频直播� said Hamilton, the Rockets president and GM. 香蕉视频直播淲e went through a little four or five-game funk there where we struggled in goal, but it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 just the goalies.
香蕉视频直播淥ur whole team got thinking that maybe they were better than they were,香蕉视频直播� added Hamilton. 香蕉视频直播�(Goalie) James Porter has really got his game going, that香蕉视频直播檚 helped a lot and I think all in all, we香蕉视频直播檝e been playing better the last little while here.香蕉视频直播�
With the departures of offensive weapons Nick Merkley, Calvin Thurkauf, Reid Gardiner and Lucas Johansen from last year香蕉视频直播檚 club, Hamilton said the Rockets香蕉视频直播攅ven with Kole Lind and Dillon Dube returning香蕉视频直播攌new goals would likely be harder to come by this season.
Finding ways to win games 3-2 and 4-3, particularly in a division with a high degree of parity, may become a season-long necessity for the Rockets.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e not going to be a real flashy team, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to have to work hard and play really well defensively, we have young guys in goal and we香蕉视频直播檝e got to back them up and support them,香蕉视频直播� Hamilton said.
To continue being better than a middle-of-the-pack type of team, Hamilton said the Rockets will require contributions from up and down the entire lineup.
香蕉视频直播淲e need some miles from our over age players here,香蕉视频直播� Hamilton said of Carsen Twarynski, Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsendager. 香蕉视频直播淲e need them to have an impact in the outcome of every game.
香蕉视频直播淎nd we need to see some development from some of our younger guys in the scoring department.香蕉视频直播�
As for Jason Smith and his progress as Rockets香蕉视频直播� head coach, Hamilton said the second-year bench boss is growing with each game.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 done a real good job,香蕉视频直播� Hamilton said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a learning process, the group we had last year and this year are a little different. These guys are more and more his team now, last year香蕉视频直播檚 was more inherited. I think they香蕉视频直播檙e coming along (under Smith).香蕉视频直播�
While Smith isn香蕉视频直播檛 entirely dissatisfied with his team香蕉视频直播檚 performance at the quarter point of the season, he believes the Rockets have considerably more to offer.
Head coach Jason Smith:
香蕉视频直播淚 think you can always look at where you香蕉视频直播檙e at and we want to be better,香蕉视频直播� said Smith. 香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檝e been inconsistent in playing complete games, I think there香蕉视频直播檚 games where we香蕉视频直播檝e done things really well for stretches, then we香蕉视频直播檝e taken our foot off the pedal and gotten sloppy.
香蕉视频直播淲e just haven香蕉视频直播檛 competed at the level we need to and that香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e going to work at and strive to be a better team and a more consistent team.香蕉视频直播�
The Rockets will settle into Prospera Place for a four-game home stand beginning Friday against the Giants. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m. The Red Deer Rebels will visit Kelowna on Saturday.
Rockets with Team WHL
Dillon Dube, Kole Lind and Cal Foote returned to the Rockets this week after playing with Team WHL during the Canada-Russia series in Saskatchewan.
As part of Hockey Canada香蕉视频直播檚 evaluation process for the 2018 national junior squad, Dube scored twice and added three assists as the teams split the two-game set in Moose Jaw and Swift Current. Lind had a goal and two assists, while Foote posted a +2 rating.
Team Canada香蕉视频直播檚 final selection camp will be held Dec. 12 to 15 in St. Catharines, ON.
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