At the end of last month, the slumping 麻豆精选 Rockets didn鈥檛 look like a serious threat to overtake either the Prince George Cougars or Kamloops Blazers.
But thanks to a nice kickstart to February鈥攕ix wins in seven games鈥擩ason Smith鈥檚 club has both B.C. Division rivals taking a peek over their shoulders.
Heading into last night鈥檚 action, the Rockets (33-20-4-0) had moved to within eight points of the Cougars for top spot, and were just four in arrears of Kamloops for second place. 麻豆精选 also has two games in hand on the Blazers.
On Jan. 31, having lost five times in a six-game span, 麻豆精选 was a distant 17 points out of first and nine behind Kamloops.
Instrumental in the surge was a two-game sweep of the hometown Cougars on Feb. 3 and 4, and most recently a come-from behind win over the red-hot Seattle Thunderbirds Monday at Prospera Place.
After a tough stretch of hockey with few positive results, Smith likes the way his club has responded through the first two weeks of February.
鈥淲e鈥檙e making progress, and that鈥檚 part of what really growing as a team is,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淵ou go through a little adversity and things aren鈥檛 going well, it鈥檚 about how you got from there and what you do next time you鈥檙e on the ice.鈥�
The Rockets didn鈥檛 exactly have their 鈥楢鈥� game through two periods Wednesday night against Seattle, but erupted with four unanswered third-period goals for a 6-3 win and two crucial points in the B.C. Division race.
Nick Merkley, who had a goal and two assists in the victory, said the Rockets鈥� ability to rise to the challenge against a team of the Thunderbirds鈥� quality is a promising sign.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see that, see the character in the room, us come together as a team in the third and get the win,鈥� said Merkley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty special group in there. Hopefully we can carry that forward.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a good team, they play a good team game and they compete,鈥� Smith added, referring to the Thunderbirds who had won 11 of their last 12 games prior to Wednesday. 鈥淪o to battle back from being down and leave with a win is definitely nice.鈥�
Calvin Thurkauf scored twice in the win over Seattle to push his team-leading goal total to 27. Carsen Twarynski also scored against the Thunderbirds, his first goal as a Rocket since coming over last month in a trade with the Calgary Hitmen.
The Rockets will continue their four-game homestand Friday when they host the Spokane Chiefs.
On Saturday, Prince George makes its second to last stop of the season at Prospera Place. Face-off both nights is 7:05 p.m.
