In what was an otherwise solid December of hockey for the 麻豆精选 Rockets, 2016 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 end exactly the way head coach Jason Smith would have preferred.
After consecutive losses to Kamloops and Victoria to close out the year, the Rockets (23-14-2-0) will look to open up 2017 with a much different result Wednesday night when they host the Spokane Chiefs.
鈥淭丑颈蝉 is a big game for us to start the new year, a chance for us to bounce 产补肠办,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淭丑别 last two games certainly 飞别谤别苍鈥檛 our best efforts. We have to get back to playing the complete game, do the things we need to be 蝉耻肠肠别蝉蝉蹿耻濒.鈥�
When all was said and done in December, the Rockets went a more than respectable 8-4-2-0, which included a stellar 5-1-1-0 record on a gruelling 10-day road trip.
The fact that the majority of the wins came without four key players in the 濒颈苍别耻辫鈥挤颈濒濒辞苍 Dube, Calvin Thurkauf, Tomas Soustal and Gordie 叠补濒濒丑辞谤苍鈥攚补蝉 a promising sign for the Rockets and gave Smith an indication of the depth he has at his disposal.
鈥�(滨苍 December) I think we played a lot of complete 驳补尘别蝉,鈥� said Smith.
鈥淥产惫颈辞耻蝉濒测 with those players being away, some other players got to grow their games and get some experience in different situations. For the most part, we did a pretty good job as a team and we played with structure.
鈥淣辞飞 颈迟鈥檚 a matter of getting back to that on a more consistent basis and continuing that as we move along in the 蝉别补蝉辞苍.鈥�
Among those players filling bigger roles over the last several weeks was rookie forward Nolan Foote. The 16-year-old younger brother of Cal Foote scored goals in each of the Rockets last three games and now has 16 points in his first 27 WHL games.
鈥淣辞濒补苍 is a competitive guy, 丑别鈥檚 growing and becoming more confident with each 驳补尘别,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淗别 missed a good portion of the start of the year (illness), but 丑别鈥檚 really making up for missed time.
鈥淗别 has good puck skills, he shoots the puck well, and he 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 mind the bumping and grinding style of hockey. 贬别鈥檚 working at getting better and listens to what the coaches have to 蝉补测.鈥�
Forward Dillon Dube remains with the Canadian team which takes on Sweden Wednesday in thesemifinals in Montrea
Fellow forwards Calvin Thurkauf and Tomas Soustal are on their way back to 麻豆精选 after their teams were eliminated Monday from the world junior championship.
Both are expected to return to the lineup Saturday when the Rockets host the Kamloops Blazers in the back end of a home-and-home set between the teams.
The Rockets will also face the Blazers Friday in Kamloops.
With 48 points apiece, the Rockets and Blazers are tied for second in the B.C. Division, eight points back of the Prince George Cougars.
