For the first half of the season, top spot in the B.C. Division proved to be an elusive goal for the 鈥攗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鈥檚 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.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e done a lot of good things,鈥� said Smith, the Rockets鈥� head coach whose club is riding a 10-game home-ice winning streak. 鈥淲e鈥檝e grown as a team and continue to get better. We鈥檙e getting contributions from some guys that maybe weren鈥檛 expected, and they鈥檙e showing improvement every day.
鈥淥ur young guys in goal (James Porter and Roman Basran) have done a real good job of stepping up. We鈥檙e playing more complete games. The coaching staff is excited we鈥檝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
鈥淲e started well in Regina, but then had trouble putting together complete games,鈥� said Smith, in his second season as Rockets鈥� head coach. 鈥淭owards the end of the trip, the guys buckled down and did a lot of really good things.鈥�
The Rockets鈥� last two victories coincided with Kole Lind鈥檚 return to the lineup. The 19-year-old forward, who was cut last Thursday from Canada鈥檚 national junior squad, scored a hat trick in Prince Albert, then followed up with three assists a night later in Saskatoon.
鈥淥bviously he was disappointed in being released but he didn鈥檛 allow the frustration of disappointment to carry over when he came back to our team,鈥� Smith said of Lind. 鈥淭he effect it had, I think, was a big motivator for him to just go out and play his game.
鈥淚t was disappointing for him but it鈥檚 important to understand it鈥檚 about the long haul in hockey, to continue bringing that compete and work ethic and earning that first pro contract.鈥�
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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