Regan's Rant

I will admit I will miss him

Posted By: Regan Bartel rbartel@astral.com · 5/4/2012 3:50:00 PM

The first encounter:

I remember it like it was yesterday.
I received a phone call in my hotel room in Edmonton from Kelowna Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton informing me that 15 year-old prospect Shane McColgan and his father (Shane Sr.) had arrived and were waiting in the lobby for me to conduct a scheduled interview.
For a young Shane McColgan this was exciting times. For a broadcaster of the home team, it was my first chance to meet this California born hockey player that everyone talked so fondly about. McColgan would make his Rockets debut a night later in Red Deer, Alberta before eventually scoring his first career goal a night later against the expansion Edmonton Oil Kings.

The face of the franchise:

While still young and a full year away from playing full time with the Rockets, Shane McColgan was going to be the face of the ...

Getting to know Kelowna Rockets Ryan Olsen

Posted By: Regan Bartel rbartel@astral.com · 5/3/2012 3:43:00 PM

You could sense Ryan Olsen had a smile on his face when I spoke to him on the phone from his home in Tsawwassen, BC.
The 18 year-old was happy to be joining the Kelowna Rockets after being acquired in a WHL trade earlier in the day with the Saskatoon Blades.

"I didn't know it would happen this fast. Being traded is not always a bad thing. I am excited about being in BC, close to home, playing for the Kelowna Rockets. They have a good organization with great coaches and great players".

What can Rockets fans expect from the newest member of the team?

"I bring a two-way game. I am good offensively and defensively and I am a centreman who can play against the other teams top players. I have been known to put up a few points here and there. "

Is it tough leaving an ...

Rockets coach speaks following loss

Posted By: Regan Bartel rbartel@astral.com · 3/30/2012 12:31:00 PM

Huska speaks after series loss

What would you pin point the series loss too?

"We had a hard time with the line. No matter what we tried we had a hard time matching up against that line (Bartschi - Rattie - Noebels). Some of the decisions that we made while we were out there against them were not the smartest decisions when you are playing up against a line like that. That line did about 90 percent of their goal scoring in this series and we didn't have an answer for them in regards to shutting them down. We do a pretty good job against them and then we make one little mental mistake and they kill you."

What will this do for your young defensive core. What won't kill them will make them stronger?

"I think that is the strength of our team. Our back end right now. When ...