After surviving through a tough pool for the best-ever finish at the Mac’s Midget Tournament in Calgary last year, the Okanagan Rockets will once again have their work cut out at this December’s annual international event.
With play beginning on Boxing Day, the Rockets will face the Alberta-leading Calgary Buffaloes, California’s Ontario Avalanche, the always-tough Regina Pat Canadians and the Grand Prairie Storm.
“There aren’t any nights off at the Mac’s” said Rockets general manager David Michaud, whose team reached the semi-finals last year before losing to the eventual champs from Finland. ” I called us the group of death last year with some really tough teams, and this year it isn’t a whole lot better. The Buffaloes are always strong and this year they are leading the Alberta league’s Chrysler Division, and Regina is proving to be a very good club in a tough Saskatchewan league, we virtually have identical records right now. Grand Prairie and Ontario will be solid challenges as well.”
With just one returning member of that squad, Michaud said he will lean heavily on captain Mark Krabben to help the players understand the magnitude of the event.
“Krabben will play a huge role in making sure the players know what sort of challenge lies ahead of them,” he said. “It’s an exciting event, but it can get away from you quickly if you aren’t ready to go.”
A few years back, the Rockets lost just one round robin game, yet missed the playoffs.
The Rockets will open the tournament on Boxing Day against the host Calgary Buffaloes.
Rockets vs Giants…
The Rockets closed out their BCMML pre-Christmas schedule with a loss and a tie in Burnaby against the Vancouver Northwest Giants.
With the absence of Lucas Cullen and Nolan Kneen, who were with Team B.C. preparing for the Canada Winter Games, and goaltender Jordan Reynolds, who served as a backup for the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors, the Rockets were undermanned.
On Saturday, the Giants prevailed 3-2. On Sunday, the teams battled to a 2-2 draw.
The Rockets (17-7-2) head into the break in second spot in the BCMML, a point up on the Giants (16-7-1).
