Rockets Win Memorial Cup! Wooooohoo!

Rockets deserved this win. They worked hard and were creating tons of scoring chances, and finally got some bounces. This was a memorable team for its defensive records. Kelly Guard was sensational(from the words of Regan Bartell) all year long. Weber and Gorges seemed to never leave the ice, and no wonder; they are SO good at holding the offensive blueline, and interupting odd man rushes before they start. Big hits, great outlet passes, and getting their shots through a screen; you could ask for nothing more from these two workhorses. On forward, the depth was their strength this year, as they really had no one guy to look to. If there was a leader to choose from, it was Gelech. He was a warrior, and he faught until the very end.

Was anybody else at the game today? That was the loudest crowd ive ever been a part of!

And thank you to the Kelowna Rockets for a great show, the orginization for a well put together event, and everybody who contributed to a great week. For Gatineau fans, this sure could be a great rivalry if these two teams were in the same league eh? maybe we'll see you guys again next year...

Yeah! They work hard... at the ****ing defensive play

Blake Comeau and Justin Keller played well.

Yeah! They work hard... at the ****ing defensive play
And it won them a championship.

Im currently sick and tired of all the bickering with this defense first ********. I for one believe there are parts in the game that need to be spiced up, especially like a Pittsburgh Vs. Washington game.

BUT, I have one question for any fan out there. Would you rather have a team that scores 382 goals in the regular season and gets kicked out of the playoffs in the first round, three years in a row, or have a team that plays defense first all year, and playoffs and challenges for the cup for five years straight?

If anybody can look me in the eye, or truthfully answer with the first part in the question, you need to look at your fan hood.

Plain and simple, defense wins championships. Offense wins trophies.

I would love to see half of the people defending the Rockets start doing the same for the Devils, Wild, etc. It'll never happen. Hipocrisy.

For Gatineau fans, this sure could be a great rivalry if these two teams were in the same league eh?

thank god they are not. The Q thankfully is not dominated by trapping teams :)

For Gatineau fans, this sure could be a great rivalry if these two teams were in the same league eh?

thank god they are not. The Q thankfully is not dominated by trapping teams :)
If you are referring to Kelowna playing the trap you are totally wrong! Unknowledgable hockey fans think sound defense with the trap and they are totally wrong.

If you are referring to Kelowna playing the trap you are totally wrong! Unknowledgable hockey fans think sound defense with the trap and they are totally wrong.

Fine they play a very passive game.

They forecheck well but not all game. How else do you explain their lack of goals? Most heavy forecheck teams cause turnovers which i didnt see Kelowna do a lot of.

Fine they play a very passive game.

They forecheck well but not all game. How else do you explain their lack of goals? Most heavy forecheck teams cause turnovers which i didnt see Kelowna do a lot of.
Didn't Kelowna have more shots on net? Trembley(sp) played great, if it wasn't for him it would have been a blow out!

Fine they play a very passive game.

They forecheck well but not all game. How else do you explain their lack of goals? Most heavy forecheck teams cause turnovers which i didnt see Kelowna do a lot of.
How do i explain lack of goals, guys like Moisenko, Paddock, Gelech and Ferguson should of all put up bigger numbers this year, but they didn't. You can't totally shut down a team like Gatineau totally, they have too much talent to not give them no chances. Kelowna out played, out shot Gautineau, the Rockets got what they worked for.

The bickering is stupid. It was a contrast of 2 styles. This time, the defensive style won. It's not always like that. And, look, in the NHL finals, we have an offensive powerhouse that made it.

Kudos to the Rockets. They were the best team of the tournament. They played like a team on a mission. In fact, they were the only team to play like they were on a mission, and it's understandable, since the tourney was at home. I saw the same intensity in 97 in Hull with the Piques.

I like seeing contrasts in style, because it makes for great discussion: which is best, defence or offence. All I can say is that a dynastic organisation needs offence as much as defence. Montreal (for 20 cups or so...), Long Island, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Colorado... they all won with offence galore. NJ, Montreal circa 86 and 93, and others won with defence. It depends on which side you sit.

As a Piques fan, I was disappointed at the team, because it was their cup to lose. They lost it because of bad positional play and some sloppy defensive work. Plus, I cannot fathom the fact that they left two 60 point guys in the stands, one of which is a 04 draft pick in the NHL (talk about developping prospects...). Pohl will not be back with the organisation next season, and that's a big loss for a team that will struggle to make it to .500 in 04-05.

I like offence, more than defence. Not because I like the Q more. In fact, my son plays minor hockey and I cannot understand why they put so much emphasis on defensemen carrying the puck, instead of bigger, steader, yet more physical players. That's this province's achilie's heel. Trying to get fancy when it's not the time.

As I was saying, I like offence more than defence. The reason is simple: offensive players are the ones that mark this game's rich history. Not the defensive ones. I dreamed of being a Guy Lafleur, not a Doug Jarvis.

Offence, as much as defence, makes you win championship. You can't win 0-0.

Oh! And another point: the junior leagues were created in order to develop players for higher levels. The teams sometime forget that. In this case, I don't think Kelowna forgot it, but I'm not sold on teaching strick defence at the age of 16 or 17.

Rockets deserved this win.

They do? Which league championship did they win to get to the Memorial Cup? Kinda takes me back to Ottawa's Memorial Cup win a couple of years ago when they took time off to rest and recuperate before beating teams that actually had to earn their way to the tournament.

They do? Which league championship did they win to get to the Memorial Cup? Kinda takes me back to Ottawa's Memorial Cup win a couple of years ago when they took time off to rest and recuperate before beating teams that actually had to earn their way to the tournament.

they beat each team. If you disagree with the format, then dont argue with me. If a host team isnt deserving of playing, then theyre not going to win it.

they beat each team. If you disagree with the format, then dont argue with me. If a host team isnt deserving of playing, then theyre not going to win it.

With this age group any team can win on any given night.

I dont have a problem with Kelowna winning as the host team.

I think the format works well.

With this age group any team can win on any given night.

I dont have a problem with Kelowna winning as the host team.

I think the format works well.

Hoped for Gatineau but absolutely agree.

I don't think Habscheid was either to begin with, but knowing the cards he was dealt with and knowing that defensive systems win championships, he made sure his players wanted to play the system that he knew could win.

If the players want to play it, the coach isn't going to say no.

And remember that Habscheid and the Rockets were in last years Memorial Cup after winning the WHL with the top offensive team, while still playing incredible defense. The only thing that kept the Rockets from winning last year was the shaky goaltending of Guard.


Ripping the tournament format is useless. It has been this way for many years.

And Kelowna did not "take time off", they lost a hard-fought 7-game series to Everett in the West Final. If they had have won the 7th game, then both Medicine Hat and Kelowna would have gotten into the Memorial Cup tournament regardless of who won the WHL. That's just the way it works.

I'm sure if you asked the players, they'd much rather have the 7-10 days off that the league winners had than the 20 days that the Rockets had. It's much more difficult to come back after a layoff like they had. Bottom line, the Rockets were the top ranked WHL team after the regular season, lost to a team with FIVE 20 year olds in the semi's - losing 3 straight OT games on fluke goals. They deserved to be in the WHL, and proved it by beating all 3 other teams, including Gatineau twice.

Just got back from Kelowna. Couldn't get finals tickets, unfortunately; I drew a crappy number in yesterday morning's draw for the handful of sponsor tickets that became available. But it was still a hell of a weekend, with a great ending.

Gatineau showed a lot of class with that 'thank you Kelowna' sign they held up after losing. Benoit Groulx impressed me a lot - his team seemed well-prepared, and he handled the media pressure very well over the course of the week. After Sutter has his chance, he deserves a shot at coaching the WJC team.

And to everybody criticizing the Rockets' style - they took an offense-oriented team to the Cup last year and got clutch-and-grabbed to death. If Habscheid had been stubborn and tried the same thing again this year, then he'd deserve criticism.

Finally, anybody think Mike Card might have worked his way back onto a few teams' draft lists? No major mistakes, and he showed a decent offensive touch.

When New Jersey started the trap era with their 1995 Stanely Cup win, they were the highest scoring team in the NHL. Their stellar defence allowed them to pour on the offence because their opponents rarely got into their zone. They spent almost the entire game shooting at the opponent's net.

And they were an offensive powerhouse when they won with defense in 2001 as well. People still *****ed. You're telling me stuff I already know.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I see people defending Kelowna for a defensive game but they're probably the same people complaining that the NHL is too boring and that they change the channel when the Devils or Wild come on.

What a joke.

I don't think Habscheid was either to begin with, but knowing the cards he was dealt with and knowing that defensive systems win championships, he made sure his players wanted to play the system that he knew could win.

If the players want to play it, the coach isn't going to say no.




Ripping the tournament format is useless. It has been this way for many years.

And Kelowna did not "take time off", they lost a hard-fought 7-game series to Everett in the West Final. If they had have won the 7th game, then both Medicine Hat and Kelowna would have gotten into the Memorial Cup tournament regardless of who won the WHL. That's just the way it works.

the only part I disagree with you is the "defensive systems win you championships" fallacy. I guess the Habs, the Red Wings, the Avalanche, and the Oilers could disagree with you. Oh, and probably Tampa.

The Habs and Oilers won their last championships before this defensive era. Both Colorado and Detroit played versions of the trap, and Tampa Bay hasn't won anything yet.

Hockey has gone through offensive and defensive eras. If Tampa Bay does win this year, it could get more teams playing with their offensive style...much like teams did when New Jersey won a Stanley Cup with their trap in 1995. Since then, every Stanley Cup Champion has played some form of the trap...be it a full 1-2-2 or a Left Wing Lock.


We're picking on straws here, but the systems you're talking about are simple defensive systems. ALL TEAMS should play one. They all do, in fact. Tampa plays a solid defensive system...in the offensive zone. But they still follow a pattern. What I meant is that it takes offensive talent to win cups, and win regularly.

And we ALLL wish that a more offensive oriented team wins the Cup, in order to send a clear message to the rest of the hockey braintrust: we want talent to express itself. Not coaches. If I want coaches to express themselves, I'll watch another sport, but not hockey.

congrats to the fans of Kelowna-
from one of the Rockets' original fans down here in Tacoma.....
a well deserved victory. Going undefeated in the tourney speaks volumes, and I won't jump into this "defense vs offense" debate. Congrats to the community, the fans, and everyone in the organization.

a Rockets fan forever..........

Lauri from Tacoma
www.angelfire.com/wa3/lam7825

p.s. if you folks thought it was loud on Sunday, imagine the boys playing in front of 16,000 fans! ah, those were the days................... :)

congrats to the fans of Kelowna-
from one of the Rockets' original fans down here in Tacoma.....
a well deserved victory. Going undefeated in the tourney speaks volumes, and I won't jump into this "defense vs offense" debate. Congrats to the community, the fans, and everyone in the organization.

a Rockets fan forever..........

Lauri from Tacoma
www.angelfire.com/wa3/lam7825

p.s. if you folks thought it was loud on Sunday, imagine the boys playing in front of 16,000 fans! ah, those were the days................... :)

I can imagine. What caused the team to move?

We're picking on straws here, but the systems you're talking about are simple defensive systems. ALL TEAMS should play one. They all do, in fact. Tampa plays a solid defensive system...in the offensive zone. But they still follow a pattern. What I meant is that it takes offensive talent to win cups, and win regularly.

And we ALLL wish that a more offensive oriented team wins the Cup, in order to send a clear message to the rest of the hockey braintrust: we want talent to express itself. Not coaches. If I want coaches to express themselves, I'll watch another sport, but not hockey.
The bottom line in hockey is winning. You have to score more goals than the other teams. If you say there is no talent in playing a defensive system than you are wrong. They still have to be able to skate, shoot, hit and the greatest talent teams who play that way have is disipline. Kelowna beat three of the best teams in Canada to win, how can you argue with that?

Without coaches, those talented players don't have talent.

Talent cant be tought. Well to an extent. Creativity needs to be developed naturally. A coach cant tell you how to be creative.

That is such a common misconception. I have taught creativity to kids I've coached over recent years.

How? You are basically born with it. Creativity is just that, being creative. You cant teach someone how to draw or someone how to paint.

Making a nice creative play on the ice cant be tought.

You can tell them what the better play was at that time but you cant really teach them to make a nice behind the back pass through your legs while goiung full speed.

By being creative do you mean creating a good play from nothing? That can't be taught, but you can make it were the they know what to do in most situations, giving them limited time to be creative.

Without coaches, those talented players don't have talent.

at the NHl level? Come on, now. At the minor league level, I agree.

That is such a common misconception. I have taught creativity to kids I've coached over recent years.

How do you teach somebody something they aren't born with? A coach can urge them to be more creative and if they have the talent, they might be able to do it. But that's like saying America would have never been found if Christopher Columbus never sailed.

You can't teach creativity. You can try and push it though. I don't think many kids in junior need to be pushed to be creative. They either have it and show it by then or they don't. Same goes with talent. Can't be taught.

You guys have absolutely no clue how important coaches are to hockey, at ALL levels.


I absolutely agree with this statement. Coaches ARE important. The part I don't agree with is the one where you state that they can "teach" talent. They can teach better hockey ethics, that I believe. But talent is not "teacheable". Guy Lafleur did not learn to play hockey because of coaches. He learned because he had a gift. And he worked hard at it. Just like the Great One, just like Iginla.

Patrick Roy had raw talent. He was just taught the hockey ethics by François Allaire.

I was just saying you can't teach someone to be creative, by definition, it's like teaching someone to be imaginative, if you're teaching them it's not an original creation.

You guys have absolutely no clue how important coaches are to hockey, at ALL levels.
I agree Van, Kelowna was no where near the most talented team in the Memorial Cup this year. They were tought a good system and the players followed it.

There is no such thing as "god given talent"...that's just an expression.

If there is no god given talent then why is it that the kid that works the hardest and has the best coaches doesn't always get to the top level?

Kids like hockey, so they register to play and are taught the necessary skills of the game by their coaches. The players who make it all the way are those who responded the best to their power skating clinics, hockey schools and practices with their teams.

Somebody has to teach them skills. They are not born with them.

There is no such thing as "god given talent"...that's just an expression.


Any coach will tell you that there is such a thing as "god given talent"....and yes you're born with it if you have it....that doesn't mean that coaches/instructors aren't neccessary....they are to the hundreds of others who need the help....I've coached kids that you only had to show them once something....not only could they repeat the move with no practice but they could also improve on it and improvise to turn it into something else.....they are few and far between so coaches are necessary and many great players benefit from the guidance of a great coach.....