As his team hits the quarter mark of the 2017-18 season, Bruce Hamilton admits the are more or less in the position he expected.

At 8-6-2-1, the Rockets sit second in the B.C. Division, eight points back of first-place Victoria and four ahead of Vancouver.

害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檙e pretty much where we thought we害羞草研究所檇 be in this kind of race,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton, the Rockets president and GM. 害羞草研究所淲e went through a little four or five-game funk there where we struggled in goal, but it wasn害羞草研究所檛 just the goalies.

害羞草研究所淥ur whole team got thinking that maybe they were better than they were,害羞草研究所� added Hamilton. 害羞草研究所�(Goalie) James Porter has really got his game going, that害羞草研究所檚 helped a lot and I think all in all, we害羞草研究所檝e been playing better the last little while here.害羞草研究所�

With the departures of offensive weapons Nick Merkley, Calvin Thurkauf, Reid Gardiner and Lucas Johansen from last year害羞草研究所檚 club, Hamilton said the Rockets害羞草研究所攅ven with Kole Lind and Dillon Dube returning害羞草研究所攌new goals would likely be harder to come by this season.

Finding ways to win games 3-2 and 4-3, particularly in a division with a high degree of parity, may become a season-long necessity for the Rockets.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not going to be a real flashy team, we害羞草研究所檙e going to have to work hard and play really well defensively, we have young guys in goal and we害羞草研究所檝e got to back them up and support them,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said.

To continue being better than a middle-of-the-pack type of team, Hamilton said the Rockets will require contributions from up and down the entire lineup.

害羞草研究所淲e need some miles from our over age players here,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said of Carsen Twarynski, Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsendager. 害羞草研究所淲e need them to have an impact in the outcome of every game.

害羞草研究所淎nd we need to see some development from some of our younger guys in the scoring department.害羞草研究所�

As for Jason Smith and his progress as Rockets害羞草研究所� head coach, Hamilton said the second-year bench boss is growing with each game.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 done a real good job,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a learning process, the group we had last year and this year are a little different. These guys are more and more his team now, last year害羞草研究所檚 was more inherited. I think they害羞草研究所檙e coming along (under Smith).害羞草研究所�

While Smith isn害羞草研究所檛 entirely dissatisfied with his team害羞草研究所檚 performance at the quarter point of the season, he believes the Rockets have considerably more to offer.

Head coach Jason Smith:

害羞草研究所淚 think you can always look at where you害羞草研究所檙e at and we want to be better,害羞草研究所� said Smith. 害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檝e been inconsistent in playing complete games, I think there害羞草研究所檚 games where we害羞草研究所檝e done things really well for stretches, then we害羞草研究所檝e taken our foot off the pedal and gotten sloppy.

害羞草研究所淲e just haven害羞草研究所檛 competed at the level we need to and that害羞草研究所檚 what we害羞草研究所檙e going to work at and strive to be a better team and a more consistent team.害羞草研究所�

The Rockets will settle into Prospera Place for a four-game home stand beginning Friday against the Giants. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m. The Red Deer Rebels will visit Kelowna on Saturday.

Rockets with Team WHL

Dillon Dube, Kole Lind and Cal Foote returned to the Rockets this week after playing with Team WHL during the Canada-Russia series in Saskatchewan.

As part of Hockey Canada害羞草研究所檚 evaluation process for the 2018 national junior squad, Dube scored twice and added three assists as the teams split the two-game set in Moose Jaw and Swift Current. Lind had a goal and two assists, while Foote posted a +2 rating.

Team Canada害羞草研究所檚 final selection camp will be held Dec. 12 to 15 in St. Catharines, ON.

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