Cap News: Young D step up
r By Warren Henderson – Kelowna Capital News
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r Prior to starting his job with the Kelowna Rockets, Dan Lambert expressed his enthusiasm for working with young players.
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r As it turns out, the new assistant coach is getting that wish and more as the Rockets now feature one of the greenest defensive corps in the Western Hockey League.
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r With Tyler Myers, 19, still with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, and Tyson Barrie, 18, on the shelf with an injury, Kelowna’s rearguard crew averages a mere 17 1/2 years.
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r Still, the club has found a way to adapt to its relative inexperience and has responded with three straight wins.
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r “Right now we’re the youngest defense in the league but, having said that, the guys have adjusted very well,” said Lambert, a pro defencemen for 19 seasons. “Guys like Colton Jobke are improving all the time, and Mitchell Chapman was cooking along until he got hurt (shoulder), so we’re seeing some good things.
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r “It hasn’t been easy, but it might be a blessing in some ways because these guys are getting to play in situations where they normally wouldn’t, and they’re learning pretty quickly,” Lambert added. “The guys have taken some positive steps, especially in the last four games.”
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r With the lack of blue line savvy in mind, the Rockets summoned Curt Gogol to help provide some stability on the back end.
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r A defenceman most of his life, the Rockets moved the battle-hardened Calgary native up to forward last season.
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r Gogol, who just turned 18 last month, is happy to be back on the blue line and relishes the responsibility the club has placed on his shoulders.
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r “It’s a learning curve to take on a bigger role, but it’s something I take pride in,” said Gogol, who is in his second WHL season.
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r “It’s fun to be back playing defense again and being a leader is a role I really enjoy.
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r “We’ve got a lof of young defencemen, but a lot of them are top-end guys who will just get better,” Gogol continued. “With some key guys out of the lineup, I think we’ve actually picked up our game some. We just need to keep it simple.”
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r Lambert credits Gogol for both his leadership and steady play since moving back on defense and concedes the 6-foot, 178 pounder could remain on the back end, depending on the Rockets’ needs as the season progresses.
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r As far as the club’s young defense is concerned, Lambert agrees with Gogol that success hinges on sticking to the basics.
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r “At this level, the guys have to think the game a little quicker, and the best way to deal with that is to just make the simplest plays,” said Lambert. “We have such talented forwards, we’d rather have the puck in their hands and that takes the pressure off our defense. Right now with Tyler and Tyson not here, you have to look at what type of player you have and play to that style.
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r “Obviously, if we had those guys’ (Tyler and Tyson) offensive skills we’d be taking a few more chances. With the guys we have now, they’ll better at that part of the game and maybe that will change. But for now, we want to keep it simple.”
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r Rocket Shots…
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r The Rockets (3-2-1-0) will host the Medicine Hat Tigers (3-1-1-1) tonight at 7 at Prospera Place…Kelowna will visit the Vancouver Giants Friday, then will be home to the Prince George Cougars Saturday…Rockets F Stepan Novotny is tied for second in WHL scoring with 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists)…Kelowna has outscored its opponents 18-6 over the last three games.
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