Memorial Cup preview: Top 10 Kelowna Rockets observations

With the King of Late Night signing off, Buzzing The Net is borrowing the Top Ten trope to profile the Memorial Cup teams. It's an homage. Or as David Letterman would say to someone who tried to slip a fancy word by him, "you mean stealing."

Presenting the Kelowna Rockets, who are hoping to be the second WHL team in as many years (Edmonton Oil Kings won it in 2014) to win the Memorial Cup. 

10. “Lambert forgot to lose first.”

Someone forgot to tell Rockets head coach Dan Lambert that he isn’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to struggle as a rookie coach because of how he lacks “experience.” This is the time of the year where he should be phoning his predecessor Ryan Huska for advice on how to better prepare for next season.

That said, it did help that Lambert had an all-star team in his arsenal, but what he’s accomplished is impressive nonetheless. He’s on the fast-track to the pros, especially if he leaves Quebec with a nice trophy.

9. “Rally around Goulbourne?”

The Rockets lost their top overage and one of their best forwards when Tyrell Goulbourne went down with a leg injury in Game 5 of Kelowna’s series against the Portland Winterhawks. He isn’t expected to return in the Memorial Cup. The team could try to make the best of the situation by rallying around the Philadelphia Flyers prospect as extra motivation to win. It obviously wouldn’t be the first time a squad has done something like this.

8. “How about them Cowboys?”

Well, he might not even be a Dallas Cowboys fan, but Cole Martin is from Arlington, TX. It’s easy for him to fly under the radar because he’s on a star-studded roster, but that shouldn’t take anything away from the value he has brought to the Rockets. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound blueliner plays hard in his own end while contributing offensively (39 points in regular-season and seven in the post-season). He’s also their best overage with Goulbourne out of the lineup.

7. “Thanks, Prince Albert.”

If the Rockets didn’t pluck Edmonton Oilers prized pick Leon Draisaitl, Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Josh Morrissey and veteran wing Gage Quinney out of Prince Albert, they probably wouldn’t be here. They have former Raiders GM Bruno Campese to thank for that, but some credit goes to ex-Oilers GM Craig McTavish. He worked out an agreement with Campese to send Draisaitl back to the WHL on the condition that he would be traded to Kelowna.

6. “Team Canada defensive connection.”

Washington Capitals second-rounder Madison Bowey and Morrissey are quite likely the top defensive duo in the CHL, let alone the WHL. They used their elite offensive tools to combine for 30 goals 98 points in a total of 105 games during the season. In addition, they have not only been playing together in Kelowna, but they also lined up next to each other at the 2015 world junior championship with Team Canada.

5. “Undersized, but not undervalued.”

It’s impossible to overlook NHL draft prospect Nick Merkley (5-foot-10, 187 pounds) and undrafted 19-year-old Tyson Baillie (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) despite their smaller statures because of their impressive play. The two dynamic forwards brought the saying “dynamite comes in small packages” to life by combining for 15 goals and 51 points in the post-season.

4. “Best line in junior hockey?”

Is the trio of San Jose Sharks prospect Rourke Chartier, Draisaitl and Merkley the best line in junior hockey? Rockets play-by-play announcer Regan Bartel seems to think so, and for good reason when considering the talent levels of each player. They put it all on display in Game 3 of their series against the Brandon Wheat Kings when they combined for eight points in a 5-3 win. It will be interesting to see if Lambert rolls them together in Quebec.

3. “Whistling Jack.”

Jackson Whistle was a good goalie on a great team this year. He posted a 2.55 average and a .909 save percentage in 50 games on a club that went 53-13-5-1 in the regular-season. But when it came down to the second season, he elevated his game with a .916 save percentage and four shutouts in 19 contests. The pressure is on the West Kelowna, B.C., native to continue to his stellar play in the prestigious tourney or he might not be whistling on his flight home.

2. “Draisaitl going out with a bang.”

The Germany product has been a man on a mission before he takes off to the pros for good next year. He has used his big 6-foot-1, 210-pound stature to outmuscle and fend off his opponents, notching 10 goals and 28 points in 19 playoff games. He’s never looked better and has the potential to be the most dominant player in the Memorial Cup with Connor McDavid out of the picture.

1. “Too good to be true?”

The Rockets have confidently overcame every obstacle that has come their way. They defeated their Achilles heel, the Winterhawks, who knocked them out of the playoffs three times in the last four years, in six games in the Western Conference final. They followed it up by sweeping the powerhouse Brandon Wheat Kings in the championship series.

The writing is on the wall for Kelowna to continue their success in Quebec by winning the Memorial Cup. But in a game that consists of bad bounces and lucky goals, it seems too good to be true for the Rockets’ smooth ride to continue in the CHL’s big dance.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen