Friday, November 14, 2008

Paddock was Mr. Playoff

Cam Paddock will make his NHL debut this weekend. For the record he is another Rockets alumni that I never expected to ever step on NHL ice. Sure he was a good junior player, but he never was a huge offensive threat nor was he a physical force. That said, Paddock stood out when it really counted...the playoffs.

Paddock is no stranger to Kelowna Rockets fans. He played 323 games with the Rockets over five seasons and won a WHL title with the team in 2003 and then captured a Memorial Cup crown one year later as a 20 year-old.

Paddock's best season in Kelowna was 2001-2002 when he scored 38 goals, yet Paddock saved his best games for post season. How about the 2003 playoffs when he scored goals in 11 of the Rockets 19 playoff games. Paddock would score three goals in a four game sweep of Vancouver, would score just once in a four game sweep of Spokane before scoring three times in a five game Western Conference final against Seattle. In the WHL finals against Red Deer, Paddock would score goals in three of the six games, including a two goal effort in the champion series clinching game, leading the Rockets to a 2-0 win and the teams first ever WHL title. Paddock is third all time on the Rockets games played list, and for the third time this season joins a former Rocket in making his mark in the NHL. Mitch Fritz turned the trick late last month with the New York Islanders while Luke Schenn started the season with the Leafs.

Rockets All Time Games Played Leaders:

Name: Games Played
Jason Deleurme 341
Tyler Mosienko 338
Brett Palin 324
Cam Paddock 323
Gavin McLeod 321
Ryan Cuthbert 319

* Mosienko holds the club record for the most playoff games played with 81. Brett Palin is a close second with 75.

No comments: