WHL Kamloops Blazers

Final Week in Review

Published on April 23, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


Week in Review:

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 vs. Portland Winterhawks - 5-2 Loss

The Blazers needed this one to have a real shot in the series but special teams did them in with a 5-2 loss. Brad Ross opened the scoring with a power play marker, but Brendan Ranford tied the game up on a breakaway to make it 1-1 through the first period. The Hawks scored two shorthanded goals as Taylor Leier and Ross scored 33 seconds apart to make it 3-1. Colin Smith made it 3-2 with a power play marker late in the second period. The Blazers were done in by Brad Ross as he scored two third period goals and finished with four goals in a 5-2 win for the Hawks. Mac Carruth was terrific in goal with 38 saves while Cam Lanigan turned aside 24 shots. Full Recap and Highlights.

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 vs. Portland Winterhawks - 5-4 Win

The Blazers backs were up against the wall as they trailed 3-0 in the series. Despite going down 4-0 in the first 10:58 of the game, the Blazers came back for a 5-4 win. The Hawks looked to close out the series as goals by Ty Rattie, Derek Pouliot, Cam Reid and another by Pouliot opened the game up early to make it 4-0 for the Hawks. The turning point may have come when JC Lipon laid a heavy hit on Rattie and immediately scored to make it 4-1. Rattie left the game with an injury and didn't return. The game stayed at 4-1 until the last five minutes of the second period. Bronson Maschmeyer walked in and beat goaltender Mac Carruth to make it 4-2. With a minute and a half remaining, Brandon Herrod scored his first goal of the playoffs on a nice feed by Jordan DePape as the Blazers trailed 4-3. Brendan Ranford tied the game up on a rebound with 14 minutes remaining in the third period. Dylan Willick scored a power play marker shortly after to lift the Blazers to a 5-4 win. It was quite the comeback, but the Blazers still had a long ways to go as they trailed 3-1 in the series. Full Recap and Highlights.

Game 5 - Saturday, April 14th, 2012 at Portland Winterhawks - 7-2 Win

The Hawks returned home for Game 5 and were stunned with a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Blazers. Marek Hrbas opened the scoring as his shot fooled everyone for a 1-0 lead. Austin Madaisky sent Jordan DePape on a breakaway and he buried to make it 2-0 for the Blazers after the first period. The Blazers extended the lead early in the second period as Ryan Hanes put home a rebound to make it 3-0. The Hawks got one back on a tic-tac-toe play finished by Brendan Leipsic to make it 3-1. Brendan Ranford scored a power play goal late in the second period to give the Blazers a 4-1 lead after two periods. The Blazers sealed the deal in the first ten minutes of the third period as Tim Bozon, Chase Souto and Jordan DePape each scored to make it a 7-1 game for the Blazers. The Hawks added a goal, but the Blazers cruised to a 7-2 victory in front of 10,135 people at the Rose Garden. Cam Lanigan played great in goal with 34 saves while Mac Carruth was chased out after six goals making 26 stops. The Hawks suffered their worst home ice loss of the year. The Blazers returned home trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Full Recap and Highlights.

Game 6 - Monday, April 16th, 2012 vs. Portland Winterhawks - 7-6 Win

It may go down as one of the most thrilling victories in Kamloops Blazers' history. Five third period goals lifted the Blazers to a 7-6 win. The first period included a plethora of goals as the Hawks took a 3-2 lead. Brendan Ranford and Bronson Maschmeyer each scored for the Blazers. The Hawks were the better team in the second period and scored twice to make it 5-2. The Blazers were again on the brink of elimination, but fought back. Marek Hrbas' point shot found its way past goaltender Mac Carruth at 5:55 into the third period to make it 5-3. Jordan DePape cut it to 5-4 finishing a 3-on-2 at the 8:49 mark of the period. Only 11 seconds later, Chase Souto set up Aspen Sterzer for a goal at the 9:00 mark and the building erupted as the Blazers tied the game at 5-5. At 15:21, the Blazers took the lead when Colin Smith took the puck to the net and stuffed home his own rebound to make it 6-5. The Hawks tied it 26 seconds later as Cam Reid was set up on a nice pass by Brendan Leipsic. Interior Savings Centre erupted one more time for arguably one of the biggest ovations in the buildings history as Bronson Maschmeyer scored with 21 seconds to play to lift the Blazers to a 7-6 victory. The Blazers had remarkably forced a Game 7 after trailing the best-of-seven series 3-0. The fans were ecstatic. After the Blazers left the ice, the fans continued to chant "Let's Go Blazers", and the players returned for a curtain call saluting all 5,080 fans in attendance. It was a moment not soon to be forgotten. Full Recap and Highlights.

Game 7 - Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 at Portland Winterhawks - 2-0 Loss

The Blazers tried to become only the second team in the WHL's 45-year history to come back from a 3-0 series deficit, but fell short in a 2-0 loss in Portland. The Blazers got the start they wanted, but JC Lipon hit the crossbar and the puck stayed out. Shortly after, Marcel Noebels was set up in front of the net and beat goaltender Cam Lanigan for a 1-0 lead. Jordan DePape had a glorious chance in front on the power play but goaltender Mac Carruth made a tremendous save keeping the game at 1-0. Both goaltenders were outstanding in this game. Lipon had a chance on a 2-on-1 in the second period, but Carruth made another save to continue to keep the game at 1-0. The Blazers couldn't muster up another third period comeback, and Brendan Leipsic added a goal to lift the Hawks to a 2-0 victory. Carruth was the game's first star making 32 saves, while Lanigan turned aside 37 shots. It was a disappointing end, but the Blazers came close to almost pulling off the impossible. They left it all on the ice. Full Recap and Highlights.

WHL Western Conference Semi-Final:

Game 1 - Friday, April 6th Kamloops 3 @ Portland 5 (Memorial Coliseum)

Game 2 - Saturday, April 7th Kamloops 1 @ Portland 4 (Memorial Coliseum)

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 10th Portland 5 @ Kamloops 2

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 11th Portland 4 @ Kamloops 5

Game 5 - Saturday, April 14th Kamloops 7 @ Portland 2 (Rose Garden)

Game 6 - Monday, April 16th Portland 6 @ Kamloops 7

Game 7 - Wednesday, April 18th Kamloops 0 @ Portland 2 (Memorial Coliseum)

Winterhawks win best-of-seven series 4-3.

Kamloops Blazers BlackBerry App

The Kamloops Blazers launched a free mobile App for the iPhone and Android devices back in December. A free BlackBerry App is also now available for all BlackBerry users. Follow this link to download the Kamloops Blazers BlackBerry App. The Official Kamloops Blazers App include the latest scores, news, standings, roster and statistics.

Fans can also download the App for other devices by clicking these links for the iPhone App or the Android Marketplace.

2012-2013 Kamloops Blazers Season Tickets

2012-2013 Kamloops Blazers season tickets are now available.

For more details on season tickets, please contact Director of Ticketing, Todd Carnelley by email at tcarnelley@blazerhockey.com or by phone at 250-828-1144.

Blazers' Ranford Player of the Week

Forward Brendan Ranford was named the WHL Player of the Week for the week of April 9th - April 15th. The 19-year-old forward picked up six points in three games last week.

Kamloops Blazers Hockey School August 2012

The 2012 Kamloops Blazers Hockey School is open for registration! Download the registration form by following this link. If there are any questions pertaining to Hockey School give Ashley Neuls a call at the Kamloops Blazers office at 250-828-1144.

Team Leaders Playoffs - Final:

Goals - Jordan DePape (7)

Assists - Brandon Herrod (10)

Points -Brendan Ranford (14)

+/- - Bronson Maschmeyer (+6)

Rookies - Matt Needham (7)

PIM - JC Lipon (20)

GAA - Cole Cheveldave (3.01)

SV % - Cole Cheveldave (.903)

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2012


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