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Kamloops Blazers

Blazers Meet Giants Tonight

October 17, 2014 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


THE START OF THE SEASON: The Kamloops Blazers franchise is in their 34th season in the Western Hockey League and the 31st season as the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers has a record of 6-4-1-0 this season. Cole Ully and Matt Needham lead the Blazers in scoring with 16 and 13 points so far this season. The Blazers are on the road for two games this weekend as they are in Vancouver tonight and in Seattle Saturday night.

Vs. Vancouver - This Season (8-Game Series)

Game 1: 10/18/13, at Vancouver 5, Kamloops 1

Game 2: 10/27/13, vs. Vancouver 4, Kamloops 1

Game 3: 11/02/13, vs. Vancouver 4, Kamloops 3 SO

Game 4: 12/29/13, vs. Vancouver 4, Kamloops 3

Game 5: 01/17/14, vs. Vancouver 6, Kamloops 2

Game 6: 01/29/14, at Vancouver 5, Kamloops 3

Game 7: 02/16/14, at Vancouver 7, Kamloops 2

Game 8: 03/05/14, at Vancouver 2, Kamloops 1

Blazers are 0-7-0-1 in season series

Vs. Vancouver - This Season (8-Game Series)

Game 1: 10/17/14, at Vancouver, Kamloops

Game 2: 10/22/14, vs. Vancouver, Kamloops

Game 3: 12/30/14, at Vancouver, Kamloops

Game 4: 01/03/15, vs. Vancouver, Kamloops

Game 5: 01/17/15, vs. Vancouver, Kamloops

Game 6: 01/31/15, at Vancouver, Kamloops

Game 7: 02/21/15, at Vancouver, Kamloops

Game 8: 02/28/15, vs. Vancouver, Kamloops

Blazers are 0-0-0-0 in season series

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 24 players (2 goaltenders, 8 defensemen and 14 forwards). The roster includes 11 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, six players via trade, five players from the free agent list, and two players selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes eight from Alberta, eight players from B.C., five from Saskatchewan, two from Manitoba, one from Slovakia, and one from Switzerland. There are 14 WHL veterans on the roster and 11 WHL rookies. Six of those rookies spent time with the Blazers throughout the regular season last year.

GAUDET AND McVEIGH RETURN: Brady Gaudet and Logan McVeigh have been reunited with the Kamloops Blazers. Both were selected by the hockey club in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft and played together as 16-year-olds with the Blazers. Both players ended up being traded away, but now both have returned after Gaudet was acquired from the Rebels back in May and McVeigh was picked up on waivers earlier today.

THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Giants will meet eight times this season. These two teams will only meet twice in the first half of the season, with the second meeting going this Wednesday in Kamloops. The Blazers were 0-7-0-1 last season against the Giants after going 7-1-0-0 in the 2012-13 season.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS 'Who to Watch': The Kamloops Blazers offensive leaders are a year older as the hockey club returned virtually all of their top scorers from last season. Cole Ully (8+816) and Matt Needham (5+813) are the longest tenured Blazers up front. They are both leading the way in all offensive categories. 20-year-old Mike Winther (3+58) was acquired from the Calgary Hitmen and has added some offense to the hockey club. The trade acquisitions last season of Collin Shirley (2+24) and Matt Revel (4+59) have added some secondary scoring to rely on for the Blazers. 20-year-old Logan McVeigh (0+00) was added today to add more depth up front. Jesse Shynkaruk (1+34) and Luke Harrison (0+22) provide leadership and added depth up front. Sophomore forward Nick Chyzowski (2+13) will still have time to fine tune his game and be counted on as a two-way player. Jake Kryski (4+59) and Deven Sideroff (4+59) have already shown the ability to contribute at this level and are playing on the Blazers top two lines. Jesse Zaharichuk (0+33) has had a solid start for the hockey club. Jermaine Loewen (0+00), Spencer Bast (0+00), and Quinn Benjafield (0+22) are the other forwards on the roster. All three are 16 or 17 and will have time to grow and develop. On defence, the Blazers have had some big changes from last season. The additions of 20-year-old Brady Gaudet (1+34), 19-year-old import Michael Fora (1+56) and 18-year-old import Patrik Maier (0+11) has added size and offense to the defense. Gaudet is a fifth year player who started his WHL career in Kamloops. He will be counted on to add leadership in the dressing room and to play in all situations. Fora and Maier are two additions that have made the transition to the WHL quicker than most import players due to their physical stature and age. The return of 19-year-olds Ryan Rehill (0+22) and Josh Connolly (3+36) solidifies the backend. Connor Clouston (0+11) will have his opportunity to fit into the top-6 and play a regular shift this season. Cam Reagan (0+00) and Travis Verveda (0+00) are both capable 17-year-old players that will need to establish themselves to earn ice time. In goal, Cole Kehler (2-1-1-0, 2.99, .906) returns after spending part of last season with the Blazers as a 16-year-old. Kehler has had two very good seasons with the Okanagan Hockey Academy Midget Prep team. Connor Ingram (0-1-0-0, 4.40, .884) is the third goaltender on the Blazers roster and has impressed. Both are 17-year-olds and are ready to compete for the #1 job.

VANCOUVER GIANTS 'Who to Watch': The Giants have a strong core of veteran players returning this season. Dalton Sward, Joel Hamilton and Matt Bellerive are the 20-year-olds on the Giants roster. All three players are into their fifth WHL season. Carter Popoff is the offensive leader for the Giants. He broke out last season as an 18-year-old and is poised to be at least a point-per-game player. Jackson Houck is a big rugged forward who has been drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. He's a guy that regularly puts the puck in the net. Thomas Foster is into his third WHL season and has shown he can be a reliable two-way player. The Giants have a young core of rookie players led by 16-year-old Tyler Benson. Benson was the first overall pick in the 2013 WHL Draft. Alec Baer, David Brumm, Jesse Roach and Ty Ronning are part of a strong group of 17-year-old forwards. On defense, Mason Geersten, Arvin Atwal and Tyler Morrison are the veteran leaders for the Giants. Clayton Kirichenko, Shaun Dosanjh and Dmitry Osipov are three 18-year-old players that add depth to the Giants. Brennan Menell and Ryely McKinstry are the two young players on the roster. The Giants are down to two goaltenders with Payton Lee and Cody Porter as their two goaltenders. Lee is 18 and into his third season and Porter starts his first season with the Giants.

NHL DRAFT: Cole Ully (Dallas, 5th round, 131st overall in 2013), Ryan Rehill (New Jersey, 5th round, 131st overall in 2014).

INJURY REPORT: Luke Harrison, Upper Body, day-to-day. Man games lost due to injury - 8.

DID YOU KNOW ... Mike Needham has been named the Blazers new Assistant Coach replacing Mark Ferner who left the team in September to join the Vernon Vipers as their GM/Head Coach... Terry Bangen and Chris Murray have been added to the staff as part-time Assistant Coaches... Don Hay is now back in 2nd in franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (291) and passing Guy Charron (147) with 150 career regular season wins... Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 615 regular season wins... 20-year-old Mike Winther was acquired in late September from the Calgary Hitmen and has 7 points in 7 games... 16-year-old forward Jake Kryski was acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders back in July 10, 2013 for former goaltender Cole Cheveldave... Collin Shirley and Matt Revel were both acquired last season in exchange for former players Tim Bozon and Jordan Thomson... Jermaine Loewen was born in Jamaica and has only been playing hockey for six years... Jake Kryski has been named to Team Red for one of three teams Canada will send to the U-17 World Challenge in Sarnia, Ontario at October 31 - November 8... Matt Needham's father Mike played for the Blazers from 1986-1990... Nick Chyzowski's father Dave played for the Blazers from 1987-1990...

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