NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Kamloops Blazers

Blazers Beat Cougars 5-4 in a Shootout

November 18, 2012 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


It may not have been how the Kamloops Blazers (19-5-0-1) planned it, but they still found a way as Cole Ully and JC Lipon each scored twice and Lipon added the shootout winner to give the Blazers a 5-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars (7-11-1-3). Colin Smith added two assists, while Cole Cheveldave made 27 saves for his 14th victory of the season.

The first period was a scoreless period as the Blazers outshot the Cougars 11-8. There was not a lot of offense generated both ways as both goaltenders were solid in the early going.

The game opened up in the second period and the Cougars scored a goal 43 seconds in. Daulton Siwak found Jari Ericsson in front of the net as his shot slid by Cheveldave to make it 1-0. Colin Jacobs made it 2-0 on the power play. He took a pass from behind the net and pulled it to his backhand roofing it for his eighth goal of the season. The Blazers came back to tie it as Colin Smith and JC Lipon combined for a beauty. Smith was patient drawing everyone's attention before giving it to a wide open JC Lipon who buried his WHL leading 20th goal of the season to make it 2-1. Cole Ully knotted things up as he took a great feed from Brendan Ranford and roofed it for his seventh goal of the season with 3:11 to go in the second period. The game remained tied at 2-2 going into the third period.

The Blazers took their first lead of the game 3:36 into the final frame as Cole Ully scored a power play marker to give the Blazers a 3-2 lead. The Cougars battled back and tied it up with 8:57 to go as Chase Witala put home a rebound for his third goal of the season. Former Blazer and Kamloops native Ryan Hanes gave the Cougars a lead with just over seven minutes to go. He walked out from behind the net and put a backhand past Cheveldave on the power play to give the Cougars a 4-3 lead. The Blazers veterans pulled through once again as Colin Smith set up JC Lipon for his 21st goal and 50th point of the season with 4:35 left to go in the game.

Smith and Lipon were roughed up in the dying seconds of the third period which gave the Blazers a power play to start overtime. The Blazers had a couple of good opportunities on the power play but did not score, and the game went to a shootout.

In the shootout, Brendan Ranford was the first shooter and buried. After Cole Cheveldave stopped the Cougars first two shooters and Mac Engel stopped the Blazers other two shooters, Daulton Siwak kept the Cougars alive beating Cheveldave. Tim Bozon of the Blazers and Colin Jacobs of the Cougars were both stopped in the fourth round. JC Lipon scored in the fifth round of the shootout and Cheveldave stopped Jordan Tkatch to give the Blazers a 5-4 win.

JC Lipon surpassed his career high in goals from last season (19) with his WHL leading 20th and 21st of the season. Lipon and Colin Smith continue to lead the WHL scoring race with 50 and 49 points apiece through the first 25 games.

Following the game, the Blazers along with 20-year-old Jordan DePape announced his retirement from junior hockey. The fourth year Blazer will undergo a second shoulder surgery and plans to attend the University of Manitoba. For more, follow this link.

The Blazers continue their home stand on Wednesday night as they host the Regina Pats.

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...

Western Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central