Sports stats



WHL Kamloops Blazers

Blazers and Cougars on Shaw Saturday

November 28, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


NOVEMBER COMING TO A CLOSE: The Kamloops Blazers franchise is in their 35th season in the Western Hockey League and the 32nd season as the Kamloops Blazers. After starting the season 0-6-0-0, the Blazers are 11-2-3 over their past 16 games and have improved their 11-8-3-0 this season. The hockey club played only 11 games in October and is playing only 10 games in November. In comparison, the Blazers will play 14 games in January and February. Following this weekend, the Blazers will be home for three games to start December against Kootenay, Portland and Medicine Hat. After that, the Blazers will hit the road for their 6-game East Division road trip.

Vs. Prince George - This Season (8-Game Series)

Game 1: 10/28/15, vs. Prince George 1, Kamloops 6

Game 2: 11/07/15, vs. Prince George 2, Kamloops 5

Game 3: 11/15/15, vs. Prince George 1, Kamloops 9

Game 4: 11/27/15, at Prince George 3, Kamloops 4 SO

Game 5: 11/28/15, at Prince George, Kamloops

Game 6: 01/06/16, vs. Prince George, Kamloops

Game 7: 01/22/16, at Prince George, Kamloops

Game 8: 01/23/16, at Prince George, Kamloops

Game 9: 03/18/16, vs. Prince George, Kamloops

Game 10: 03/19/16, at Prince George, Kamloops

Blazers are 4-0-0-0 in season series

BY THE NUMBERS: Matt Needham is the Blazers longest tenured player first suiting up for the hockey club during the 2010-11 season... Ryan Rehill is 17th all-time on the Blazers penalty minute list with 464 career minutes... Matt Needham has 200 career points in 270 career games with the Blazers... Collin Shirley recorded his 100th career WHL point with a goal on October 21st versus Victoria... Matt Revel recorded his 100th career WHL point with an assist versus Victoria on October 21st... Collin Shirley recorded his first career 5-point game versus Prince George on November 15th... Gage Quinney recorded his first career WHL hat-trick versus Prince George on November 15th...

THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Cougars are meeting 10 times this season. The Blazers have won the first four match-ups. They won in Kamloops 6-1 on October 28th, 5-2 on November 7th, and 9-1 on November 15th. Last night, the Blazers won 4-3 in a shootout. The Cougars will be back in Kamloops on January 6th and March 18th. The Blazers will be back in Prince George on January 22nd and 23rd and for one final time on March 19th.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS 'Who to Watch': The Kamloops Blazers forwards are led by veteran players Matt Needham (5+10), Deven Sideroff (4+8), Collin Shirley (16+13)) and Gage Quinney (10+15%) Matt Revel (5+10). Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets in October. Needham, Shirley and Revel are all players entering their fourth or fifth seasons in the WHL. Nick Chyzowski (7+4) is in his third WHL season and has provided secondary scoring in a more prominent role. Jake Kryski (4+10) and Quinn Benjafield (2+6=8) are entering their second seasons as 17-year-olds. They have proved to be regular contributors. The Blazers have watched 18-year-olds Jesse Zaharichuk (4+9) and Matt Campese (3+2=5) step into bigger roles this year. Jermaine Loewen (2+3=5) still has time to grow and develop. Garrett Pilon (6+8), Spencer Bast (1+2=3) and Erik Miller (0+1=1) are all entering their first seasons with the hockey club. Pilon has been terrific as a versatile player. Ryan Rehill (2+10) is the elder statesmen in his fourth and final season in the WHL. Dallas Valentine (1+5=6) was acquired from Moose Jaw in October. He has given the hockey club a veteran presence. 19-year-old import Patrik Maier (2+1=3) is in his second season with the hockey club. Cam Reagan (0+0=0) had limited ice time last season, but has started to play regularly this year. Dawson Davidson (3+14) has impressed as a 17-year-old playing well at both ends of the ice. Ondrej Vala (2+5=7) is the hockey club's newest import player from the Czech Republic. The 17-year-old possesses size at 6'4" and a solid two way game. Nolan Kneen (1+3=4) and Conner McDonald (0+0=0) are a pair of 16-year-olds that are in their first season of patrolling the backend this season. In goal, Connor Ingram solidified himself as the Blazers starter last season and the 18-year-old is continuing his strong. Dylan Ferguson has earned the back-up role and the 17-year-old has impressed in his opportunities this season.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS 'Who to Watch': The Cougars are a young and exciting team with plenty of scoring threats up front. Chase Witala is a returning 20-year-old who is amongst the Cougars scoring leaders. Jesse Gabrielle was acquired from Regina in the off-season and has 14 goals in 23 games. Brad Morrison and Jansen Harkins are a pair of NHL drafted 18-year-olds. They are both scoring threats for the Cougars. Brogan O'Brien is a first year player to watch. The 18-year-old has 19 points already this season. Kody McDonald and Colby McAuley are reliable role players that play hard and add some scoring depth. Jared Bethune is entering his second season and should be a key contributor for the Cougars. Bartek Bison is a first year player from the Netherlands. Aaron Boyd and Jordan Ross are a couple of returnees who are looking for more ice time this season. Kolby Johnson and Justin Almedia are first year forwards. On defence, Sam Ruopp is the team captain and will face the opposition's top line most nights. Tate Olson is an NHL pick of the Vancouver Canucks. He has 13 points in 17 games to start the season. Josh Anderson is a NHL draft eligible defenseman. He possess size at 6'3" and 215lbs and also had five assists in 17 games. Joseph Carvalho is a 20-year-old puck moving defenseman. Shane Collins and Shaun Dosanjh are both players looking for regular ice time. Joel Lakusta and Max Martin are both first year defensemen. The Cougars have two veteran goaltenders on their roster in 19-year-old Ty Edmonds and 18-year-old Nick McBride. Edmonds is in his third season with the Cougars, while McBride was just acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders.

DID YOU KNOW... Don Hay is 2nd in franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (291) with 183 career regular season wins... Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 648 regular season wins... Stu MacGregor took over as the Blazers General Manager on October 13th as Craig Bonner stepped down to become a Pro Scout with the Dallas Stars... Gage Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets on October 14th in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick... Forwards Collin Shirley and Deven Sideroff played for Team WHL at the CHL Canada Russia Series... Shirley had a team leading five points and Sideroff had two points in two games... Defenseman Nolan Kneen played for Canada's Under-17 National Team at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek in October/November... Forward Deven Sideroff won a Bronze Medal with Canada's Under-18 National team in Switzerland this past April... Defenseman Ryan Rehill (New Jersey), Forward Deven Sideroff (Anaheim), and goaltender Connor Ingram (Detroit) all attended NHL training camps in September... Kamloops hosted the second game of the CHL Canada vs. Russia Series on November 10th with Team WHL beating Team Russia 4-2... Jermaine Loewen was born in Jamaica and has only been playing hockey for seven years... Matt Needham's father Mike played for the Blazers from 1986-1990... Nick Chyzowski's father Dave played for the Blazers from 1987-1990...

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2015


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