WHL Kamloops Blazers

Blazers Continue Trip in Medicine Hat

Published on January 13, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


THE SECOND HALF: The Kamloops Blazers franchise is in their 35th season in the Western Hockey League and the 32nd season as the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers are fourth in the B.C. Division and 5th in the Western Conference with a 21-14-4-2 record this season. The Blazers went 3-0-0-1 last week beating Portland twice on the road and Tri-City at home. The Blazers start a three game trip in Alberta tonight. The Blazers will be in Lethbridge on Friday night and in Edmonton on Sunday. Following this trip, the Blazers will return home for a game on Wednesday against Everett before playing a doubleheader in Prince George next weekend. It is a busy schedule for the Blazers in January and February as they will play 28 games over 60 days.

Vs. Medicine Hat - This Season (2-Game Series)

Game 1: 12/05/15, at Medicine Hat 5, Kamloops 4

Game 2: 01/13/16, at Medicine Hat, Kamloops

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

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 23 players (2 goaltenders, 7 defensemen and 14 forwards). The roster includes 12 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, seven players via trade, three players from the free agent list, and one player selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes 10 players from B.C., four from Alberta, five from Saskatchewan, one from Manitoba, one from USA, and two from Czech Republic. There are 16 WHL veterans on the roster and seven WHL rookies.

BY THE NUMBERS: Matt Needham is the Blazers longest tenured player first suiting up for the hockey club during the 2010-11 season and has played 288 career games with the Blazers... Jake Kryski played his 100th WHL game December 28th in Kelowna... Ryan Rehill is 15th all-time on the Blazers penalty minute list with 481 career minutes... Matt Needham collected his 200th career point with an assist on November 27th in Prince George... 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 Tigers are meeting for the second time this season. Tigers were in Kamloops to start the month of December and beat the Blazers 5-4. Last season, the Blazers lost both games they played in Medicine Hat. This will be the first game for the Blazers at the Tigers new facility, the Canalta Centre.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS 'Who to Watch': The Kamloops Blazers forwards are led by veteran players Matt Needham (12+279), Deven Sideroff (11+212), Collin Shirley (26+24P), Gage Quinney (15+249), and Matt Revel (12+180). Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets in October, but is out due to injury. Needham, Shirley and Revel are all players entering their fourth or fifth seasons in the WHL. Nick Chyzowski (10+7) is in his third WHL season and has provided secondary scoring in a more prominent role. Jake Kryski (8+14") and Quinn Benjafield (4+8) are in their second seasons as 17-year-olds. They have proved to be regular contributors. Matt Campese (5+3=8) has stepped into a larger role this season moving up and down the line-up. Jermaine Loewen (5+3=8) still has time to grow and develop. Garrett Pilon (10+15%), Spencer Bast (2+6=8) and Erik Miller (1+3=4) are all in their first seasons with the hockey club. Pilon has been terrific as a versatile player moving up and down the line-up. Ryan Rehill (6+16") is the elder statesmen in his fourth and final season in the WHL. Dallas Valentine (2+9) was acquired from Moose Jaw in October, but is out with an injury. 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. He is currently unavailable as he participates in Team Slovakia's Under-20 camp for the World Junior Championships in Finland. Cam Reagan (0+3=3) had limited ice time last season, but has started to play regularly this year. Dawson Davidson (4+18") has impressed as a 17-year-old playing well at both ends of the ice. Ondrej Vala (3+8) 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+5=6) and Conner McDonald (0+2=2) are a pair of 16-year-olds that are in their first season of patrolling the backend. In goal, Connor Ingram solidified himself as the Blazers starter last season and the 18-year-old is continuing his strong play. Dylan Ferguson is the back-up and the 17-year-old has impressed in his opportunities this season.

MEDICINE HAT TIGERS 'Who to Watch': The Tigers are having a tough season, but are still in the playoff hunt as they sit ninth in the Eastern Conference. Chad Butcher, who is from Kamloops, is the Tigers leading scorer with 40 points in 40 games. He is in his fourth WHL season. Steven Owre is another impact player, but has been limited by injuries. Max Gerlach and Mason Shaw are a pair of promising 17-year-olds. Gerlach was recruited from Texas and leads the team in goals with 22. Shaw missed most of last season with injuries, but is a hard-working and skilled forward. He has 34 points this season. Matt Bradley is the only drafted player on the roster. The 18-year-old had a solid rookie season and has picked up his pace with 14 goals. Mark Rassell and Alex Mowbray are both 19-year-old veterans that are relied on for secondary scoring. Caleb Fantillo and Ryan Jevne are in their first WHL seasons as 17-year-olds. James Hamblin and Tyler Preziuso are both 16-year-olds. On defense, Clayton Kirichenko and Ty Stanton are the veterans. Both log a lot of minutes and can contribute at both ends of the ice. David Quenneville is a 17-year-old with a lot of talent. He is undersized, but makes up for it with his skating and intelligence. Connor Clouston is a 19-year-old who started his career with the Blazers. Ty Schultz and Brad Forrest are both experienced 18-year-olds. In goal, the Tigers have two good options in 18-year-old Nick Schneider and 20-year-old Mack Shields. Schneider is signed by the Calgary Flames and Shields is in his fourth WHL season.

NHL DRAFT: Ryan Rehill (New Jersey, 5th round, 131st overall in 2014), Deven Sideroff (Anaheim, 3rd round, 84th overall in 2015).

INJURY REPORT: Gage Quinney, Lower Body, week-to-week, Dallas Valentine, Upper Body, day-to-day, Dawson Davidson, Lower Body, week-to-week. Man games lost due to injury - 61.

DID YOU KNOW... Don Hay is 2nd in franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (291) with 193 career regular season wins... Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 658 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... Jiri Smejkal was acquired from Moose Jaw on January 10th for Patrik Maier and a 5th 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... 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

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2016


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