Blazers Continue Trip in Regina
December 15, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
CHRISTMAS IS COMING: 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 7th in the Western Conference with a 14-10-3-1 record this season. The hockey club has played only 28 games this season, which is the lowest in the WHL. The Blazers schedule will pick up in the second half as they play 14 games in January and 14 more in February. The Blazers have started a six-game road trip with wins in Saskatoon and Prince Albert this past weekend. Following tonight's game the Blazers will travel to Brandon for a game tomorrow night. The trip will end in Swift Current on Saturday, December 19th. The Blazers will return after the Christmas break with a home game on December 27th against Kelowna.
Vs. Regina - Last Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 11/28/14, vs. Regina 7, Kamloops 3
Blazers were 0-1-0-0 in season series
Vs. Regina - This Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 12/15/15, at Regina, Kamloops
Blazers are 0-0-0-0 in season series
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 23 players (2 goaltenders, 8 defensemen and 13 forwards). The roster includes 12 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, six players via trade, three players from the free agent list, and two players 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, one from Slovakia, and one 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 276 career games with the Blazers... Ryan Rehill is 17th all-time on the Blazers penalty minute list with 470 career minutes... Matt Needham collected his 200th career point with an assist on November 27th in Prince George... 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 Pats are meeting for the only time this season tonight. These two teams last met in Kamloops in November 2014 with the Pats outscoring the Blazers 7-3. The last time the Blazers were in Regina was December 11, 2013. Matt Needham had two goals and an assist in a 4-3 shootout win.
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS 'Who to Watch': The Kamloops Blazers forwards are led by veteran players Matt Needham (7+18%), Deven Sideroff (8+13!), Collin Shirley (20+177) and Gage Quinney (13+236) Matt Revel (9+13"). 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 (8+5) is in his third WHL season and has provided secondary scoring in a more prominent role. Jake Kryski (4+12) and Quinn Benjafield (3+7) are entering their second seasons as 17-year-olds. They have proved to be regular contributors. Matt Campese (3+3=6) has stepped into a larger role this season moving up and down the line-up. Jermaine Loewen (3+3=6) still has time to grow and develop. Garrett Pilon (8+10), Spencer Bast (2+3=5) 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 (3+12) is the elder statesmen in his fourth and final season in the WHL. Dallas Valentine (1+8=9) 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. He is currently unavailable as he participates in Team Slovakia's Under-20 camp for the World Junior Championships in Finland. Cam Reagan (0+1=1) had limited ice time last season, but has started to play regularly this year. Dawson Davidson (4+15) has impressed as a 17-year-old playing well at both ends of the ice. Ondrej Vala (3+6=9) 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+4=5) and Conner McDonald (0+1=1) 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.
REGINA PATS 'Who to Watch': The Pats are a young team, that has some similarities to the Blazers. Adam Brooks is a 19-year-old forward in his fourth WHL season. He leads the Pats in all offensive categories with 15 goals and 41 points. Sam Steel is a talented 17-year-old to watch. He is at a point-per-game pace with 32 points in 32 games. Austin Wagner is a big and quick forward that is drafted by the Los Angeles Kings. Lane Zablocki and Adam Berg are a pair of rookies with Junior A experience. They are both having solid rookie seasons and are having some NHL Draft consideration. Taylor Cooper is a 20-year-old off to a slow start with only 11 points. The Pats have some depth in veteran 18-year-olds Colton Kroeker and Rykr Cole. Aaron Macklin is a former Blazer and a 20-year-old forward on the roster. Jake Leschyshyn is a promising 16-year-old who plays a lot of minutes for the Blazers. Jared McAmmond, Jake Elmer, Luc Smith and Sean Richards are some other forwards on the roster. On defense, the Pats are led by 20-year-old captain Colby Williams. Williams has battled injuries this season, but has eight points in nine games. Connor Hobbs is a big and mobile right-handed shot defenseman. He has a hard shot and has 10 goals and 19 points in 26 games. Chase Harrison is a veteran in his third season. He has contributed with 15 points this season. Sergei Zborovskiy is another good defenseman, but is with Russia at the World Junior Championships. James Hilsendager is a big and solid presence on the backend. Brady Pouteau and Jared Freadrich are two solid 17-year-olds in their first WHL season. Nikolai Knyzhov is a first year defenseman from Russia. In goal, the Pats have a young combination in 18-year-old Tyler Brown and 16-year-old Jordan Hollett. Brown is in his second season and has taken over the starting role. Hollett is a first round pick of the Pats and is proving he can play well at only 16.
NHL DRAFT: Ryan Rehill (New Jersey, 5th round, 131st overall in 2014), Deven Sideroff (Anaheim, 3rd round, 84th overall in 2015).
INJURY REPORT: None. Man games lost due to injury - 36.
DID YOU KNOW... Don Hay is 2nd in franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (291) with 186 career regular season wins... Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 651 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... Patrik Maier is with Team Slovakia for the Under-20 World Junior Championships in Finland.
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Western Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2015
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- Rockets Top Swift Current 6-3 - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Announce Teddy Bear Toss Totals - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Helewka Suspended Six Games - Spokane Chiefs
- Game 32: December 15 vs. Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blazers Continue Trip in Regina - Kamloops Blazers
- Game Notes: Broncos Host Rockets - Swift Current Broncos
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