WHL Kamloops Blazers

Blazers Start Trip in Saskatoon

Published on December 11, 2015 under 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 a12-10-3-1 record this season. The hockey club has played only 26 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 start a six-game road trip against the East Division in Saskatoon on tonight. Following tonight's game the Blazers will be in Prince Albert 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. Saskatoon - Last Season (1-Game Series)

Game 1: 12/02/14, vs. Saskatoon 3, Kamloops 4

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

Vs. Saskatoon - This Season (1-Game Series)

Game 1: 12/11/15, vs. Saskatoon, Kamloops

Blazers are 0-0-0-0 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 and has played 274 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 Blades will meet only once this season. These two teams met in Kamloops in early December last season and former Blade Matt Revel scored the game winning goal in the final minute to give the Blazers a win. Last time the Blazers were in Saskatoon, Carson Bolduc scored twice to give the Blazers a 3-2 win on December 14, 2013.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS 'Who to Watch': The Kamloops Blazers forwards are led by veteran players Matt Needham (7+14!), Deven Sideroff (6+12), Collin Shirley (17+163) and Gage Quinney (12+202) Matt Revel (8+11). 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+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+6=9) 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 (6+9), Spencer Bast (2+2=4) 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+11) is the elder statesmen in his fourth and final season in the WHL. Dallas Valentine (1+7=8) 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+14) has impressed as a 17-year-old playing well at both ends of the ice. Ondrej Vala (2+6=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+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.

SASKATOON BLADES 'Who to Watch': The Blades are a young and exciting team building for the future. Cameron Hebig leads the Blades in goals and points with 12 and 30. Connor Gay is a 20-year-old player who can score. He is just under a point-per-game with 23 points in 26 games. Nick Zajac is another 20-year-old in his fifth season with the Blades. He is a reliable player that is closing in on 300 WHL games. Ryan Graham has nine goals this season after scoring 20 last year. Wyatt Sloboshan is part of a young forward group. The 17-year-old is an offensively skilled player. Nikita Soshnin, Terrell Draude, Luke Gingras and Mason McCarty are all veteran players that add depth to the Blades line-up. Some of the young players on the Blades include 16-year-old forwards Lukus MacKenzie, Logan Christensen, Josh Paterson and Cameron Hausinger. All four players are gaining a lot of experience in their first season. On defense, the Blades made a big move trading 19-year-old Brycen Martin. 20-year-old Mitchell Wheaton is the oldest player on the backend. He was acquired in the offseason from the Kelowna Rockets and has battled injuries throughout his WHL career. Bryton Sayers is a 19-year-old that recently came back to the Blades after starting the season going to school. Nolan Reid and Schael Higson are both 17-year-old players in the second seasons. Reid is offensively gifted, while Higson can play in all situations. Libor Hajek is an exciting 17-year-old that possesses a complete game. He will be a player to watch for the upcoming NHL Draft. Anthony Bishop is in his first WHL season and 16-year-olds Jake Kustra and Jantzen Leslie are both in their first WHL seasons. In goal, the Blades have 18-year-old Brock Hamm who has played 20 games this season. The Blades acquired 18-year-old Evan Smith from the Victoria Royals on Thursday and sent 18-year-old Jake Morrissey to the Vancouver Giants.

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 184 career regular season wins... Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 649 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.

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2015


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