WHL Kamloops Blazers

Blazers Week in Review November 15

Published on November 15, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


Week in Review:

Saturday, November 13th, 2010 vs. Kelowna Rockets - 4-0 WIN

A terrific all around game from the Blazers led to a 4-0 victory at home Saturday night. A scoreless first period was quite entertaining as both goaltenders, Jeff Bosch and Adam Brown, played well while Shayne Neigum and JC Lipon got involved physically with first period fights. The Blazers got into some penalty trouble early in the second period. The penalty killing unit was terrific though in killing off three consecutive 5-on-3 man advantages as the game remained scoreless through the first half of the period. Brendan Ranford opened it up with under four minutes to play as he fired in his 18th goal of the season for a 1-0 lead. Chase Schaber then made it 2-0 on the powerplay and Colin Smith finished off a nifty play with less than two minutes left in the period to give the Blazers a 3-0 lead going into the third period. The hockey club had their best period in the third as they outshot their opponents 13-3 and Ranford contributed with his league leading 19th goal of the season to win 4-0. Jeff Bosch earned the win and his second shutout of his season as he stopped all 23 shots he faced. The Blazers were dynamite on the special teams going 2-for-3 on the powerplay and 7-for-7 on the penalty kill.

Sunday, November 14th, 2010 vs. Everett Silvertips - 3-1 WIN

The Blazers followed up a solid effort last night with another great effort as they took down the Everett Silvertips 3-1. The Blazers got on the scoreboard twice in the first period as Jordan DePape finished off two powerplay goals after some great work by Brendan Ranford and Chase Schaber to give the home team a 2-0 lead through the first period. Although the Silvertips were playing their third game in as many nights, they were relentless on the puck most of the night but goaltender Jeff Bosch was up to the task. Bosch made some dandy saves in the second period, but Kellan Tochkin got one through Bosch to make it a 2-1 hockey game heading into the third period. The Blazers played shutdown hockey in the third period as they made it tough for Everett to gain their zone and Brendan Ranford got the insurance marker with his league leading 20th goal of the season to make it a 3-1 final. Goaltender Jeff Bosch was fantastic, following a shutout the night before, as he stopped 38 of 39 shots in his direction. The Blazers were tremendous on the powerplay going 2-for-2 on the night, while they went 1-for-2 on the penalty kill. Final shots on goal were 39-26 for the Silvertips.

Subway Super Series Game 5 at Kamloops Wednesday, November 17th

The city of Kamloops will be hosting Game 5 of the Subway Super Series on Wednesday. The Kamloops Blazers will be represented by Chase Schaber, Austin Madaisky and Brendan Ranford, who leads the WHL with 20 goals. Head Coach Guy Charron and Trainer Colin Robinson will also be on Team WHL's staff. There will be four NHL first round draft picks and potential 2011 and 2012 first overall NHL picks in forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and defenseman Ryan Murray. To get your tickets call the Box office at 250-828-3339 or online at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/Subway-Super-Series-Team-WHL-vs-Team-Russia-tickets/artist/1496572).

Schaber, Madaisky, Ranford on Team WHL

The Kamloops Blazers will be well represented when they host a Subway Super Series game this Wednesday, November 17th. The team's captain Chase Schaber who has 28 points in 21 games this season and 18-year-old defenseman Austin Madaisky, leading the defensemen with 13 points in 21 games, will both play for Team WHL. Both players were acquired from the Calgary Hitmen at the trade deadline last season. The WHL added Brendan Ranford to the roster of Team WHL late last week. The 18-year-old has been terrific to start the season with 33 points in 21 games to sit 3rd in WHL scoring. Ranford is leading the WHL with 20 goals in only 21 games. The Subway Super Series features the Western Hockey League's best competing against the Team Russia Selects. This event is the last opportunity to identify players to be invited to the Canadian National Junior Team Evaluation Camp in preparation for the upcoming World Junior Championships.

Team WHL will also have some familiar faces on the bench. Kamloops Blazers' Head Coach Guy Charron will serve as an Assistant Coach along with Calgary Hitmen Head Coach Mike Williamson. Ryan Huska, who coaches the Kelowna Rockets, will be Team WHL's Head Coach. The Kamloops Blazers' Athletic Trainer Colin Robinson will serve as a Trainer for the game in Kamloops.

Ranford WHL Player of the Week

Brendan Ranford was named the WHL player of the week after a terrific weekend on the ice. He led the team to a 2-0-0-0 record and had 3 goals, 3 assists for 6 points in the 2 games. The 18-year-old leads the league in goals with 20 and is 3rd in points with 33 in 21 games. The last time a Blazers player was the WHL player of the week? CJ Stretch in November 2008 when he had 1 goal, 8 assists for 9 points in 4 games.

Streaks and Leaders

Brendan Ranford has 33 points in 21 games so far this year which puts him 3rd in the WHL and his 20 goals lead the league. His line mate Chase Schaber has 28 points this season which has him in a tie for 13th in WHL scoring. Jordan DePape has been streaking lately with 10 points in his last 4 games. The Winnipeg native has scored 7 goals this season, 4 of them have been game winners.

Bosch WHL Goaltender of the Week

The WHL has nominated Jeff Bosch of the Kamloops Blazers for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Bosch posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week with one shut-out, stopping 61 of 62 shots faced for a 0.500 goals-against average and 0.984 save percentage. Bosch, a native of Martensville, SK, back stopped the Blazers to a 4-0 win over the Kelowna Rockets and a 3-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips. The last time a Blazers goalie was nominated? Justin Leclerc was the CHL goaltender of the week in November 2007.

Prospect Update: Matthew Needham, Cody Depourcq, Jeff Kennedy

All three prospects play on the Okanagan Hockey Academy Midget Prep Team. Matthew Needham was the Blazers 1st round pick, 8th overall in the 2010 Bantam Draft. The 1995 born forward is 4th in team scoring with 10 goals, 13 assists and 23 points this season. Cody Depourcq, a 1995 born forward who the Blazers listed in September, is tied for the team's lead in scoring with 16 goals, 12 assists and 28 points. Jeff Kennedy, a 1994 forward from Terrace, BC, is tied with Depourcq with 11 goals, 17 assists and 28 points. To get more information on all three players, and the rest of the Blazers prospects, go to this link, http://blazerhockey.com/page/in-the-system

On The Road

The Blazers will hit the road Thursday for two games this upcoming weekend. The Blazers are visiting the Everett Silvertips (8-8-1-3) on Friday night for the second time this season. The Blazers lost 4-2 in Everett on October 1st and won 3-1 at home against Everett on November 14th. The Blazers will then travel down the I-5 and visit the Portland Winterhawks (17-3-0-1) for the first time this year. The Blazers lost 8-6 at home to the Hawks on October 15th.

Team Leaders:

Goals - Brendan Ranford (20)

Assists - Chase Schaber (20)

Points - Brendan Ranford (33)

+/- - Tyler Hansen (+6)

Rookies - Logan McVeigh, Corey Fienhage (3)

PIM - Shayne Neigum (55)

GAA - Jeff Bosch (3.45)

SV % - Jeff Bosch (.895)

Injury Report

Josh Caron, Broken Collar-Bone, 2-3 weeks

Community Service

Monday, November 15th

- Aberdeen Elementary School Visit

- Special Olympics Floor Hockey 7pm - Brocklehurst Gymnasium

Tuesday, November 16th

- EDGE Savona Elementary School

Wednesday, Novembver 17th

- School visit Barriere Elementary

- EDGE AE Perry Elementary

Schedule:

Monday, November 15th, Blazers vs. Special Olympians, 7pm Brock Gym

Tuesday, November 16th, Practice 2:00-4pm ISC

Wednesday, November 17th, Subway Super Series Team WHL vs. Russia Selects 7pm, ISC - Blazers Practice 2:00-4pm, Memorial

Thursday, November 18th, Practice 10:00-11am Memorial, Depart 1pm Everett

Friday, November 19h, Blazers @ Everett Silvertips, 7pm Comcast Arena

Saturday, November 20th, Blazers @ Portland Winterhawks, 7pm Memorial Coliseum

Sunday, November 21st, TBA

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2010


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