Blazers Week in Review
November 23, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
Week in Review:
Friday, November 19th, 2010 @ Everett Silvertips ¬" 4-2 Loss
It was déjàvu as the Blazers lost for the second time this season in Everett 4-2. The Silvertips scored the game's first goal with Tyler Giebel potting his 2nd goal of the season off a rebound to put the ¬ËTips up 1-0. The Blazers, who struggled to get chances in the first period, tied the game as Chase Schaber beat both ¬ËTips defenders and goaltender Luke Siemens to make it 1-1. Everett took the lead though as Kellan Tochkin scored an awkward goal from behind the net for a 2-1 lead after the first period. The Blazers got back into the game with Dylan Willick scoring in front of the net after a great pass from Shayne Neigum to make it 2-2. It was a spirited period as Chase Souto and Ryan Murray shed the gloves and both goaltenders were on their game to keep it tied 2-2 with a period to go. The ¬ËTips took the lead 36 seconds into the final period as Tochkin scored his 2nd goal of the game. The Blazers couldn't get back into it as Brendan Ranford missed on a penalty shot and Tochkin got his hat trick in a 4-2 Everett win. Goaltender Luke Siemens played well making 24 saves while Jeff Bosch took the loss after a 29 save performance. The Blazers were 0-for-3 on the powerplay and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Saturday, November 20th, 2010 @ Portland Winterhawks ¬" 6-4 Loss
The Blazers played well in Portland, but came up short as the Winterhawks won 6-4 on home ice for their 20th win in 25 games. The Winterhawks opened the scoring as a shot deflected off of Brad Ross on the powerplay for a 1-0 lead. Spencer Bennett then converted on a 2-on-1 to make it 2-0 for the ¬ËHawks after the first period. They would extend their lead to 3-0 as Nino Niederreiter scored on the powerplay early in the 2nd period. The Blazers though would continue to play hard and it paid off as they came storming back. Brendan Ranford got the Blazers on the board with his 21st tally of the season to make it 3-1. Ranford then set up Chase Schaber for a breakaway and Schaber made it a 3-2 hockey game. Bronson Maschmeyer fired a shot in on the powerplay late in the 2nd period to tie the game 3-3. The Winterhawks though retook the lead as Ty Rattie squeaked one past goaltender Jeff Bosch to make it 4-3 going into the 3rd period. After a melee at the end of the 2nd period occurred, both teams found themselves without their starting goaltenders, and the Blazers were without Schaber for the rest of the game. The Winterhawks would score early in the 3rd period to make it 5-3 and eventually won the game 6-4. The Blazers lost the special teams battle as they were 1-for-5 on the powerplay and only 4-for-7 on the penalty kill. Jeff Bosch stopped 24 of 28 shots while Cam Lanigan came in and took the loss stopping 10 of 12 shots.
Schaber, Madaisky, Ranford on Team WHL
The Kamloops Blazers were well represented when they host a Subway Super Series game last Wednesday, November 17th. The team's captain Chase Schaber who has 31 points in 23 games this season and 18-year-old defenseman Austin Madaisky, leading the defensemen with 14 points in 23 games, both played 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. The 18-year-old has been terrific to start the season with 37 points in 23 games to sit 4th in WHL scoring. Ranford is leading the WHL with 21 goals in only 23 games. The Subway Super Series featured the Western Hockey League's best competing against the Team Russia Selects. Team Russia Selects won the game 7-6 after coming back from a 6-3 deficit.
Team WHL also had some familiar faces on the bench. Kamloops Blazers' Head Coach Guy Charron served 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 was a Trainer for the game in Kamloops.
Streaks and Leaders
Brendan Ranford has 37 points in 23 games so far this year which puts him 4th in the WHL and his 21 goals lead the league. His line mate Chase Schaber has 31 points this season which has him in a tie for 13th in WHL scoring. Schaber is currently on a 10-game point streak in which he has collected 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points.
Ranford CHL Player of the Week
Brendan Ranford was named the CHL player of the week on Wednesday 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 21 and is 4th in points with 37 in 23 games.
Bosch CHL Goaltender of the Week
Jeff Bosch was awarded with the CHL Goaltender of the Week. Bosch posted a 2-0-0-0 record last 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 won CHL Goaltender of the Week award? Justin Leclerc was the CHL goaltender of the week in November 2007.
Discipline, Suspensions, Call Ups
The Blazers will be without 3 players tonight as JC Lipon (4 games), Chase Schaber (3 games), and Brendan Ranford (1 game) were suspended by the WHL following Saturday night's incident in Portland. The team was also handed $3000 worth of fines following both benches clearing at the end of the 2nd period. The Winterhawks had two players suspended, Seth Swenson (4 games), Joe Morrow (3 games), and also were levied $3000 worth of fines. Ranford will be eligible to return tomorrow night in Spokane, Schaber is eligible on Saturday night versus Prince George, and Lipon will be back playing on December 3rd versus Saskatoon. The Blazers have called up 15-year-old forward Matthew Needham, 16-year-old forward Aspen Sterzer and 16-year-old goaltender Troy Trombley because of the suspensions. Needham, the Blazers 1st round Bantam pick in 2010, played last night and returned to his home in Penticton following the game.
Gaudet and McVeigh to Play at U-17 Challenge
The Kamloops Blazers will be represented by Brady Gaudet and Logan McVeigh on the roster for Team West for the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg from December 28th to January 4th. Gaudet has 1 assist in 14 games this season, while McVeigh has 1 goal and 2 assists in 16 games.
The 22-man roster is made up of 16-year-old players from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and will compete in the Under-17 event in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, MB from December 28th to January 4th. Of the 22 players selected to Team West, 13 are currently playing in the WHL. The other nine players named to Team West were all selected by WHL Clubs through the WHL Bantam Draft.
Tough Week Ahead
The Kamloops Blazers have 4 games in 5 days this coming week. The Blazers host the Regina Pats (7-13-3-1) on Tuesday evening in a game that will be featured on SHAW TV. The hockey club will then leave immediately following the game to Spokane to face the Chiefs (11-9-1-1) on Wednesday night. The hockey club will then have two home games this weekend as Spokane visits the Blazers on Friday, November 26th and the Prince George Cougars (11-10-2-0) will be here on Saturday, November 27th to play the Blazers.
Team Leaders:
Goals ¬" Brendan Ranford (21)
Assists ¬" Chase Schaber (21)
Points ¬" Brendan Ranford (37)
+/- ¬" Tyler Hansen, Chase Schaber (+7)
Rookies ¬" Corey Fienhage (4)
PIM ¬" Shayne Neigum, Ryan Hanes (63)
GAA ¬" Jeff Bosch (3.58)
SV % ¬" Jeff Bosch (.892)
Injury Report
Josh Caron, Broken Collar-Bone, week-to-week
Jeff Bosch, Concussion, day-to-day
Community Service
Sunday, November 28th
Blueliner Breakfast 8:30am ¬" Parkside Lounge
Monday, November 29th
Carpet Bowling at Cottonwood Senior Centre 10am
Schedule:
Monday, November 22nd, Practice 2:00-4pm ISC
Tuesday, November 23rd, Blazers vs. Regina Pats 7pm ISC
Wednesday, November 24th, Blazers @ Spokane Chiefs 7pm
Thursday, November 25th, Practice 2:00-4pm ISC
Friday, November 26h, Blazers vs. Spokane Chiefs, 7pm ISC
Saturday, November 27th, Blazers vs. Prince George Cougars, 7pm ISC
Sunday, November 28th, Blueliner Breakfast 8:30am
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