Blazers Week in Review
December 21, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
Week in Review:
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 at Portland Winterhawks - 5-4 Loss
The Blazers played with only 16 skaters and fell 5-4 in a very closer affair in Portland Wednesday night. Colin Smith opened the scoring with his 7th of the season after Brendan Ranford won a battle down low to get the puck to Smith for a 1-0 lead. The Blazers made it 2-0 as Bronson Maschmeyer snuck in on the powerplay and put it top shelf with Colin Smith making a great play to set him up. The Winterhawks came back scoring a powerplay marker of their own as Oliver Gabriel made it a 2-1 game. With 59 seconds left in the period, Nino Niederreiter tied it up banging in a rebound as the game was tied 2-2 through the first period. Brendan Ranford opened the scoring early in the second period as he made a tremendous individual play for his 27th of the season. The Winterhawks tied it on the powerplay after goaltender Jeff Bosch misplayed the puck. They took the lead shortly after as Niederreiter scored a beautiful backhand goal fooling Bosch for a 4-3 lead. Ranford potted his 28th of the season scoring on a 5-on-3 powerplay to tie the game 4-4 going into the third period. The Blazers had opportunities to score, but Sven Bartschi ended up getting the winner with 3:39 to play in the game and the 'Hawks won 5-4. Jeff Bosch took the loss stopping 38 of 43 shots in a tremendous effort by the visiting Blazers. Mac Carruth got the win stopping 30 of 34 shots. The Blazers were hurt by special teams going 2-for-6 on the powerplay but only 2-for-5 on the penalty kill.
Friday, December 17th, 2010 at Prince George Cougars - 3-2 Loss
It was a strong game in Prince George, but a late goal killed their hopes as they fell 3-2. The Blazers opened the scoring as 16-year-old Logan McVeigh scored his 3rd of the season for a 1-0 lead. The Cougars tied it 1-1 when Cody Carlson fired a shot past goaltender Jeff Bosch, after a clean face-off win by James Dobrowolski. The Blazers carried most of the play in the second period but failed to beat goaltender Ty Rimmer who was named the 1st star on the night. The Cougars took the lead when Taylor Stefishen beat Bosch over the shoulder for a 2-1 lead. Brendan Ranford had a breakaway in the dying seconds of the period, but failed to beat Rimmer. In the third period the Blazers battled back and tied the game. Local product Dylan Willick barged in and beat Rimmer on the five-hole to make it 2-2. The Blazers hopes were crushed with 27 seconds remaining as Greg Fraser blasted a shot over Bosch's shoulder to give the Cougars a 3-2 victory. It was a disappointing loss by the Blazers as they lost important points in a tight BC Division. The Blazers outshot the Cougars 43-39 and were 0-for-2 on the powerplay and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Saturday, December 18th, 2010 at Prince George Cougars - 3-2 Loss
The outcome wasn't what the Blazers wanted as they fell 3-2 in Prince George for the second straight night despite outshooting the Cougars 38-23. Greg Fraser scored the teddy bear goal for the Cougars as he put in a rebound for a 1-0 lead. The Cougars made it 2-0 as Spencer Asuchak was set up with a great pass from Taylor Stefishen as they led after the first period. The Blazers had some great chances in the second period but failed to beat goaltender Ty Rimmer as he stopped 36 of 38 shots on the night. The Cougars made it 3-0 as Troy Bourke beat goaltender Cam Lanigan as the Cougars upped their lead into the third period. Jeff Bosch replaced Lanigan in goal for the Blazers to create a spark for the team. Newly acquired forward Thomas Frazee got the Blazers on the board as he put in a rebound on the powerplay to make it 3-1. The Blazers made it interesting with Frazee setting up Chase Schaber to make it 3-2 with over 6 minutes remaining in the third period. Brendan Ranford couldn't connect on a partial breakaway and the comeback fell short as the final score was 3-2 for the Cougars. Ty Rimmer was the first star for the second straight night as he was credited with the win. Cam Lanigan took the loss in goal, while Jeff Bosch came in and stopped all 9 shots he faced. The Blazers were 1-for-5 on the powerplay and 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Leading the League
Brendan Ranford has 54 points in 34 games so far this year which puts him 1st in the WHL. Ranford has points in 29 of the 34 games he has played this season and is on pace for a 50+ goal and 100+ point season. He is also leading the WHL in goals with 28 this season which is 1 goal off the CHL lead.
January is Kid's Month
January is being designated as Kids' Month at all Kamloops Blazers home games. You can receive a FREE youth ticket (age 4-18), for every regular priced adult ticket purchased. There are also a bunch of different opportunities to sing the National Anthem, be a Junior Reporter, and assist the Public Address Announcer during home games. [Click here for more Kids%27_Month_December_15.pdf)
Prospect Update: Devon Oakes
The Blazers listed Oakes in July of 2010. The 6'2" 190lb forward is playing for the POE Midget AAA team based out of Kelowna, BC. In 32 games this season he has 7 goals, 14 assists and 21 points to go along with 36 penalty minutes. The native of Prince Rupert, BC was passed over in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, but was listed by the club after a good showing at the U-16 Team BC tryouts.
Thomas Frazee Acquired from Regina Pats
The Blazers swung a deal a day before the WHL trade moratorium came into effect. The team traded 20-year-old Shayne Neigum, 17-year-old Lyndon Martell and a 3rd round draft pick in 2012. The 6'4" 205lb forward is into his 5th WHL season and had 13 goals, 24 assists and 37 points in 33 games this year with the Pats. The North Vancouver native has played 276 WHL games with Portland, Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw and Regina, and has 153 points. Frazee has a goal and an assist in his first two games with the Blazers in Prince George this past weekend.
A Tight Race
The Kamloops Blazers find themselves looking up in the standings as they sit at the bottom of the Western Conference. At the same time, they are also only 7 points out of being in 1st place in the BC Division. It is a tight conference with 8 teams within 8 points of each other in the race to the playoffs.
The Kamloops Blazers are on the road when they start the second half of the season. The players will fly into Vancouver to rejoin the team and will practice Sunday, December 26th at Pacific Coliseum. The team will then play on Monday, December 27th against the Vancouver Giants (16-14-1-4). The Giants will be in Kamloops the next night as they close out an important home and home series on December 28th.
Team Leaders:
Goals - Brendan Ranford (28)
Assists - Chase Schaber, Brendan Ranford (26)
Points - Brendan Ranford (54)
+/- - Chase Schaber (+8)
Rookies - Logan McVeigh (7)
PIM - Ryan Hanes (91)
GAA - Jeff Bosch (3.55)
SV % - Jeff Bosch (.894)
Injury Report
Josh Caron, Collar-Bone, day-to-day
Community Service
None
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