WHL Kamloops Blazers

Blazers Weekly Update

Published on January 8, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


The Kamloops Blazers will play three games this week - Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday - with the WHL Trade Deadline set for Thursday. The Blazers enter the week with a 19-21-1-1 record which is good for 8th place in the Western Conference. Here's what happened last week:

KAM-3, TRI-2: Jon Groenheyde made 33 saves to win his WHL debut as the Blazers held on the edge the Americans 3-2 on Friday night at ISC. Sasha Golin opened the scoring late in the first period with Mark Hall extending the lead in the opening minute of the third period. Blair Macaulay cut the lead to 2-1 with a shorthanded goal at 12:48 before Kenton Dulle put the Blazers back up 3-1 four minutes later. Jason Reese again cut the lead to a single goal with 3:13 to play...but that was all the scoring on this night. Final shots were 35-30 Americans with Groenheyde getting the win and Kyle Birch taking the loss. The Blazers were 0-for-5 on the PP and 3-for-3 on the PK.

KEL-6, KAM-1: Colin Long scored twice as the Rockets scored twice in each period for a 6-1 win over the Blazers Saturday night in Kelowna. Jamie Benn and Myles MacRae staked Kelowna to a 2-0 lead after one with Long and Evan Bloodoff pushing the lead to 4-0 in the second before Alex Rodgers banked a centering pass off a Rocket skate - with assists to Nick Ross and CJ Stretch - to cut the lead to 4-1 after two. Long and Dylan Hood wrapped up the scoring in the third. Final shots were 34-23 Rockets with Torrie Jung getting the win and Justin Leclerc taking the loss. The Blazers also hit four goalposts on the night.

VAN-8, KAM-1: 14 different Giants figured in on the scoring en route to an 8-1 won over the Blazers on Sunday night in Vancouver. Mark Hall scored the lone Blazer goal - withh assists to Alex Rodgers and Nick Ross - late in the second period as the Giants built period leads of 4-0 and 7-1. Final shots were 46-20 Giants with Justin Leclerc taking the loss in 20 minutes of work. James Priestner mopped up in the final 40. Tyson Sexsmith picked up the win. The Blazers were 0-for-1 on the PP and 2-for-3 on the PK.

TRADE UPDATE:

The Kamloops Blazers completed two separate trades with the Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen on Saturday. The club has acquired 18-year-old defenseman Nick Ross, 19-year-old blueliner Spencer Fraipont (FRAY-pawnt), and a 4th round pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft in exchange for 20-year-old defenseman Ryan Bender and 19-year-old rearguard Victor Bartley. The Blazers have also acquired 17-year-old forward Devon Kalinski and a 2nd round selection in the 2008 Bantam Draft from the Hitmen in exchange for 20-year-old forward Brock Nixon and a 6th round pick in the '08 Draft. Ross has scored 3 goals and added 25 assists in 41 games with Pats this season. The 18-year-old from Lethbridge is also a 1st round pick, 30th overall, of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Fraipont, from Kelowna, has a goal and an assist in 24 games with the Pats this year. Kalinski, from La Corey, AB, has 2 goals and 5 points in 35 games with the Hitmen this! season after scoring 4 goals and 10 points in his rookie campaign.

INJURY UPDATE:

Tyler Shattock - fractured tibia - 4-6 weeks

ROSTER NEWS:

The Blazers have recalled affillate Matt Riley from the Port Moody Junior "B" Black Panthers for games this week in Spokane and Tri-Cities. Juuso Puustinen and Ivan Rohac are due back in the Blazer lineup on Saturday night at home against Chilliwack.

THE WEEK TO COME:

Tuesday: Practice 11:15 @ Spokane

Wednesday: GAME DAY @ SPOKANE CHIEFS; 7:05 face-off, 6:35 Radio NL - McDonald's Pre-Game Show

Thursday: Practice TBD @ Spokane

Friday: GAME DAY @ TRI-CITY AMERICANS; 7:05 face-off, 6:35 Radio NL - McDonald's Pre-Game Show

Saturday: GAME DAY vs CHILLIWACK BRUINS; 7:00 face-off, 6:30 Radio NL - McDonald's Pre-Game Show

Sunday: TBD

TIP-A-BLAZER:

The annual Tip-A-Blazer Dinner is set for next Wednesday night, January 16th, at 6:00pm at The Keg Steakhouse. All monies raised will be passed along to the SPCA.

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2008


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