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WHL Kamloops Blazers

Game Day: Blazers Open Playoffs in Kelowa Tonight

March 25, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


SERIES TIDBITS The Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets are meeting in the first round of the WHL playoffs for the sixth time. The Blazers beat the Tacoma Rockets 4-0 in 1991-92 and the Kelowna Rockets 4-2 in 1999 in best-of-seven series'. The Rockets won 4-0 in 2001-02 and 2008-09 in best-of-seven series'. These two teams last met in the playoffs in 2012-13 in the second round with the Blazers sweeping the series 4-0. These two teams have played each other eight times this season, including three games in the month of March already. The Blazers were 3-4-1-0 in the eight-game season series, while the Rockets finished 5-2-1-0. The Blazers had not won a road game in Kelowna since the 2013 playoffs as they previously had lost 11 straight regular season games.

Vs. Kelowna - This Season (8-Game Series)

Game 1: 09/25/15, at Kelowna 4, Kamloops 3

Game 2: 09/26/15, vs. Kelowna 7, Kamloops 3

Game 3: 11/18/15, vs. Kelowna 4, Kamloops 3 OT

Game 4: 12/27/15, vs. Kelowna 2, Kamloops 1

Game 5: 12/28/15, at Kelowna 3, Kamloops 2

Game 6: 03/04/16, vs. Kelowna 2, Kamloops 3

Game 7: 03/05/16, at Kelowna 2, Kamloops 3

Game 8: 03/11/16, at Kelowna 2, Kamloops 3 OT

Blazers were 3-4-1-0 in season series

Western Conference Quarter-Final (best-of-seven series)

Game 1: 03/25/16, at Kelowna, Kamloops

Game 2: 03/26/16, at Kelowna, Kamloops

Game 3: 03/29/16, vs. Kelowna, Kamloops

Game 4: 03/30/16, vs. Kelowna, Kamloops

Game 5: 04/01/16, at Kelowna, Kamloops

Game 6: 04/02/16, vs. Kelowna, Kamloops

Game 7: 04/04/16, at Kelowna, Kamloops

Blazers are 0-0 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 played 318 regular season games which is 5th in franchise history. Ryan Rehill finished 12th all-time on the Blazers penalty minute list with 508 career minutes... Matt Needham recorded his 150th career assist on January 29th vs. Vancouver... Collin Shirley played his 250th career WHL game on January 29th vs. Vancouver... Jermaine Loewen played in his 100th career WHL game March 9th vs. Spokane... Connor Ingram is the 11th goaltender in franchise history to play 100 games with the Blazers.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: The Rockets have plenty of playoff pedigree with 14 playoffs left from last season's WHL Championship. The Blazers rely on veteran 20-year-olds Matt Needham and Gage Quinney for experience. Needham has 26 playoff games under his belt and 18 points. Quinney has played 20 playoff games and has recorded 13 points. Ryan Rehill, Matt Revel, Nick Chyzowski and Collin Shirley are the only other players with playoff games under their belt.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS PERSPECTIVE: The Kamloops Blazers got off to the worst start in franchise history, but rebounded with a respectable season going 38-25-5-4 to finish third place in the B.C. Division. The Blazers return to the playoffs after a two-year absence. Matt Needham (23-39--62) and Gage Quinney (29-28--57) are players the Blazers rely on up front. Both are 20-year-olds with a lot of playoff experience that can contribute at both ends of the ice. Deven Sideroff (19-40--59), Collin Shirley (37-42--79), and Matt Revel (23-30--53) all had solid seasons and important pieces. Shirley led the Blazers in scoring, while Sideroff finished at a point-per-game pace. The Blazers acquired 19-year-old import forward Jiri Smejkal (5-22--27) from Moose Jaw to add some depth. He often plays with 18-year-old. Nick Chyzowski (15-10--25) and 17-year-old Quinn Benjafield (11-15--26). Smejkal, Chyzowski and Benjafield are relied on for secondary scoring. Jake Kryski (12-27--39) is a top-6 forward and is a terrific complimentary player. Garrett Pion (15-32-47) may be the Blazers most versatile player. He can slot in almost any line and any position in the forward ranks. He also often plays the point on the power play. Players like Matt Campese (8-4--12) and Jermaine Loewen (8-7--15), Spencer Bast (4-8--12) and Erik Miller (1-4--5) will provide energy.  The Blazers also have 15-year-old Jackson Shepard on the roster. He was selected in the second round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. Shepard played two regular season games with the Blazers this season. On defense, Ryan Rehill (10-29- 39) is the elder statesmen in his fourth and final season in the WHL. He has been a terrific leader of a young defensive group. Dallas Valentine (3-13--16) is a steady presence. The 19-year-old is relied on it a lot of defensive situations. Defenseman Cam Reagan (0-5--5) has slotted in regularly this season. Dawson Davidson (6-33--39) is impressive as a 17-year-old playing well at both ends of the ice. Ondrej Vala (4-17--21) is only 17, but plays like a veteran. Nolan Kneen (1-6--7) and Conner McDonald (1-2--3) are a pair of 16-year-olds that have seen a lot of ice time in their first WHL seasons. Luke Zazula is also on the roster. The 15-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He has played three games with the Blazers this season. In goal, Connor Ingram (34-15-5-4) leads the way after posting a 2.61 goals against average and a .922 save percentage this season. Dylan Ferguson (4-10-0-0) is the 17-year-old back-up, who posted a shutout in his last outing on March 19th in Prince George.

KELOWNA ROCKETS PERSPECTIVE: The Rockets finished third overall in the WHL standings with a 48-20-4-0 record. The Rockets are the defending WHL Champions and return 14 players from that team. Up front Tyson Baillie is the Rockets MVP and led the team with 95 points. In 46 career playoff games, he has 53 career points. There is plenty of firepower up front with players like Rourke Chartier, Justin Kirkland, and Dillon Dube. All three players are at a point-per-game pace and will be counted on for scoring goals and for their experience. Cole Linakar is an experienced 20-year-old who plays hard at both ends of the ice. Tomas Soustal and Calvin Thurkauf are a pair of big-bodied import players that will add some secondary scoring as complimentary players. The Rockets have some gritty veteran 19-year-old players in Rodney Southam and Riley Stadel. Kole Lind has been a terrific rookie forward with 41 points. Other young forwards to watch for are Tanner Wishnowski, Tate Coughlin, Jordan Borstmayer and Conner Bruggen-Cate. On the backend, the Rockets have three veterans from last year's playoff run. Lucas Johansen is the most dynamic of the bunch. He tallied 49 points this season. Joe Gatenby and Devante Stephens are both reliable two-way defenders. Cal Foote is a terrific first year player. At only 17, he is relied on to play some significant minutes. Gordie Ballhorn is another solid player, but he has missed time recently due to injury. Braydyn Chizen and Johnathan Smart are both first year players. In goal, the Rockets have 19-year-old Michael Herringer as their starter, backed up by 17-year-old Brodan Salmond. Herringer has played a bulk of the games since Christmas and was on the Rockets championship team last season.

NHL DRAFT: Ryan Rehill (New Jersey, 5th round, 131st overall in 2014), Deven Sideroff (Anaheim, 3rd round, 84th overall in 2015).

DID YOU KNOW... Don Hay is 2ndin Blazers franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (291) with 209 career regular season wins... Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 675 regular season wins... Stu MacGregor took over as the Blazers General Manager on October 13th, 2015... Gage Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets on October 14th in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick... Collin Shirley and Connor Ingram were both named to the WHL Western Conference second all-star team... 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... Defenseman Ryan Rehill (New Jersey), forward Deven Sideroff (Anaheim), and goaltender Connor Ingram (Detroit) all attended NHL training camps in September... Ondrej Vala (70), Garrett Pilon (187), Dawson Davidson (197) and Connor Ingram (12th among goaltenders), were all rated in NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings... 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.

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