WHL Kamloops Blazers

Kamloops Blazers News

Published on October 21, 2003 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


I could get used to this: another week, and three more wins! Good on the guys for another solid week of hockey and starting the year off right.

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Last week began with that 4-1 win over Seattle on Monday. The T-Birds scored first, but our guys went on to score four straight for the come-from-behind victory. Ian was kind enough to recap that one last Tuesday. But the guys won two more games before the week was out...and both were overtime thrillers.

On Friday, the Blazers were on the road for their lone away game in 25 days as they paid the US Division-leading Spokane Chiefs. It was a goaltenders' duel with Barry Brust minding the twine for the Chiefs and Dustin Slade in net again for the Blazers. After a scoreless opening 41 minutes, the Blazers took a 1-0 lead on a Kris Hogg goal early in the third period. It looked like the Game would end 1-0, but a lucky bounce on a Chief shoot-in created an open-net opportunity for Chad Klassen...and he tied the game with 2:15 left. Then early in overtime, the Blazers won a face-off in the Spokane zone, the puck came back to Josh Morrow who rifled a wrist shot hi g past Brust for a 2-1 Blazer win! GREAT GAME!

So, after a rare (and I mean RARE, not to mention greatly appreciated) Saturday off, the Blazers were back on home-ice Sunday to face the top-ranked team in the WHL, the Vancouver Giants. The hosts started quickly, taking a 1-0 lead 5 minutes in on a Jarret Lukin goal. The Giants, though, would tie it before the end of the opening frame for a 1-1 tie after 20 minutes. In the second, the Blazers took a 2-1 lead after Paul Brown finished off a pretty three-way passing play, only to see the Giants tie it again, this time in the final minute of the second period. It was 2-2 heading to the third. After a scoreless final session, the clubs headed to OT and once again, the Blazers prevailed. The Giants turned the puck over on a rush into the Blazer zone and the home side struck. Josh Morrow carried the puck into the Vancouver zone up the left wing and sent a centering pass to a streaking Jonas Johansson, who then banged the puck past Aaron Sorochan for the OT winner. Dustin Slade was strong again in the Blazer goal and earned his third straight win in the process.

So, that closed out a pretty successful week for the guys, who now have a 9-2-1-1 record through 13 games.

By the way, Dustin Slade was named runner-up to Swift Current Bronco Alex Leavitt for WHL Player of the Week honours. Way to go, Dusty!

This week, the Blazers play just twice, and both games are at home. On Friday, the Moose Jaw Warriors come to town, while the Kelowna Rockets make their first visit to Sport Mart Place on Saturday night. Get your tickets NOW, because A) the Blazers are playing well and you don't want to miss any action, and B) hey, KELOWNA'S in town! What kind of hosts would we be if we didn't fill the place?

By the way, on Friday, former Blazer Josh P okol will make his first trip to Kamloops since being acquired by the Warriors back in late September.

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The team has a couple of community events they will be attending this week. On Wednesday, some of the guys will be heading off to Burt Edwards Elementary for a 10:30am visit. Then on Thursday afternoon after practice, a few of the players will be helping out at the Peter Puck session at the Ice Box Arena. Plus, on Sunday, it's the first Blueliner Breakfast of the season.

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The new website has been up for about a month now and we're getting lots of good feedback! If you have any comments on the new look and the new layout, feel free to drop me a line.

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Tomorrow morning at 8 at the Coast Canadian Inn in Kamloops, General Manager Mike Moore will be speaking to the local Chamber of Commerce at their yearly tradeshow. The topic of the discussion will be "Thinking Outside The Box".

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I'd also like to let you know that we have a new staff member. Angie Mercuri is now working in our front office and we would like you to give her a big Blazer welcome!

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2003


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