WHL Kamloops Blazers

Kamloops Blazers Week in Review

Published on March 19, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


Week in Review:

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 at Spokane Chiefs - 6-4 Loss

A late goal by the Chiefs did the Blazers in as they fell 6-4 in Spokane. The Chiefs opened the scoring with a power play marker, but Bronson Maschmeyer tied it up on a nice pass by Matt Needham to make it 1-1 through the first period. Goaltender Cole Cheveldave left the game due to an illness and Cam Lanigan started the second period. The Chiefs scored early as Brenden Kichton got his second goal of the game. The Blazers tied and then took the lead as a pair of goals from Tim Bozon and Chase Souto lifted the Blazers to a 3-2 lead. The Chiefs then scored twice to re-take the lead at 4-3. Tim Bozon tied it on a nice feed from Colin Smith to make it 4-4 through two periods. The Chiefs won the game scoring with only 47 seconds left and added an empty net goal for a 6-4 victory. Lanigan stopped 14 shots in the loss. Full Recap and Highlights.

Friday, March 16th, 2012 vs. Prince George Cougars - 10-4 Win

The Blazers scored plenty of goals in a 10-4 win. The Cougars opened the scoring with an odd goal that deflected off two players and in. Jordan DePape tied the game up scoring on the power play for a 1-1 tie through the first period. The Cougars took the lead in the second period but Brendan Ranford and Colin Smith gave the Blazers a 3-2 lead. Jesse Forsberg tied it up for the Cougars, but Jordan DePape scored his second of the game as the Blazers led 4-3 through two periods. The Blazers owned the third period with six goals. Smith, Brandon Herrod, Smith for the hat trick, Chase Souto, Cole Ully and Ryan Hanes rounded out the scoring in the third period. The Cougars added a late power play goal for a 10-4 final. Cole Cheveldave had the win in goal with 23 saves. Full Recap and Highlights.

Saturday, March 17th, 2012 at Prince George Cougars - 4-2 Loss

The Blazers fell in the last game of the regular season by a 4-2 score to the Cougars. The Cougars scored the lone goal of the first period as Chase Witala put home his own rebound for a 1-0 lead. The Cougars made it 2-0 when Troy Bourke found Spencer Asuchak at the side of the goal. The Blazers cut into the lead finally getting a puck past goaltender Devon Fordyce. Tim Bozon was set up by JC Lipon for his 36th goal of the season. The Blazers tied it midway through the third period as Chase Souto found Ryan Hanes in front of the net for his 8th goal of the year. The Blazers were again done in by a late goal as Reid Jackson's point shot found its way past goaltender Cam Lanigan for a 3-2 Cougars lead. They added an empty net goal for the 4-2 win. Lanigan made 18 saves while Fordyce was solid turning aside 38 shots. Full Recap and Highlights.

Playoff Tickets on Sale Now!

The Blazers will open the first round of the playoffs at home against the Victoria Royals for Game 1 on Friday, March 23rd and Game 2 on Saturday, March 24th.

Series Schedule:

Game 1 - Friday, March 23 Victoria @ Kamloops 7:00pm

Game 2 - Saturday, March 24 Victoria @ Kamloops 7:00pm

Game 3 - Tuesday, March 27 Kamloops @ Victoria 7:05pm

Game 4 - Wednesday, March 28 Kamloops @ Victoria Time 7:05pm

Game 5 - Friday, March 30 Victoria @ Kamloops 7:00pm*

Game 6 - Monday, April 2 Kamloops @ Victoria 7:05pm*

Game 7 - Wednesday, April 4 Victoria @ Kamloops 7:00pm*

*If Necessary*

To purchase your 2011-12 playoff tickets, contact the Kamloops Blazers Box Office at 250-828-3339. For questions about playoff tickets, please contact our Director of Ticketing, Todd Carnelley by phone at 250-828-1144 or by email at tcarnelley@blazerhockey.com.

Blazers Playoff T-Shirts, Details for Game 1 on Friday

The Kamloops Blazers will host Game 1 of a best-of-seven series WHL playoff series this Friday night with the Victoria Royals as the opponents.

MEG Energy is the game night sponsor and with the help of Safeway, will be giving away boxes of Kraft Dinner for fans to use as noisemakers. Following the game, fans are encouraged to drop off their boxes of Kraft Dinner as they exit the building. All the donations will go to the Kamloops Food Bank.

The first 3000 fans at the game Friday night will receive a white Blazers play-off t-shirt. Fans are being encouraged to wear white throughout all the playoff games.

MEG Energy will donate $25 to the Kamloops Food Bank for every shot on goal until the third period timeout during Friday night's home game. MEG Energy will also be giving away pucks and a Blazers prize pack which includes an autographed replica jersey.

Kamloops Blazers Player Awards Presentation

The Kamloops Blazers handed out their awards prior to the start of the final regular season home game on Friday night. For the list of Award Winners, follow this link. To view pictures from the event, follow this link.

Kamloops Blazers Hockey School August 2012

The 2012 Kamloops Blazers Hockey School is open for registration! Download the registration form by following this link. If there are any questions pertaining to Hockey School give Ashley Neuls a call at the Kamloops Blazers office at 250-828-1144.

Jersey Off Our Back Pictures

The Kamloops Blazers gave away their special edition third jerseys to 23 lucky fans following the game on Friday night. To view pictures from this event, follow this link.

Regular Season Highlights

The Kamloops Blazers had a terrific regular season finishing with a 47-20-2-3 record and 99 points, good for 4th overall in the WHL. The Blazers had their best record since the 1998-99 season and were crowned B.C. Division Champions for the first time since 2001-02. The Blazers had the biggest turnaround in the WHL this season with 35 more points and 18 more wins than all of last season. The Blazers finished the year 22-9-2-3 record on the road which was the best road record in the WHL with 49 points. The 22 road wins were also the most for the franchise since the 1995-96 season. The Blazers scored 290 goals which was 3rd best in the WHL and the most goals since the 1998-99 season. The Blazers have allowed 211 goals this season which was 5th best in the WHL. Rookie goaltender Cole Cheveldave recorded 34 wins which is the most by a Blazers rookie and goaltender since the 1998-99 season when Kenric Exner won 34 games. Rookie forward Tim Bozon finished tops amongst rookies with 36 goals and was 2nd in the WHL with 71 points this season. Bozon recorded the most goals and points for a rookie since the 2000-01 season when Scottie Upshall had 42 goals and 87 points. Fourth year forward Brendan Ranford led the Blazers in goals with 40, assists with 52 and points with 92. Ranford is the first player to score 40 goals and reach 90+ points since Erik Christensen had 54 goals and 108 points to lead the WHL in scoring during the 2002-03 season. Eight players reached the 50+ point plateau this season. The last time a Blazers team had eight 50+ point players was during the 1994-95 season when they had eight players with at least 67 points. Six players reached 20+ goals this season which was the first time since the 2000-01 season.

Download the Game Night Program to Win

The Kamloops Blazers are encouraging fans to download the game night program from blazerhockey.com for a chance to win! All you have to do is print the "Enter to Win" forms to the game for a chance at some great prizes. Draw boxes are located in front of the Kamloops Blazers Corner Store.

Blazers are 8th in Final BMO MasterCard CHL Top 10

The Kamloops Blazers were ranked in the CHL Top 10 throughout the second half of their season. The Blazers moved up to 8th in the final rankings. The Blazers were as high as 2nd in early February and were ranked in the CHL Top 10 for 16 of the 25 weeks in the CHL season. To view the CHL Top 10 Rankings, follow this link.

Team Leaders Regular Season:

Goals - Brendan Ranford (40)

Assists - Brendan Ranford (52)

Points - Brendan Ranford (92)

+/- - Tyler Hansen (+38)

Rookies - Tim Bozon (71)

PIM - JC Lipon (109)

GAA - Cole Cheveldave (2.62)

SV % - Cole Cheveldave (.909)

Schedule:

Monday, March 19th, Practice 2:00pm - 4:00pm, ISC

Tuesday, March 20th, Practice 2:00pm - 4:00pm, ISC

Wednesday, March 22nd, Practice 2:00pm - 4:00pm, ISC

Thursday, March 23rd, Practice 2:00pm - 4:00pm, ISC

Friday, March 24th, Blazers vs. Victoria, 7:00pm, ISC

Saturday, March 25th, Blazers vs. Victoria, 7:00pm, ISC

Sunday, March 26th, TBA

Monday, March 27th, TBA

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2012


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