WHL Kamloops Blazers

Series in Review, Winterhawks up Next

Published on April 12, 2013 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release


Series In Review:

Game 1 - Saturday, April 6, 2013 at Kelowna Rockets - 4-2 Win

The Blazers lost Colin Smith early in the second period, but bore down to take Game 1 in Kelowna 4-2. The Blazers jumped out to an early lead on first period goals by Brendan Ranford (2) and Aaron Macklin. The Rockets scored twice in the second period, but Chase Souto iced the game with a goal in the third period for a 4-2 win. Cole Cheveldave was between the pipes making 21 saves.

Game 2 - Sunday, April 7, 2013 at Kelowna Rockets - 5-1 Win

The Rockets opened the scoring, but the Blazers battled back immediately and took the lead for good midway through the second period in a 5-1 win. Brendan Ranford tied the game up and set up Dylan Willick on the power play for the game winner. Chase Souto, Kale Kessy and Aaron Macklin built up the Blazers lead with goals in the third period. Cole Cheveldave was terrific in goal making timely saves with 29 saves in the win. The Blazers took a 2-0 series lead on the Rockets.

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 9, 2013 vs. Kelowna Rockets - 5-4 OT Win

It was a thriller on home ice with JC Lipon as the overtime hero in a 5-4 win over the Rockets. The teams exchanged eight goals as the lead changed hands four times in a 4-4 tie. The third period was much tamer as the game headed to overtime. Cole Cheveldave made a tremendous save in overtime and shortly after Brendan Ranford fed JC Lipon who scored to end the game. The Blazers other goal scorers were Ranford, Kale Kessy and Dylan Willick (2). The win gave the Blazers a 3-0 series lead.

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 10, 2013 vs. Kelowna Rockets - 4-3 OT Win

The Blazers swept the series with Kale Kessy scoring the overtime goal for a 4-3 win. The Rockets, who had their best season in franchise history as the B.C. Division Champions with 108 points and 52 wins this season, tied the game up in the third period scoring twice to send it to overtime. Kessy ended it as he deflected a hard pass from Joel Edmundson and in for his 11th goal of the playoffs and second of the game. Marek Hrbas and Matt Needham were the other Blazers goal scorers.

Blazers Oust Royals and B.C. Division Champions

The Kamloops Blazers beat the Victoria Royals in a WHL Western Conference best-of-seven quarter-final series 4-2. The Blazers met the Rockets in the second round winning the series 4-0.

Series Schedule:

Game 1 - Saturday, April 6th Kamloops 4 @ Kelowna 2

Game 2 - Sunday, April 7th Kamloops 5 @ Kelowna 1

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 9th Kelowna 4 @ Kamloops 5 OT

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 10th Kelowna 3 @ Kamloops 4 OT

Blazers win best-of-seven series 4-0

Blazers to meet Winterhawks in WHL Western Conference Final

The Kamloops Blazers and Portland Winterhawks are meeting in the playoffs for the second straight season after the Winterhawks ousted the Blazers in a second round best-of-seven series 4-3.

Series Schedule:

Game 1 - Friday, April 19th Kamloops @ Portland 7:00pm

Game 2 - Saturday, April 20th Kamloops @ Portland 7:00pm

Game 3 - Tuesday, April 23rd Portland @ Kamloops 7:00pm

Game 4 - Wednesday, April 24th Portland @ Kamloops 7:00pm

Game 5 - Friday, April 26th Kamloops @ Portland 7:00pm*

Game 6 - Sunday, April 28th Portland @ Kamloops 6:00pm*

Game 7 - Tuesday, April 30th Kamloops @ Portland 7:00pm*

*If Necessary

For tickets to all playoff games please call the Kamloops Blazers Box Office at 250-828-3339 or purchase online by clicking here. For further playoff ticket information please contact Promotions and Ticketing Coordinator, Missy Cederholm at 250-819-8183 or by email at mcederholm@blazerhockey.com.

Veterans Key in Blazers Series Win over Rockets

The Kamloops Blazers counted on their veterans in a 4-0 series win over the Kelowna Rockets. Even without their top two regular season scorers for almost the entire series, the Blazers had tremendous efforts up and down the line-up.

Kale Kessy continued his goal scoring prowess in the second round with four goals in the four-game series, including the overtime game winner to clinch the series. Kessy is tied with Ty Rattie for the lead in playoff goals with 11 in only 10 games.

Brendan Ranford was instrumental in the series win. He had four goals, five assists for nine points in the four-game series. Most importantly, Ranford scored one game winning goal and set up the three other game winning goals recording a point on all four of the game winning goals in the series. Ranford is 3rd in the WHL playoff scoring race with 19 points in 10 games.

JC Lipon continues to lead the WHL playoff scoring race with five goals, 16 assists and 21 points in 10 games.

Goaltender Cole Cheveldave was solid in goal for the Blazers. His 2.45 goals against average and .913 save percentage along with timely saves were key in all of the Blazers' victories.

Kamloops Blazers Hockey School August 2013

The 2013 Kamloops Blazers Hockey School is open for registration! Hockey School will be held from August 12th - 16th with the Blazers coaching staff, current and former players instructing. Make sure to register quickly as Hockey School is filling up fast!

Download the registration form by following this link or pick up a form from the Blazers Office. If there are any questions pertaining to Hockey School give Ashley Neuls a call at the Kamloops Blazers office at 250-828-1144.

Playoff Team Leaders:

Goals - Kale Kessy (11)

Assists -JC Lipon (16)

Points - JC Lipon (21)

+/- - JC Lipon (+11)

Rookies - Aaron Macklin (2)

PIM - Chase Souto (12)

GAA - Cole Cheveldave (2.60)

SV % - Cole Cheveldave (.895)

Schedule:

Friday, April 12th, Day of Rest

Saturday, April 13th, Off-Ice 12:00pm, ISC

Sunday, April 14th, Practice 11:00am - 12:30pm, ISC

Monday, April 15th, Practice 2:00pm - 4:00pm, ISC

Tuesday, April 16th, Practice 2:00pm - 4:00pm, ISC

Wednesday, April 17th, Practice 2:00pm - 3:30pm, ISC (Depart for Everett)

Thursday, April 18th, Travel to Portland, Practice TBA in Portland

Friday, April 19th, Game 1 - Kamloops at Portland, 7:00pm, Memorial

Saturday, April 20th, Game 2 - Kamloops at Portland, 7:00pm, Memorial

Sunday, April 21st, TBA

Monday, April 22nd, Practice 2:00pm - 3:30pm, ISC

Tuesday, April 22nd, Game 3 - Kamloops vs. Portland, 7:00pm, ISC

Wednesday, April 22nd, Game 4 - Kamloops vs. Portland, 7:00pm, ISC

Check out the Kamloops Blazers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central