2006-07 – A TOTAL SHOCK
2006-07 – A Total Shock
The 2006-07 season was expected to be an improvement. The hockey club started slow losing four of their first five games to start the season. The Blazers acquired Dustin Butler from the Portland Winter Hawks and the addition seemed to turn the Blazers around. The Blazers went on to win thirteen of their next fifteen contests. By Christmas, the hockey club was in a battle with the Vancouver Giants for the division title. The Giants, who hosted and won the Memorial Cup in 2007, were beaten by the Blazers six times in eight games during the 2006-07 season. The hockey club tailed off to finish the year and lost their last six games of the season. The positives were the Blazers won 40-games for the first time since the 1998-99 season and had four players score 30+ goals. Goaltender Dustin Butler finished with a franchise record seven shutouts on the season. Defenseman Ray Macias was a first team all-star after leading all WHL defensemen in scoring with 30 goals, 40 assists and 70 points. The Blazers lost Macias to a broken wrist in the 70th game of the regular season. The underachieving Prince George Cougars were the Blazers first round opponent in the playoffs. Remarkably, the Blazers lost the series in four straight games. The Blazers lost all four games by only one goal, including three games in overtime. Cougars forward Devin Setoguchi scored five goals in the series, including the winning goal in three of the four games. It was devastating for the hockey club. A season with so many positives ended negatively.
Team Record: 40-26-4-2, 2nd B.C. Division
Playoffs: Lost First Round (4 games to 0 vs. Prince George)
Leading Regular Season Scorer: Brock Nixon – 35 Goals, 44 Assists, 79 Points
Leading Playoff Scorer: C.J. Stretch – 8 Points
Notable Players: Reid Jorgensen, Brock Nixon, Keaton Ellerby, Jusso Puustinen, Ray Macias, Matt Kassian, Ryan Bender
