ROAD HEAVY SCHEDULE: The Kamloops Blazers are into their 33^rd season in the Western Hockey League and the 30^th season as the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers have a 6-21-2-2 record and are in a slump going 0-11-0-2 in their past 13 games. The hockey club is  into their road heavy part of their schedule. After two home games last weekend, the Blazers are playing seven straight games on the road and 12 of 13 on the road between December 8^th and January 10^th. The Blazers are on their bi-annual six-game road trip through Manitoba and Saskatchewan which started in Brandon last night with a 5-2 loss. The Blazers will play tonight in Regina before playing three games in three nights this weekend in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.

Vs. Regina – Last Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 11/21/12, vs. Regina 2, Kamloops 1

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

Vs. Regina – This Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 12/11/13, at Regina, Kamloops

Blazers are 0-0-0-0 in season series

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 24 players (3 goaltenders, 7 defensemen and 14 forwards). The roster includes 11 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, four players from the free agent list, eight players via trade, and one player selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes nine from B.C., seven players from Alberta, four from Saskatchewan, two from Manitoba, one from Switzerland and one from the USA.

THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Pats will meet only once this season. Last year, the Blazers hosted the Pats back on November 21, 2012 and were defeated 2-1 in overtime despite the Blazers outshooting the Pats 41-13 in the game. The last time the Blazers were in Regina was two years ago to the day back on December 11, 2011 with the Blazers falling 8-4 to the Pats.  

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: The Kamloops Blazers forwards have had three forwards that have led the way offensively this season.  Cole Ully (11+18=29), Matt Needham (5+16=21) and Chase Souto (16+6=22) are guys entering their third and fourth seasons that are the offensive leaders. The 18-year-old Ully posted 22 goals and 50 points last season which got him drafted in the 5^th round by the Dallas Stars. Needham is the team captain at only 18, and Chase Souto is the longest tenured Blazer playing his 200^th game November 23^rd. Tyson Ness (7+5=12) also joins that group of players expected to score for the Blazers after being acquired from Red Deer prior to the start of the season. The 20-year-old plays in all situations for the hockey club. Aspen Sterzer (12+9=21) has emerged offensively already reaching career highs in all offensive categories. Collin Shirley (3+4=7) was acquired in the Tim Bozon trade and will have plenty of opportunity to play with good players and succeed. Joe Kornelsen, (2+3=5), Luke Harrison (3+0=3), and Carson Bolduc (2+1=3) make up the supporting cast for the Blazers and will need to contribute more. There is plenty of opportunity for the young forwards on the Blazers roster as Jesse Shynkaruk, (1+0=1) Eric Krienke, (2+0=2) Nathan Looysen (0+1=1) and Mitch Lipon (1+4=5) are all 17-year-olds looking to prove themselves. Nick Chyzowski (2+4=6) is the lone 16-year-old on the roster and has also earned additional ice time contributing already. On defence, the Blazers have some young players who will need to take on a bigger role this year. Sam Grist (1+4=5) is the oldest defenseman on the roster and has shown he is capable of leading a young group. Returnees Ryan Rehill (0+5=5) and Josh Connolly (6+19=25) have done nothing but impress in their respective roles. Connolly has had a great start to the season reaching career highs in all offensive categories. Rehill has been able to shut down the opponents top players. Matt Thomas (0+1=1) is the newest addition to the group. At 18, he is a defensive minded defenseman. A trio of 17-year-olds are all looking to establish themselves this season. Jordan Thomson (0+7=7) will be in the line-up every night and will need to play in all situations. Edson Harlacher (0+1=1) was selected by the Blazers in the import draft and he has shown he has the tools to be a solid defender. Connor Clouston (0+1=1) spent some time with the Blazers last year. In goal, the Blazers have two 19-year-old options in returnee Taran Kozun (1-13-2-0, 3.98, .895) and acquired veteran Bolton Pouliot (5-7-0-1, 3.57, .899). Pouliot is currently out with an injury so 16-year-old Cole Kehler is with the Blazers backing up Kozun for the time being.

REGINA PATS ‘Who to Watch’: The Pats are in the tough Eastern Conference and battling for playoff position at the midway point of the WHL regular season. The Pats have relied on four players to put the puck in the net with consistency this season. Chandler Stephenson is their leading scorer with 37 points in 28 games. The Washington Capitals product is in his fourth WHL season and has been nothing but solid for the Pats with a team leading +17. Boston Leier was a terrific 20-year-old pick up by the Pats from the Medicine Hat Tigers. The fourth year forward already has 20 goals this season. Morgan Klimchuk is an 18-year-old elite forward who is a first round pick of the Calgary Flames. The former first round Bantam Draft pick is out due to injury right now. Dyson Stevenson rounds out the Pats top scorers. The 20-year-old has 18 goals this season and combines his scoring touch with a rugged style of play. The second wave of forward to be aware of includes Connor Gay, Dryden Hunt, Braden Christoffer and Geordie Maguire. Others up front that round out the Pats forwards include Marc McCoy, Adam Brooks, Carter Hansen, Rylee Zimmer, Austin Wagner and Max Kammerer. On defence, Kyle Burroughs is the team captain at 18 and brings it every night at both ends of the ice. With 21 points this season, the Islanders draft pick leads all Pats defenders in scoring. Jesse Zgraggen and Dmitry Sinitsyn have been solid defenders for the Pats this year. Zgraggen is a 20-year-old in his fourth WHL season and Sinitsyn is a WHL rookie at 19 who is a draft pick of the Dallas Stars. Colby Williams and Griffin Mumby are both returning veterans for the Pats. Brady Reagan and Chase Harrison are the two rookies on defence for the Pats this season. In goal, the Pats have gone through quite a few goaltenders in the first half of the season already having five different netminders suit up with the hockey club. Through it all, Dawson MacAuley has been there from the start of the season thwarting off any competition. MacAuley has appeared in 27 of the Pats 31 games this season. It looks as though Nick Schneider has snagged the back-up position as a 16-year-old after starting the season in Midget hockey.

NHL DRAFT: Cole Ully (Dallas, 5^th round, 131^st overall in 2013).

INJURY REPORT: Bolton Pouliot, Upper Body, 4-6 weeks, Joe Kornelsen, Upper Body, 1 week.Man games lost due to injury – 14.

DID YOU KNOW… Collin Shirley and Matt Thomas were acquired from the Kootenay Ice on October 22^nd… Connor Clouston is the son of current Medicine Hat Tigers GM/Head Coach Shaun Clouston and the nephew of current Prince Albert Raiders Head Coach Cory Clouston… Ryan Rehill and Edson Harlacher were both mentioned in Central Scouting Prospect Watch as ‘C’ prospects… Nick Chyzowski has been named to Team Pacific for the World U-17 Hockey Challenge… 18-year-old Matt Needham was named the Kamloops Blazers captain… Needham is the youngest Blazers captain since Ajay Baines was named team captain as an 18-year-old in 1996-97 season… Nick Chyzowski scored his first two WHL goals on November 2^nd against the Vancouver Giants… The Blazers acquired 20-year-old Tyson Ness from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a 3^rd round WHL Bantam Draft pick in 2014 in September… Head Coach Dave Hunchak is entering his 10^th season in the Western Hockey League after serving three years in Swift Current as an Assistant Coach, four years in Moose Jaw as a Head Coach, and the past two years as an Associate Coach with the Kamloops Blazers… Associate Coach Mark Ferner is entering his second stint with the Blazers after serving as an Assistant, Associate and Head Coach with the Blazers from 2002-2006… Mitch Lipon is the younger brother of former Blazers forward JC Lipon… Matt Needham’s father Mike played for the Blazers from 1986-1990… Nick Chyzowski’s father Dave played for the Blazers from 1987-1990…