THE STRETCH DRIVE: The Blazers have a record of 34-15-2-3 and 73 points through 54 games so far this season. The Blazers sit nine points behind the red-hot Kelowna Rockets for first in the B.C. Division.  The Rockets are 16-0-1-1 in their last 18 outings. The Blazers beat the Rockets 6-5 in overtime this past Monday night on home ice. The Blazers closed out a brief three game homestand on Monday night. The Rockets and Blazers will still meet five more this season in the last 20 games. The Blazers have played three times already this week with a home game against Kelowna on Monday and a game in Portland on Wednesday. The tough week for the Blazers ends tonight as the hockey club will head to Everett. Next week features only two home games for the Blazers as they host the Everett Silvertips on Thursday, February 7^th and the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday, February 9^th.  

Vs. Everett – Last Season (4-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/08/11, at Everett 2, Kamloops 5
Game 2: 12/07/11, vs. Everett 1, Kamloops 6
Game 3: 01/14/12, vs. Everett 2, Kamloops 5
Game 4: 02/29/12, at Everett 2, Kamloops 3

Blazers won the season series 4-0-0-0

Vs. Everett – This Season (4-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/30/12, at Everett 2, Kamloops 3
Game 2: 01/23/13, vs. Everett 3, Kamloops 4
Game 3: 02/02/13, at Everett, Kamloops
Game 4: 02/07/13, vs. Everett, Kamloops

Blazers are 2-0-0-0 in season series

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 23 players (2 goaltenders, 8 defensemen and 13 forwards). The roster includes 11 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, six players from the free agent list, five players via trade, and one player selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes eight from B.C., seven players from Alberta, three from Saskatchewan, three from Manitoba, one from the USA, one from the Czech Republic, and one from Switzerland.

THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Silvertips are meeting for the third time this season. These two teams will meet twice more over the next few weeks. The Blazers won the first meeting of the season back on October 30^th, 3-2 in a shootout in Everett. The Blazers beat the Silvertips on Cole Ully’s overtime winner on January 23. The season series will close out in Kamloops on Thursday, February 7^th.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: The Kamloops Blazers forward crop is led by 20-year-old and fifth year player Brendan Ranford (14+43=57). Ranford has led the Blazers in scoring the last two seasons with 86 points in 2010-11 and 92 in 2011-12. He will need to pick up his pace to surpass his points total from the past two seasons. The trio of Colin Smith (35+50=85), JC Lipon (26+43=68), and Tim Bozon (31+40=71) has been dynamite at times this season. The Blazers also have 20-year-old Dylan Willick (10+10=20) up front who is getting back into form after a long term injury. The additions of 20-year-old Kale Kessy (14+15=29) and 19-year-old Joe Kornelsen (3+7=10) has added size and depth to the Blazers line-up. Two 17-year-olds have taken on a bigger role this season and have thrived lately. Cole Ully (17+18=35) and Matt Needham (11+19=30) both had terrific rookie seasons and are providing offensive depth to the hockey club. Chase Souto (11+14=25) is an 18-year-old into his third year with the team and has been great with Needham and Ully. The depth continues as Aspen Sterzer (2+5=7) can skate and contribute in many different ways for the Blazers when needed. He is a veteran player who loves to take the body on the forecheck. Add in rookies Aaron Macklin (1+3=4) and Mitch Friesen (0+0=0), and the Blazers boast a deep group of forwards. A quartet of 19-year-old defensemen lead the way as Tyler Hansen (2+14=16), Marek Hrbas (3+13=16), Sam Grist (4+13=17), and acquired Joel Edmundson (5+14=19) provide different dynamics to the back-end. Hansen is a big and rugged defender who is looked upon to shut down the opposition’s top players. Grist and Hrbas are expected to play in all situations. Edmundson is a steady two-way defender with size, strength and a terrific shot. Landon Cross (1+9=10) is the lone 18-year-old into his second WHL season. Jordan Thomson (2+8=10) has been solid in the second half. The 16-year-old is a smart and steady presence for the Blazers. Josh Connolly (1+5=6) and Ryan Rehill (0+1=1) continue to develop and improve day in and day out. In goal, the Blazers are strong as Cole Cheveldave (24-12-1-1, 2.75, .896) and 18-year-old Taran Kozun (10-3-1-2, 2.34, .912) can both be counted on at any given time. 

EVERETT SILVERTIPS ‘Who to Watch’: The Silvertips have had an up and down season with the loss of star defenseman Ryan Murray and fresh off a coaching change from two weeks ago which saw Mark Ferner relieved of his duties with General Manager Garry Davidson taking over the remainder of the season. The Silvertips are led up front by veterans Josh Winquist, Reid Petryk, Manraj Hayer, Kohl Bauml and Ryan Harrison. Winquist leads the team in scoring with 21 goals and 36 points this season. Petryk, Hayer and Harrison are all plus players for the ‘Tips. Second year forward Kohl Bauml has 15 goals for the ‘Tips. The ‘Tips are a young team with 16-year-olds Ty Mappin, Tyler Sandhu, Dawson Leedahl, and Mitch Skapski all part of the rebuild. Sandhu has performed well this season with 22 points which is tied for second among 16-year-old in the WHL. Others up front include Brayden Low, Carson Stadnyk, Stathis Soumelidis, Logan Aasman and Lucas Grayson. The back end of the Silvertips has been ravaged by injuries with team captain Ryan Murray out for the season. Connor Cox and Ayrton Nikkel are also out for the ‘Tips at the moment. Landon Oslanski is the 20-year-old leader with 10 goals and 31 points this season. Mirco Mueller is a highly touted 17-year-old who should get drafted in the first few rounds of the NHL Draft. Austin Adam is the only other true veteran among their defenseman. Ben Betker, Michael Zipp, Cole MacDonald are all getting their chances. 15-year-old Kamloops native Kevin Davis is on the ‘Tips roster after getting into four games this season. He may be in the line-up tonight. The ‘Tips are young in goal as well as 18-year-old Daniel Cotton and 17-year-old Austin Lotz have split time between the pipes.          

DID YOU KNOW… Colin Smith is third in the WHL in scoring with 35 goals, 50 assists and 85 points… Forward JC Lipon finished 4^th with Canada’s National Junior Team at the World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia… Brendan Ranford is the longest serving Blazer playing his 331^st game tonight which is 2^nd in franchise history behind only C.J. Strech (341)… he has 327 points all with the Blazers which has him 7^th in Blazers all-time scoring. He is 22 points behind Zac Boyer for 6^th with 349 points… JC Lipon was the WHL’s Player of the Month for September/October with 40 points in 17 games… Ranford needs to play 12 more games this season to surpass C.J. Stretch’s record of 341 career games in a Blazer uniform… Dylan Willick is the Blazers captain with Colin Smith, Tyler Hansen, Brendan Ranford serving as assistant captains… The Blazers boast three of the WHL’s top snipers as Colin Smith (3^rd – 85 points), Tim Bozon (5^th – 71 points), JC Lipon (9^th – 69 points)… The Blazers are honourable mentions in the latest BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings… The Blazers set a franchise record 14-game winning streak between September 30^th and October 30^th… Brendan Ranford is only the 6^th player all-time to play in 300 games with the hockey club… Ranford has more than 300 career points and is the first Blazer to accomplish that feat since Hnat Domenichelli in 1995-96… Brendan Ranford scored his first goal in 11 games on Monday night… Matt Needham has 16 points in 15 games since the Christmas break… 17-year-old forward Cole Ully has eight goals and 21 points in his last 15 outings since the Christmas break… JC Lipon (96) and Cole Ully (97) were both ranked among NHL Central Scouting’s North American skaters for the upcoming 2013 NHL Entry Draft… Defenseman Joel Edmundson is serving game two of a four-game suspension tonight.