BLAZERS LOOK FOR 40TH WIN IN KELOWNA

The Kamloops Blazers are looking for another win over the Rockets in Kelowna tonight. The Blazers thrilled the home crowd coming back from deficits of 4-1 and 4-2 through the first two periods to win 5-4 in overtime. Goaltender Cole Cheveldave, who was pulled from last night’s game, will be looking for redemption after a rough first period last night. Here are some notes prior to tonight’s game:

DOWN THE STRETCH: The Blazers boast a 39-12-1-3 record and sit in first place in the B.C. Division and the WHL with 82 points, three points ahead of Edmonton and six points ahead of Tri-City. Since returning from the Christmas break, the Blazers are 15-3-0-2 and have started a busy month of February with a 4-1-0-0 record. The Blazers will play at home in five of their next seven games. Last week, the Blazers beat the Spokane Chiefs 4-1 at home, lost 7-5 in Vancouver and won 3-1 in Seattle. On Wednesday, the Blazers took down Tri-City 5-1 at home. Last night the Blazers won 5-4 in an overtime thriller over the Rockets. Next week, the Blazers will host the Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday night and are home to the Red Deer Rebels on Friday and the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday night. The Blazers play 14 games in the month of February, their busiest month of the WHL season.  

Vs. Kelowna – This Season (8-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/16/11, vs. Kelowna 2, Kamloops 3
Game 2: 10/28/11, vs. Kelowna 2, Kamloops 5
Game 3: 10/29/11, at Kelowna 3, Kamloops 4
Game 4: 01/25/12, at Kelowna 3, Kamloops 2 SO
Game 5: 02/10/12, vs. Kelowna 4, Kamloops 5 OT
Game 6: 02/11/12, at Kelowna, Kamloops
Game 7: 03/02/12, vs. Kelowna, Kamloops
Game 8: 03/03/12, at Kelowna, Kamloops

THE MATCH-UP: The Blazers and Rockets are meeting for the sixth of eight times this season. In the first meeting, the Blazers beat the Rockets 3-2. Colin Smith, JC Lipon and Brendan Ranford scored for the Blazers while Cole Cheveldave earned the win. In the second meeting, the Blazers jumped out to a 5-1 lead and won the game at home 5-2. Dylan Willick scored twice and Colin Smith recorded 2 assist with Cheveldave earning the win. In the last game in Kelowna on October 29^th, the Blazers won 4-3. The Rockets jumped out to a 2-0, lead but the Blazers scored four straight goals. Dylan Willick scored twice and Cam Lanigan made 20 saves for the win. On January 25^th, the Blazers couldn’t hold on to a 2-1 lead and fell 3-1 in the shootout. Last night, the Blazers came back from a 4-1 deficit to win 5-4. Chase Schaber had the winning goal and Colin Smith scored twice. Zach Franko and Myles Bell both scored shootout goals for the Rockets. To close out the season series, these two teams will play another home-and-home series on March 2^nd and 3^rd.

KELOWNA ROCKETS ‘Who to Watch’: The Rockets possess a young and talented group of forwards. Veterans Shane McColgan, Brett Bulmer, Cody Chikie, team captain Colton Sissons, and Zach Franko have all returned from last season. Some rookie forwards that have been exciting to watch for the Rockets include Tyson Baillie, Carter Rigby and import Filip Vasko. Rigby has put up solid numbers with 15 goals this season. The Rockets defence is relatively young. Veterans MacKenzie Johnston, Mitchell Chapman and Myles Bell need to be steady influences for the newcomers. Rookies such as 16-year-olds Jesse Lees and Madison Bowey are expected to be big contributors down the road. Watch for second year defenseman Damon Severson who played in the CHL Top Prospects game. The rangy rearguard continues to improve. The Rockets have two veterans in goal. Adam Brown and Jordon Cooke are both capable goaltenders. Brown was one of the best goaltenders in the Western Conference last season. Injuries have hurt the Rockets this season as they’ve missed fourth year forward Spencer Main most of the season. 

DID YOU KNOW… Forwards Brendan Ranford and Colin Smith continue to lead the Blazers with 70 and 65 points this season… 19-year-old defenseman Austin Madaisky leads the Blazers defence in scoring with 11 goals, 31 assists and 42 points playing in 55 games… Third year defenseman Tyler Hansen leads the Blazers with a +33 rating… Ryan Hanes, Colin Smith, JC Lipon, Austin Madaisky, Bronson Maschmeyer, Chase Schaber, Chase Souto and Brock Balson have all surpassed their goal output from last season with career high totals… Bronson Maschmeyer is the Blazers current iron man playing in his 200^th consecutive game tonight… Brendan Ranford is the longest serving Blazer and has played 261 WHL games and has 248 points all with the Blazers… Forward JC Lipon has 17 goals and 51 points this season which eclipses his career high total of 3 goals and 21 points last season… The Blazers have surpassed their win total from last season (29) with 39 victories this year… The Blazers have a league leading 16 shorthanded goals, compared to only 4 shorthanded markers all of last season… Tim Bozon has points in 16 of his last 17 games… 16-year-old Cole Ully had scored in three straight games but was shutout last night… Five of Cole Ully’s eight goals this season have been game winning goals… The Blazers are 14-1-0-0 in their past 15 home games… The hockey club boasts a 32-5-1-2 record against Western Conference opponents this season… Import forward Tim Bozon played in the CHL Top Prospects game in Kelowna on February 1^st… The Blazers are ranked 3^rd in the latest BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10… Brandon Herrod recorded his 250^th WHL point with a goal on February 1… The Blazers are 14-1-1-0 against U.S. Division teams this season.