THE SECOND HALF: The Blazers have a record of 28-12-2-2 and 60 points through 44 games so far this season. The first half was a busy one with the Blazers playing a league high 38 games, including 20 on the road. The second half schedule is much kinder to the Blazers. The Blazers will play almost all of their remaining games in B.C. with only four road games left against U.S. Division opponents. Since the Christmas break, the Blazers are 3-2-0-0. The Blazers are on a stretch of playing five straight road games which started with a doubleheader in Prince George this weekend. The hockey club will return home before playing two games in Victoria next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. They will then head south for a date with the Tri-City Americans on Friday, January 18^th, before closing out the week against Victoria on Saturday, January 19^th on home ice.  Following this stretch, the Blazers will play 14 of their final 23 games on home ice.

Vs. Prince George – Last Season (10-Game Series)
Game 1: 09/24/11, vs. Prince George 1, Kamloops 0
Game 2: 10/15/11, vs. Prince George 0, Kamloops 3
Game 3: 11/04/11, at Prince George 1, Kamloops 5
Game 4: 11/05/11, at Prince George 3, Kamloops 1
Game 5: 12/02/11, vs. Prince George 4, Kamloops5
Game 6: 01/01/12, vs. Prince George 0, Kamloops 5
Game 7: 01/06/12, at Prince George 0, Kamloops 2
Game 8: 01/07/12, at Prince George 1, Kamloops 6
Game 9: 03/16/12, vs. Prince George 4, Kamloops 10
Game 10: 03/17/12, at Prince George 4, Kamloops 2

Blazers won the season series 7-3-0-0

Vs. Prince George – This Season (8-Game Series)
Game 1: 11/02/12, vs. Prince George 1, Kamloops 2 SO
Game 2: 11/17/12, vs. Prince George 4, Kamloops 5 SO
Game 3: 12/07/12, vs. Prince George 0, Kamloops 3
Game 4: 01/11/13, at Prince George 1, Kamloops 0
Game 5: 01/12/13, at Prince George, Kamloops
Game 6: 03/01/13, at Prince George, Kamloops
Game 7: 03/15/13, vs. Prince George, Kamloops
Game 8: 03/16/13, at Prince George, Kamloops

Blazers are 3-1-0-0 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 Cougars are meeting for the fourth of eight games this season. The Blazers won the first meeting in Kamloops on November 2^nd, 2-1 in a shootout. The Blazers won the second meeting 5-4 in a shootout on November 17^th. On December 7^th, the Blazers won 3-0 on home ice. Last night, the Blazers were shutout 1-0 with Brett Zarowny making 44 saves.  

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: The Kamloops Blazers forward crop is led by 20-year-old and fifth year player Brendan Ranford (13+35=48). Ranford has led the Blazers in scoring the last two seasons with 86 points in 2010-11 and 92 in 2011-12. The trio of Colin Smith (27+41=68), Tim Bozon (25+32=57), and JC Lipon (22+35=57) has been dynamite so far this season. The return of Lipon tonight from the World Junior Tournament will put the trio back together for the first time since early December. The Blazers also have 20-year-old Dylan Willick (7+9=16) up front who has returned after missing the past two months due to injury. The additions of 20-year-old Kale Kessy (11+9=20) and 19-year-old Joe Kornelsen (3+6=9) has added size and depth to the Blazers line-up. Two 17-year-olds have taken on a bigger role this season and will need to continue to produce. Cole Ully (12+11=23) and Matt Needham (6+14=20) both had terrific rookie seasons and are providing offensive depth to the hockey club. Chase Souto (9+10=19) is an 18-year-old into his third year with the team. 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+12=14), Marek Hrbas (2+10=12), Sam Grist (3+12=15), and acquired Joel Edmundson (5+12=17) 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+8=9) is the lone 18-year-old into his second WHL season. Jordan Thomson (1+5=6) has just returned from the U-17 World Challenge. The 16-year-old is a smart and steady presence for the Blazers. Josh Connolly (1+4=5) 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 (19-9-1-1, 2.60, .901) and 18-year-old Taran Kozun (9-3-1-1, 2.31, .915) can both be counted on at any given time. 

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS ‘Who to Watch’: The Cougars are led up front by Colin Jacobs. The Buffalo Sabres draft pick has 30 points this season to lead the Cougars. Secondary scoring comes from the likes of Troy Bourke, Caleb Belter, Klarc Wilson, Jari Erricson, Zach Pochiro, and Ryan Hanes. The Cougars roster is still young after dressing up to eight 16-year-olds last season, the roster only has one this year with 11 17-year-olds on the roster. Young players like Jarrett Fontaine, Jordan Tkatch, Brett Roulston, and Carson Bolduc are starting to contribute and gain experience for the Cougars.. The defence is led by a pair of 20-year-olds in Daniel Gibb and Dallas Ehrhardt. The two are into their fourth WHL seasons. They are big, strong and steady defenders. Michael Mylchreest is the only other returnee, as the Cougars have five first year defenseman on the roster. Marc McNulty may be the best of the rookies standing at 6’5” and contributing with 10 points this season. Between the pipes, the duo of Mac Engel and Brett Zaworny has been able to get the job done. Engel is a 19-year-old veteran who was acquired from Spokane. He suited up for 54 games with the Chiefs last season. Zarowny is a 17-year-old who has impressed early in 20 appearances. Zarowny continues to earn starts for the Cougars. 

NHL DRAFT: Tim Bozon (Montreal, 3^th round, 64^th overall in 2012), Colin Smith (Colorado, 7^th round, 192^nd overall in 2012), Joel Edmundson (St. Louis, 2^nd round, 46^th overall in 2011), Kale Kessy (Phoenix, 4^th round, 111^th overall in 2011).

INJURY REPORT: Aspen Sterzer (Upper body, Day-to-Day). Man games lost due to injury – 64.

DID YOU KNOW… Colin Smith is second in the WHL in scoring with 27 goals, 41 assists and 68 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 321^st game tonight which puts him 3^rd in franchise history behind Aaron Gionet (324) and C.J. Strech (341)… he has 318 points all with the Blazers which ties him for 8^th in Blazers all-time scoring with Mike Nottingham … JC Lipon was the WHL’s Player of the Month for September/October with 40 points in 17 games… Ranford needs to play 23 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 – 68 points), Tim Bozon (6^th – 57 points), and JC Lipon (7^th – 57 points)… The Blazers have been ranked #5 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… Marek Hrbas has returned after competing for Czech Republic at the World Junior Tournament in Ufa, Russia… Defenseman Jordan Thomson is also back after competing with Team West at the U-17 World Challenge in Quebec.