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 6-20-2-2 record and are in a slump going 0-10-0-2 in their past 12 games. The hockey club is now into their road heavy part of their schedule. After two home games last weekend, the Blazers will play seven straight games on the road and 12 of  their next 13 games between December 8^th and January 10^th on the road. The Blazers are on their bi-annual six-game road trip through Manitoba and Saskatchewan starting tonight in Brandon. The Blazers will play tomorrow night in Regina before playing three games in three nights this weekend in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.

Vs. Brandon – Last Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/26/12, vs. Brandon 1, Kamloops 8

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

Vs. Brandon – This Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 12/10/13, at Brandon, 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 Wheat Kings will meet only once this season. Last year, the Blazers hosted the Wheat Kings and defeated them 8-1 back on October 26^th in Kamloops. The last time the Blazers were in Brandon was back on December 16, 2011 with the Blazers squeaking out a 3-2 win over the Wheat Kings.  

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+18=23) 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+8=20) 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+0=2) 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, (0+0=0) Eric Krienke, (1+0=1) Nathan Looysen (0+1=1) and Mitch Lipon (1+4=5) are all 17-year-olds looking to prove themselves. Nick Chyzowski (2+3=5) 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+18=24) 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.

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS ‘Who to Watch’: The Wheat Kings are an up and coming team with some young guns leading the way offensively this season. Two 17-year-olds are first and second in team scoring as Jayce Hawryluk and John Quenneville with 33 and 32 points respectively. Richard Nejezchleb is having a breakout second season in the WHL with 19 goals in 31 games this season. Rihards Bukarts is an 18-year-old rookie from Latvia who has played well with 22 points this season. Secondary scoring has helped the Wheat Kings as Tim McGauley, Chad Robinson and Jens Meilleur have all provided this season. Peter Quenneville has been a good addition from the NCAA with 11 points in 14 games. Others up front include rookies Ryley Lindgren, Jesse Gabrielle, Brett Kitt, Tyler Coulter, and Braylon Shmyr. The Wheat Kings have a strong group of defenders led by NHL first round pick and team captain Ryan Pulock. The 19-year-old has 10 goals and 26 points in 27 games this season. Eric Roy is into his fourth WHL season with 20 points and 20-year-old Rene Hunter is also into his fourth WHL season and has 13 points this season. Colton Waltz is into his second WHL season and has hit career high numbers with 11 points this season. Ryan Pilon is a highly regarded 17-year-old who was added in a trade from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in November. Pilon is big at 6’3” and is likely to be an early pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Kord Pankewicz and Taylor Green round out the back end for the Wheat Kings. All seven defenders are WHL veterans. The Wheat Kings have a good tandem in goal with 19-year-old Curtis Honey and 17-year-old Jordan Papirny. Both goaltenders have played a lot due to an injury suffered by Honey earlier this season. Papirny has already played 20 games in his first WHL season, while Honey has suited up for 14 games. 

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 – 12.

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…