BLAZERS VISIT TBIRDS IN SEATTLE TONIGHT
WHAT’S AHEAD: The Blazers have started the month of January with a 3-5-0-0 record. The team is 5currently in an ultra tight divisional and conference race. The month of January is a busy one for the Blazers as they play 15 games in 29 days. After tonight’s game, the team will travel to Tri-City to face the Americans tomorrow night. They will then go home following the game to prepare for home games against Chilliwack on Friday, January 21st and Vancouver on Saturday, January 22nd to conclude a stretch of 4 games in 5 nights this week. The following week sees the Blazers play games in Prince George, Vancouver and Chilliwack.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: This is the third of four games between these two teams this season. The Blazers are 2-0-0-0 against the Thunderbirds winning at home on October 30th 3-2 in overtime. Jordan DePape scored the game winning goal for the Blazers as Calvin Pickard made 49 stops for the Thunderbirds. Colin Smith and Austin Madaisky scored the other two goals for the Blazers. On January 1st, the Blazer scored two third period goals to comeback and upset the Thunderbirds 3-2 in Seattle. Dylan Willick had the winner for the Blazers and Jeff Bosch stopped 38 of 40 shots. The final meeting of the season between these two teams is in Kamloops on February 9th.
CENTRAL SCOUTING RANKINGS: Two Blazers were ranked in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-term rankings that were released on Monday. Defenseman Tyler Hansen was slated at 97th on the list of North American born players. The 17-year-old from Magrath, AB is in his second year with the hockey club. He has 2 goals, 6 assists for 8 points in 45 games. Hansen also has a +/- rating of +1 on the season which is among the team leaders. Colin Smith was ranked at 130th among North American skaters. The 5’10” center has 12 goals, 18 assists for 30 points in 46 games this season. He recently recorded his first WHL hat-trick on Friday in a 5-2 win over the Chilliwack Bruins.
NHL DRAFT: Corey Fienhage (Buffalo, 3rd round, 81st overall in 2008), Austin Madaisky (Columbus, 5th round, 124th overall in 2010), Brendan Ranford (Philadelphia, 7th round, 209th overall in 2010), Josh Caron (SIGNED by Minnesota, 2010)
INJURY REPORT: Bernhard Keil (Shoulder, day-to-day), Chase Schaber (Leg, 2 weeks), Jordan DePape (Leg, 1 week), Thomas Frazee (Knee, 2 weeks). Man games lost due to injury – 62.
DID YOU KNOW…The penalty killing unit is currently 22nd in the league this season at 74.9%, while the powerplay is currently in 7th at 19.7% going 46-for-233… Ryan Hanes is the leader in penalty minutes with 116… Brendan Ranford is 3rd in WHL scoring with 30 goals, 38 assists and 68 points… Brendan Ranford only has 2 goals in his last 13 games and none in his last 8 games… Colin Smith played his 100th WHL game on Wednesday versus Medicine Hat; he has 60 points in 102 WHL games… Ryan Hanes played his 100th WHL game on Friday in Tri-City… Chase Schaber leads the team in +/- with a +7 rating … Colin Smith recorded his first WHL hat-trick on January 7th in a 5-2 win over the Chilliwack Bruins… The Blazers penalty kill is 50-for-57, which is 87.7% over the past 13 games… Colin Smith has been hot as of late with 5 goals and 7 points over his last 6 games.
