BLAZERS WEEK IN REVIEW, OCTOBER 29
Week in Review:
Friday, October 26th, 2012 vs. Brandon Wheat Kings – 8-1 Win
The Blazers scored five times in the first period en route to an 8-1 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. Colin Smith enjoyed a four point night which included a goal and three assists. Tyler Hansen had his first three point night with a goal and two assists. Forwards Dylan Willick and Tim Bozon each record two goals and an assist and JC Lipon had three assists on the night. The Blazers had period leads of 5-0 and 7-0. The Wheat Kings lone goal came on a 5-on-3 power play in the third period. Full Recap and Highlights.
Saturday, October 27th, 2012 vs. Victoria Royals – 5-2 Win
The Blazers had a similar start as Friday, scoring four goals in the first period and won their 12th straight game 5-2. Colin Smith finished the night with two goals and an assist, while Tim Bozon had a goal and two assists. JC Lipon and Marek Hrbas each had two helpers in the win. Cole Cheveldave improved his record to 10-0-0-0 making 25 saves for the win. The Blazers power play was lethal scoring three times in the first period and finishing 3-for-6. Full Recap and Highlights.
Sunday, October 28th, 2012 at Seattle Thunderbirds – 4-3 Win
It took overtime, but the Blazers won their third game in three nights 4-3 over the Seattle Thunderbirds. Seattle took a 2-0 lead in the second period but the Blazers battled back with two goals by JC Lipon and a goal by Sam Grist to make it 3-3 after two periods. The Blazers couldn’t get one past goaltender Brandon Glover in the third period despite a decisive shot clock advantage at 16-4 and two posts in the period. Colin Smith made short work in overtime scoring 25 seconds in to lift the Blazers to their 13th consecutive victory. Full Recap and Highlights.
Blazers Remain Only CHL Team Unbeaten, Best Start in Franchise History
It`s early, but the Blazers have continued their tremendous start to the 2012-13 season going 15-0-0-1 and winners of 13 straight games. This is one of the best starts in franchise history. The Blazers had a hot start in the 1989-90 season when the team went 15-1-0 in the first 13 games. The team in 1989-90 actually started the season 20-1-0 and had a record of 56-16-0, recording the most wins in a season in franchise history.
The Blazers are coming off a weekend in which they played three games in three nights. This included a 5:00pm game in Seattle on Sunday after playing a home game the previous night at 7:00pm. The hockey club leads the WHL in goals for with 78 on the season and is second in goals against with 36 allowed. The Blazers have scored 20 more goals than any other team in the WHL.
The hockey club is currently riding a 13-game which ties a franchise record set during the 1986-87 and 1989-90 seasons.
1-2-3 in WHL Scoring
It’s not very often a team will have three players at the top of the scoring race at any level in hockey. At the moment, the Blazers JC Lipon (39), Colin Smith (38), Tim Bozon (29) are 1, 2, and 3 in WHL scoring. The trio plays on a line together and has separated themselves from the rest of the WHL with the outstanding start. Curtis Valk is 4th in WHL scoring with 25 points this season. We also can’t forget Brendan Ranford of the Blazers who is 8th in WHL scoring with 23 points in 14 games this season.
Lipon’s 15 goals in 16 games is tops in the WHL. Tim Bozon’s 14 goals is tied for second. Colin Smith’s +/- rating of +17 on the season is tops in the WHL, with JC Lipon just behind Smith at +16 and defenseman Sam Grist along with Tim Bozon are +15. Smith (25), Lipon (24), Brendan Ranford (16) and Tim Bozon (15) sit 1, 2, 3, and 4 among WHL assists leaders.
No Player of the Week, but Possible Player of the Month?
For the first time in three weeks, no Blazer player was named the WHL Player of the Week. Colin Smith was in the running with 10 points in three games last week, but was edged out by Medicine Hat’s Curtis Valk.
With the month of October closing, the Blazers will more than likely have a player named the WHL’s Player of the Month for September/October. JC Lipon and Colin Smith are currently nine and 10 points ahead of everyone in the WHL point race.
An argument can also be made for Cole Cheveldave to be in the running for WHL Goaltender of the Month. Cheveldave has a 10-0-0-0 record, 1.95 goals against average, .926 save percentage and one shutout this season.
Blazers Rank 1st in the BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings
The Blazers are ranked 1st in the BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 for the second straight week with a 15-0-0-1 record on the season. The Blazers were left off the initial rankings, but have been ranked every week since the season has started. To view the rankings, follow this link.
Smith and Lipon Named to Team WHL
Blazers’ forwards Colin Smith and JC Lipon were named to Team WHL for the 2012 Subway Super Series in Vancouver and Victoria on November 14th and 15th. Both Smith and Lipon will play in Victoria on November 15th. For more details, follow this link.
Sell Out for Breast Cancer Raises a Ton of Money
The Blazers annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser game has raised more than anticipated. The total dollar amount is unknown, but the hockey club vowed to donate $1 from every ticket sold if the Interior Savings Centre was sold out. The city of Kamloops responded by packing the ISC with 5,508 people (Seating Capacity – 5,464). It was the Blazers first non-rain check night sell out since January 27th, 2007. Cole Cheveldave, Colin Smith and Dylan Willick also vowed to donate $100 of their own money to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation if the game was a sellout. Kamloops native a co-owner of the Blazers Mark Recchi also jumped on board and will donate $1,000 to this great cause.
The night included special edition jerseys and pumpkins carved by the Blazers that were auctioned off. There was also a WestJet flight and chuck-a-puck that raised money for this great cause. A total dollar amount of the funds raised will be released this week.
November is Kids’ Month and also Movember!
November is Kids’ Month! Buy a regular priced Adult or Senior ticket to any Blazers home game in the month of November and receive a free Child ticket (4-12) for the same game. We will also be looking for kids to help present the Booster Juice 3 Stars and to help PA Announcer Bill O’Donovan announce goals and penalties for one period of each home game throughout the month.
For more information on Kids’ Month please email Ashley Neuls, [email protected]
November is also Movember! The Blazers along with the rest of the CHL teams will be growing moustaches throughout the money to raise money and awareness surrounding men’s cancer. More details will be released later this week.
2012-2013 Kamloops Blazers Season Tickets
Although the season has started, 2012-2013 Kamloops Blazers season tickets are still available. Check out the great prices by following this link.
For more details on season tickets, please contact Ticketing & Promotions Co-ordinator, Missy Cederholm by email at [email protected] or by phone at 778-471-8068.
Community Service:
None
Injury Report:
Mitch Friesen, Lower Body, One Week
Team Leaders:
Goals – JC Lipon (15)
Assists – Colin Smith (25)
Points – JC Lipon (39)
+/- – Colin Smith (+17)
Rookies – Jordan Thomson (5)
PIM – Ryan Rehill (25)
GAA – Cole Cheveldave (1.95)
SV % – Cole Cheveldave (.926)
Schedule:
Monday, October 29th, Team Activity, Everett
Tuesday, October 30th, Blazers at Everett, 7:00pm, Comcast Arena
Wednesday, October 31st, Practice 2:00pm – 3:00pm, ISC
Thursday, November 1st, Blazers at Kelowna, 7:00pm, Prospera Centre
Friday, November 2nd, Blazers vs. Prince George, 7:00pm, ISC
Saturday, November 3rd, Day of Rest
Sunday, November 4th, Practice 11:00am – 12:30pm, ISC
