DOUBLEHEADER IN PRINCE GEORGE THIS WEEKEND
THE SEASON: The Kamloops Blazers franchise is in their 37th season in the Western Hockey League and the 34th season as the Kamloops Blazers. The hockey club is 0-9-0-0 to start the 2017-18 WHL season. They have lost five games at home and four games on the road to start the regular season. The Blazers are on the road for four straight games. Following the doubleheader in Prince George this weekend, the Blazers will be in Spokane and Tri-City next weekend. The Blazers will conclude the month of October with home games against Everett and Tri-City.
Vs. Prince George – This Season (10-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/04/17, vs. Prince George 6, Kamloops 2
Game 2: 10/13/17, at Prince George, Kamloops
Game 3: 10/15/17, at Prince George, Kamloops
Game 4: 11/15/17, vs. Prince George, Kamloops
Game 5: 11/25/17, vs. Prince George, Kamloops
Game 6: 02/09/18, at Prince George, Kamloops
Game 7: 02/10/18, at Prince George, Kamloops
Game 8: 02/17/18, vs. Prince George, Kamloops
Game 9: 03/16/18, vs. Prince George, Kamloops
Game 10: 03/17/18, at Prince George, Kamloops
Blazers are 0-1-0-0 in season series
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 25 players (2 goaltenders, 8 defensemen and 15 forwards). The roster includes 15 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, three players via trade, five players from the free agent list, and two players selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes 13 players from B.C., four from Alberta, five from Saskatchewan, one from Manitoba, one from Czech Republic and one from Switzerland. There are 17 WHL veterans on the roster and eight WHL rookies.
BY THE NUMBERS: Nick Chyzowski is in his 5th season with the Blazers and has played 280 career games with the franchise… Quinn Benjafield played his 200th career WHL game on October 8th vs. Seattle… Nick Chyzowski is eight goals shy of 50 in his WHL career… Ryley Appelt scored his first career WHL goal in his first career WHL game last season… Joe Gatenby played his 250th WHL game on October 1st in Victoria… Garrett Pilon has 119 career points in the WHL, which is the highest among all roster players… Brodi Stuart scored his first regular season WHL goal on October 1st in Victoria… Connor Zary scored his first career WHL on October 4th vs. Prince George.
NHL DRAFT: Garrett Pilon (Washington, 3rd round, 87th overall), Ondrej Vala (Free Agent, Signed by the Dallas Stars in September 2016), Dylan Ferguson (Dallas, 7th round, 194th overall – Traded to Las Vegas Golden Knights – June 26, 2017)
INJURY REPORT: None. Man games lost due to injury – 8.
DID YOU KNOW… Don Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 720 regular season wins… He is also 2nd in Blazers franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (287) with 255 career regular season wins… Stu MacGregor was named the Blazers General Manager on October 13th, 2015… Joe Gatenby was acquired from Kelowna on August 18th, 2016… Nic Holowko was acquired from Prince Albert on December 11, 2016… Luc Smith was acquired from Regina on December 27th, 2016… Defenseman Ondrej Vala was signed by the Dallas Stars in September 2016… Jackson Shepard won a Gold Medal with Team Canada at the U-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August… Devan Harrison and Brodi Stuart both played playoff games with the Blazers last season as call-ups… Forwards Garrett Pilon (Washington), Luc Smith (New York Rangers), defenseman Ondrej Vala (Dallas), and goaltender Dylan Ferguson (Las Vegas) all attended NHL training camps in September… Dylan Ferguson, Garrett Pilon and Ondrej Vala are all signed to NHL contracts.
