ENJOYING LIFE UP TOP: The Kamloops Blazers have started the 2012-13 season with a 17-2-0-1 record. The Blazers have lost two of their last three games after winning a franchise record 14 games in a row. The hockey club has played a lot of hockey over the past few weeks, and it will continue into this weekend as well. The Blazers have played through some of the toughest stretches this season going through Alberta with a 5-0-0-0 record and going 5-1-0-0 in a stretch of six games in eight nights. The busy schedule continues this weekend as the Blazers play three games in three nights starting in Spokane tonight. The hockey club will play in Tri-City on Saturday and in Portland on Sunday. After this trip, the Blazers will have already played 14 games on the road and will play their next seven games on home ice. 

Vs. Spokane – Last Season (4-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/07/11, vs. Spokane 4, Kamloops 6
Game 2: 11/18/11, at Spokane 1, Kamloops 2
Game 3: 02/01/11, vs. Spokane 1, Kamloops 4
Game 4: 03/14/11, at Spokane 6, Kamloops 4

Blazers won the season series 3-1-0-0

Vs. Spokane – This Season (4-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/12/12, vs. Spokane 1, Kamloops 5
Game 2: 11/09/12, at Spokane, Kamloops
Game 3: 02/01/13, vs. Spokane, Kamloops
Game 4: 02/23/13, at Spokane, Kamloops

Blazers are 1-0-0-0 in season series

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 24 players (2 goaltenders, 8 defensemen and 14 forwards). The roster includes 11 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, eight 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 players from Alberta, seven from B.C., four from Saskatchewan, three from Manitoba, one from the USA, one from the Czech Republic, and one from Switzerland. There are 17 WHL veterans on the roster and seven WHL rookies. Four of those rookies spent time with the Blazers throughout the regular season and playoffs last season.

THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Chiefs are meeting for the second of four games this season. The Blazers won the first meeting of the year 5-1 in Kamloops back on October 5^th. Tonight marks the first trip to Spokane for the Blazers this season. The Chiefs are back in Kamloops on February 1^st, while the Blazers will meet the Chiefs one more time in Spokane on February 23^rd to close out the season series.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: The Kamloops Blazers forward crop is arguably among the best in the WHL. The return of 20-year-old Brendan Ranford (8+16=24) is a big help for the Blazers. Ranford has led the Blazers in scoring the last two seasons with 86 points in 2010-11 and 92 in 2011-12.  Ranford is joined by the trio of Colin Smith (13+26=39), Tim Bozon (14+17=31), and JC Lipon (16+24=40). Smith is the center with Bozon patrolling the left side and Lipon on the right side. The Blazers also have 20-year-olds Dylan Willick (6+8=14) and Jordan DePape (3+2=5) up front. Willick went down with an injury and is expected to be out of the line-up until after Christmas. A pair of 17-year-olds have taken on a bigger role and shown they are capable of handling it in the early stages of the season. Cole Ully (6+6=12) and Matt Needham (4+4=8) both had terrific rookie seasons and are providing offensive depth to the hockey club. Chase Souto (2+3=5) is an 18-year-old into his third year with the team. The depth continues as Aspen Sterzer (1+2=3) and Rob Trzonkowski (2+1=3) can skate and contribute in many different ways for the Blazers when needed. Both are veteran players who love to take the body on the forecheck. Add in rookies Brayden Gelsinger (0+0=0), Aaron Macklin (0+1=1) and Mitch Friesen (0+0=0), and the Blazers boast a formidable group of forwards. A trio of 19-year-old defensemen lead the way as Tyler Hansen (1+9=10), Marek Hrbas (1+9=10), and Sam Grist (2+5=7) provide different dynamics to the back-end. Hansen was among the league leaders in +/- last season and is looked upon to shut down the opposition’s top players. Grist and Hrbas are expected to play in all situations. Two 18-year-olds have stepped up their game this season as Tyler Bell (0+1=1) and Landon Cross (1+7=8) are both into their second seasons. Jordan Thomson (1+4=5) has had a great start to the season. The 16-year-old is a smart and steady presence for the Blazers. Josh Connolly (0+1=1) 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 (12-2-0-0, 1.95, .925) stats prove. 18-year-old Taran Kozun (5-0-0-1, 2.53, .915) is the back-up. Kozun has already got his feet wet with some playing time early on this season and he has been sharp already recording his first WHL shutout.

SPOKANE CHIEFS ‘Who to Watch’: As per usual over the last number of years, the Chiefs are a strong group that continue to be hard to play against. The Chiefs are led up front by Mitch Holmberg, Mike Aviani, and Dylan Walchuk. The Chiefs are fairly balanced throughout their line-up as nine players already have at least 10 points this season. Todd Fiddler is another player to watch for the Chiefs. He has scored 11 times already and is tied with Holmberg for the team lead. The Chiefs have a ton of returnees including the injured Marek Kalus,  and 20-year-old Blake Gal. Both are important contributors to the hockey club. Other returnees include Liam Stewart, Carter Proft and Connor Chartier. Adam Helewka has been the best rookie for the Chiefs with nine points this season. On defence, the Chiefs are led by team captain and fifth year player Brenden Kichton. The 20-year-old is a dynamic defenseman who led the team in scoring last season. He already has 21 points on the year and will be amongst the leaders in scoring among defenseman. Kichton is leading a relatively young defense with 19-year-old Tanner Mort and 18-year-olds Reid Gow and Cole Wedman among the returnees. Tyler King and Jason Fram both are second year players at 17 this year and will have a bigger role for the Chiefs. Adam Power and Jeremy McIntosh are a pair of 17-year-old who are in their first season with the Chiefs. Between the pipes Eric Williams returns as the starter. He was acquired last season by the Chiefs from the Prince Albert Raiders. His back-up is Garret Hughson who has played well in four appearances this season for the Chiefs.  

NHL DRAFT: Tim Bozon (Montreal, 3^th round, 64^th overall in 2012), Colin Smith (Colorado, 7^th round, 192^nd overall in 2012)

INJURY REPORT: Mitch Friesen (Lower Body, Day-to-Day), Dylan Willick (Lower Body, 4-6 Weeks). Man games lost due to injury – 24.

DID YOU KNOW… Rob Trzonkowski is the first Blazer to ever wear #37… JC Lipon leads the Blazers and the WHL in scoring with 16 goals, 24 assists and 40 points… Forwards JC Lipon and Colin Smith have both been named to Team WHL for the Subway Super Series versus Russia and will play in Victoria on November 15^th… Dylan Willick’s iron man streak of 205 consecutive games ended on Tuesday after being injured last Friday night… Brendan Ranford is the longest serving Blazer and has played 296 WHL games and has 294 points all with the Blazers which puts him 10^th in Blazers all-time scoring after passing Robin Bawa’s 287 points… JC Lipon has been named the WHL’s Player of the Month for September/October… Goaltender Cole Cheveldave is among the WHL leaders in all goaltending categories with a 12-2-0-0 record, 1.95 goals against average and a .925 save percentage… Ranford needs to play 44 more games this season to surpass C.J. Stretch’s record of 341 career games in a Blazer uniform… Colin Smith, Tyler Hansen and Dylan Willick are the Blazers Alternate Captains, with a Captain yet to be named… The Blazers boast the WHL’s top three scorers as JC Lipon (1^st – 40 points), Colin Smith (2^nd – 39 points), Tim Bozon (3^rd – 31 points) all play on the same line… The Blazers have been ranked #2 in the latest BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings… JC Lipon had 16 goals and 33 points 13 games during the month of October… Colin Smith had his season opening 17-game point streak in which he has compiled 39 points snapped last week… The Blazers set a franchise record 14-game winning streak between September 30^th – October 30^th.