LIPON, RANFORD CHASING TITLE
Ranford and Lipon Chasing AHL Championship
The Kamloops Blazers have two former players that will play each other for the AHL championship. The AHL conference finals wrapped up and 22-year-old Brendan Ranford and 20-year-old JC Lipon are both advancing to the Calder Cup Final in the American Hockey League.
Ranford and the Texas Stars beat the Toronto Marlies 4-3 in the AHL Western Conference best-of-seven final. Ranford has been terrific in the playoffs leading the Stars with seven goals and 10 points in 16 games.
The Edmonton native, who went to the Texas Stars camp at the start of the season on a tryout basis, earned an AHL contract in October. After a slow start in which he was in and out of the line-up, Ranford established himself as a reliable player putting up 12 goals, 21 assists and 33 points in 65 games.
Ranford is one of the most prolific scorers in Kamloops Blazers history with 137 goals and 357 career points over five seasons from 2008-2013. His career 357 points is good for sixth in franchise history. He also holds the franchise record for career games played with 348.
JC Lipon’s St. John’s IceCaps beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL Eastern Conference Final best-of-seven series 4-2.
Lipon was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He was signed by the Jets in September and played this past season with the Jets top affiliate in St. John’s.
Lipon played four seasons with the Kamloops Blazers recording 188 points in 248 career games. He broke out as a 19-year-old player during the 2012-13 season scoring 36 goals and putting up 89 points along with 115 penalty minutes in 61 games.
The Regina, SK native had a solid rookie season with the IceCaps scoring nine times and adding 32 assists for 41 points in 72 games. Lipon also led the team in penalty minutes with 136 during the regular season.
In 14 playoff games, Lipon has added one assist for the IceCaps.
For more on the Calder Cup Final including the schedule, CLICK HERE.
