ALMOST HALF WAY: The Blazers have a record of 23-7-1-2 and 49 points through 33 games so far this season. They finished a stretch of playing nine of ten games at home last night with a 6-1-1-1 home record. The Blazers have been a busy team in the first half. By December 15^th when the Blazers go on their Christmas break, the hockey club will have played 38 games, including 20 on the road. Earlier this week the Blazers won two home games 2-1 and 3-0 over Swift Current and Prince George. They will not be at home again until December 29^th. The Blazers will head to Albert after tonight’s game for a date in Calgary on Tuesday, December 10^th with the trip ending in Medicine Hat on Saturday, December 15^th to close out the first half of the season before the Christmas break. 

Vs. Vancouver – Last Season (8-Game Series)

Game 1: 09/30/11, vs. Vancouver 2, Kamloops 6
Game 2: 12/27/11, at Vancouver 4, Kamloops 3 SO
Game 3: 12/28/11, vs. Vancouver 1, Kamloops 3
Game 4: 02/03/12, at Vancouver 7, Kamloops 5
Game 5: 02/24/12, at Vancouver 2, Kamloops 6
Game 6: 02/25/12, vs. Vancouver 5, Kamloops 3
Game 7: 03/09/12, at Vancouver 3, Kamloops 6
Game 8: 03/10/12, vs. Vancouver 3, Kamloops 2

Blazers were 4-3-0-1 in season series

Vs. Vancouver – This Season (8-Game Series)

Game 1: 11/23/12, vs. Vancouver 1, Kamloops 2
Game 2: 12/09/12, at Vancouver, Kamloops
Game 3: 12/29/12, vs. Vancouver, Kamloops
Game 4: 01/02/13, at Vancouver, Kamloops
Game 5: 02/13/13, at Vancouver, Kamloops
Game 6: 02/22/13, at Vancouver, Kamloops
Game 7: 02/27/13, vs. Vancouver, Kamloops
Game 8: 03/02/13, vs. Vancouver, 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, six players from the free agent list, six players via trade, and one player selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes eight players from Alberta, six from B.C., three from Saskatchewan, three from Manitoba, one from the USA, one from the Czech Republic, and one from Switzerland.

THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Giants are meeting for the second of eight times this season. The Blazer won the first meeting on home ice by a narrow 2-1 score. These two teams will play six head-to-head matches in the second half of the season with the first at home to Vancouver on December 29^th and in Vancouver to open the New Year on January 2^nd.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: The Kamloops Blazers forward crop is led by 20-year-old and fifth year player Brendan Ranford (10+24=34). Ranford has led the Blazers in scoring the last two seasons with 86 points in 2010-11 and 92 in 2011-12. He is now joined by 20-year-old Charles Inglis (11+7=18). The trio of Colin Smith (23+34=57), Tim Bozon (16+25=41), and JC Lipon (22+35=57) has been dynamite this season. Lipon and Smith are 1^st and 2^nd in the WHL scoring derby. The Blazers also have 20-year-old Dylan Willick (6+8=14) up front who is currently out until after Christmas due to injury. The addition of 19-year-old Joe Kornelsen (1+5=6) adds depth to the Blazers line-up. The gritty forward was acquired from the Calgary Hitmen last week. Two 17-year-olds have taken on a bigger role this season and will need to continue to produce. Cole Ully (8+6=14) and Matt Needham (4+7=11) both had terrific rookie seasons and are providing offensive depth to the hockey club. Chase Souto (4+6=10) is an 18-year-old into his third year with the team. The depth continues as Aspen Sterzer (1+3=4) 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 Aaron Macklin (0+1=1) and Mitch Friesen (0+0=0), and the Blazers boast a formidable group of forwards. A quartet of 19-year-old defensemen lead the way as Tyler Hansen (2+12=14), Marek Hrbas (1+10=11), Sam Grist (3+7=10), and newly acquired Joel Edmundson (3+6=9) 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. Edmundson is a steady two-way defender with size and strength. Landon Cross (1+7=8) is the lone 18-year-old into his second WHL season. Jordan Thomson (1+5=6) has had a great start to the season. The 16-year-old is a smart and steady presence for the Blazers. Josh Connolly (0+2=2) 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’s (18-5-0-1, 2.16, .916) stats prove. 18-year-old Taran Kozun (5-2-1-1, 2.52, .914) is the back-up.

VANCOUVER GIANTS ‘Who to Watch’: The Giants are in rebuilding mode this season which was shown early on dealing some of their top end talent including David Musil, Nathan Burns getting a healthy return of young players and draft picks. One of the Giants best players, Marek Tvrdon, is out for the season due to injury. Up front 17-year-old Jackson Houck leads a young group with 26 points this season. Veterans Kale Kessy and Trevor Cheek also add scoring to the group. Dalton Sward has taken on a bigger role and a healthy Cain Franson should help the Giants. 17-year-olds Anthony Ast and Carter Popoff are getting plenty of opportunity and are a big part of the youth movement. So are 16-year-old forwards Taylor Vickerman and Thomas Foster. On the back end, Wes Vannieuwenhuizen is the captain and leader of the team. Brett Kulak is a steady rearguard that plays a lot of minutes for an 18-year-old. Mason Geersten is a 17-year-old who was acquired for Musil earlier this season. He is a big, rangy, stay at home defender who will be a big part of their team in a couple seasons. Reid Zalitcah is a 16-year-old who is also part of the youth movement. In goal, the Giants currently have three goaltenders with 16-year-old Payton Lee the best so far. 17-year-old Tyler Fuhr has been up and down, while 19-year-old Liam Liston as missed time due to injuries. Lee will suit up for Team Pacific at the U-17 World Challenge in Quebec from December 29^th – January 4^th.

NHL DRAFT: Tim Bozon (Montreal, 3^th round, 64^th overall in 2012), Colin Smith (Colorado, 7^th round, 192^nd overall in 2012), Joel Edmundson (St. Louis, 2^nd round, 46^th overall in 2011).

INJURY REPORT: Cole Ully (Illness, Week-to-Week),Dylan Willick (Lower Body, 3 Weeks). Man games lost due to injury – 50.

DID YOU KNOW… JC Lipon is tied with teammate Colin Smith for the WHL scoring lead with 22 goals, 35 assists and 57 points… Forward JC Lipon was invited the past week to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp which starts December 10^th in Calgary… Brendan Ranford is the longest serving Blazer playing his 310^th game tonight which has him tied for 4^th all-time… he has 304 points all with the Blazers which puts him 10^th in Blazers all-time scoring with Zac Boyer ahead of him with 312 points… JC Lipon was the WHL’s Player of the Month for September/October with 40 points in 17 games… Goaltender Cole Cheveldave is among the WHL leaders in all goaltending categories with a 18-5-0-1 record, 2.16 goals against average and a .916 save percentage… Ranford needs to play 33 more games this season to surpass C.J. Stretch’s record of 341 career games in a Blazer uniform… Dylan Willick was announced this week as the Blazers’ captain with Colin Smith, Tyler Hansen, Brendan Ranford serving as assistant captains… The Blazers boast three of the WHL’s top six snipers as JC Lipon (1^st – 57 points), Colin Smith (1^st – 57 points) and Tim Bozon (T-6^th – 41 points) have had solid starts to the season… The Blazers have been ranked #4 in the latest BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings… The Blazers set a franchise record 14-game winning streak between September 30^th and October 30^th… Brendan Ranford is only the 6^th player all-time to play in 300 games with the hockey club… Ranford hit 300 points two weeks ago and is the first Blazer to accomplish that feat since Hnat Domenichelli in 1995-96… Tim Bozon played his 100^th career game in the WHL last weekend.