BLAZERS AND AMERICANS CLASH TONIGHT

THE SECOND HALF: The Blazers boast a 33-10-1-2 record and sit in first place in the B.C. Division, thirteen points ahead of the Vancouver Giants. Since returning from the Christmas break, the Blazers are 9-1-0-1 and are 8-0-0-0 in the month of January. The Blazers played three home games last week, and won all three games. On Wednesday, the Blazers hosted Lethbridge and shut out the Hurricanes 3-0. The Blazers were in Seattle last night and won 5-3 over the Thunderbirds for their eighth consecutive win, all in the month of January. The Blazers have allowed only nine goals in their past eight games, with goaltender Cole Cheveldave playing seven of the eight games. Cheveldave has three shutouts this month. The Blazers are currently on a five game road trip that started last night in Seattle. The Blazers will conclude their brief trip south tonight in Tri-City. Next week, the Blazers will play in Kelowna on Wednesday and in Victoria on Friday and Saturday.   

Vs. Tri-City – Last Season (4-Game Series)
Game 1: 01/14/11, at Tri-City 7, Kamloops 3 
Game 2: 01/19/11, at Tri-City 5, Kamloops 0
Game 3: 02/15/11, vs. Tri-City 2, Kamloops 3 SO
Game 4: 03/08/11, at Tri-City 5, Kamloops 4

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

Vs. Tri-City – This Season (4-Game Series)
Game 1: 11/19/11, at Tri-City 3, Kamloops 2 OT
Game 2: 01/11/12, vs. Tri-City 2, Kamloops 3
Game 3: 01/21/12, at Tri-City, Kamloops
Game 4: 02/08/12, vs. Tri-City, Kamloops

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

THE MATCH-UP: The Blazers and Americans are meeting for the third of four times this season. This is the Blazers final appearance at the Toyota Center this season. In the first meeting, the Blazers battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to tie the game and send it to overtime. Goals by Chase Schaber and Matt Needham tied the game up and sent it to overtime. The Americans won the game in overtime playing 3-on-3 as Justin Feser buried a rebound for the win. In their last meeting, the Blazers staved off an Americans comeback to win the game 3-2. Colin Smith scored twice for the Blazers with defenseman Tyler Hansen eventually scoring the winning goal. The Blazers and Americans will play one final time this season in Kamloops on February 8^th.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: The Kamloops Blazers have had very little turnover of their roster this season, only making a few minor tweaks. The Blazers offence has been consistently spread throughout three lines. Up front the Blazers have five players, Brendan Ranford, Colin Smith, Tim Bozon, Brandon Herrod and Dylan Willick who have all recently hit the 20-goal plateau. The 20-year-old Herrod was acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders on New Years Eve. Bozon is leading the WHL in rookie scoring with 23 goals and 46 points, and was recently ranked 39^th among North American skaters for the upcoming 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Forwards Chase Schaber and JC Lipon are closing in on the 20-goal plateau with 17 and 15 goals on the season. Ranford, Smith, Bozon, Schaber, Lipon and Herrod are all averaging around a point a game or better this season. The Blazers also have 19-year-old Jordan DePape who should return to the line up by March after suffering a shoulder injury in the sixth game of the season. DePape had 21 goals for the Blazers last season. Some young rookies that have caught the eyes of scouts and fans include a pair of 16-year-old forwards, Matthew Needham and Cole Ully. Needham has 8 goals and 21 points on the season and Ully has tallied 5 times this year. The Blazers so called fourth line has been consistent and productive with forwards Chase Souto, Aspen Sterzer and Ryan Hanes contributing energy and work ethic. On the back end, veteran defensemen Austin Madaisky, Bronson Maschmeyer and Tyler Hansen are leading the way. All three defensemen are into their third or fourth WHL season and having their best WHL seasons. Add in second-year players Marek Hrbas, and Brady Gaudet and the Blazers have experience on the back end. First year defensemen Tyler Bell and Landon Cross have both played well and have contributed when counted upon. The goaltending position has been solid for the Blazers with veteran Cam Lanigan and rookie Cole Cheveldave as the two goaltenders. Cheveldave has taken over the starting position and is among the league leaders in most goaltending categories. His performance should garner some rookie of the year consideration.   

TRI-CITY AMERICANS ‘Who to Watch’: The Tri-City Americans have been one of the elite teams in the WHL over the past number of seasons and are currently ranked #1 in the CHL. The Americans have another good team led by their 20-year-old veterans Adam Hughesman, Brendan Shinnimin and Mason Wilgosh. All three players are into their fourth or fifth seasons in the WHL, all with the Americans. The Americans are deep up front with forwards Justin Feser, Patrick Holland, Connor Rankin, Malte Stromwall and Jordan Messier. They have depth and are loaded with experience, skill and talent among their forwards. Up front the Americans also have Nathan MacMaster, Brian Williams, Marcus Messier, Lucas Nickles, Lukas Walter and Tyson Dallman who are relied upon to round the forward group. The Americans defence suffered a big loss with Tyler Schmidt graduating from junior. Despite the loss, the Americans defense has been consistent. WHL veterans Zach Yuen, Derek Ryckman, Sam Grist and Mitch Topping are the leaders in their back end. All four defenseman add different elements and keep it simple to allow the forwards to use their talent and skill. Also on defence are Michal Plutnar, Drydn Dow, and Justin Hamonic. The Americans have a solid duo in goal this season as 19-year-old Ty Rimmer and 16-year-old Eric Comrie have both played well. Rimmer leads the WHL in most goaltending categories including a stellar 2.10 goals against average.

NHL DRAFT: Austin Madaisky (Columbus, 5^th round, 124^th overall in 2010), Brendan Ranford (Philadelphia, 7^th round, 209^th overall in 2010)

INJURY REPORT: Jordan DePape (Upper Body, one month+), Ryan Hanes (Upper Body, one week+), Brady Gaudet (Upper Body, day-to-day), Brandon Herrod (Lower Body, day-to-day). Man games lost due to injury – 76.

DID YOU KNOW… Forwards Brendan Ranford and Colin Smith continue to lead the Blazers with 55 and 57 points this season… 19-year-old defenseman Austin Madaisky leads the Blazers defence in scoring with 9 goals, 26 assists and 35 points playing in 46 games… Third year defenseman Tyler Hansen leads the Blazers with +29 rating… Tim Bozon has 7 goals and 15 points during a 9-game point streak… Ryan Hanes, Colin Smith, JC Lipon, Austin Madaisky, Bronson Maschmeyer and Chase Souto have all surpassed their goal output from last season with career high totals… Dylan Willick has only missed one game over the past two and a half seasons… Bronson Maschmeyer is the Blazers current iron man playing in his 190^th consecutive game tonight… 18-year-old Colin Smith is the WHL’s Player of the Week with 3 goals, 4 assists and 7 points to go along with a +6 rating to help the Blazers to a 3-0-0-0 record last week... Brendan Ranford is the longest serving Blazer and has played 252 WHL games and has 233 points all with the Blazers… Forward JC Lipon has 15 goals and 46 points this season which eclipses his career high total of 3 goals and 21 points last season… The Blazers have surpassed their win total from last season (29) with 33 victories this year… The Blazers have a league leading 14 shorthanded goals, compared to only 4 shorthanded markers all of last season… The Blazers are 14-2-0-0 on Friday nights this season… The Blazers are 11-1-0-0 in their past twelve home games... The hockey club boasts a 26-3-1-1 record against Western Conference opponents this season… Import forward Tim Bozon was recently added to the CHL Top Prospects game on February 1^st.