BLAZERS VISIT GIANTS TONIGHT

 THE MATCH-UP: The Blazers and Giants are meeting for the fourth of eight times this season. In the first meeting, the Blazers won 6-2 over the Giants. Austin Madaisky and Chase Souto each scored two goals in the victory. Tim Bozon set up three goals, while 18-year-old forward JC Lipon had two assists. On December 27^th in Vancouver, Brendan Ranford and Austin Madaisky had a goal and an assist in a shootout loss. Alex Kuvaev was the lone goal scorer in the shootout as the Giants won 4-3. On December 28^th in Kamloops, the Blazers got goals from Madaisky, Bronson Maschmeyer and Chase Schaber in a 3-1 win. The Blazers and Giants will meet four more times this year. They play a home-and-home series February 24^th and 25^th and also on March 9^th and 10^th.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: 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 hit the 20-goal plateau. The 20-year-old Herrod was acquired from the Prince Albert Raiders on New Years Eve. Bozon is among the WHL leaders in rookie scoring with 26 goals and 51 points, and was 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 19 and 16 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 will re-join the Blazers by mid-February 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 9 goals and 23 points on the season and Ully has tallied 5 times this year and has 11 points. 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.    

VANCOUVER GIANTS ‘Who to Watch’: The Giants are 15 points behind the Kamloops Blazers for the B.C. Division lead. The Giants are sitting in 5^th place in the Western Conference, 11 points up on Kelowna and trailing Spokane by two points. The Giants have been cold as of late with a 4-5-0-1 record in their past ten games. The Giants have relied on Brendan Gallagher, Marek Tvrdon, Cain Franson and Jordan Martinook to put the puck in the net. All four players have combined for more then half of the Giants goals this season with 94. The Giants have other strong pieces including their two 20-year-olds. Fifth year defenseman Neil Manning is the offensive leader on the back end. The Giants also have 20-year-old goaltender Adam Morrison. Morrison has a 25-10-1-1 record this season. Some other veteran forwards that will be counted on by the Giants include Nathan Burns, Dalton Sward, Taylor Makin and Matt Bellerive. Some rookie forwards that have impressed include Anthony Ast, Austin Vetterl and Jackson Houck. On defence, veterans Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, David Musil, Tyler Vanscourt and Neil Manning are the leaders. The Giants still do have many young defensemen who have taken big strides this season. This includes Brett Kulak who is a team leading +21. Morrison is expected to start tonight with 16-year-old Jackson Whistle backing him up.

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), JC Lipon (Upper Body, day-to-day). Man games lost due to injury – 90.

DID YOU KNOW… Forwards Brendan Ranford and Colin Smith continue to lead the Blazers with 61 and 59 points this season… 19-year-old defenseman Austin Madaisky leads the Blazers defence in scoring with 11 goals, 29 assists and 40 points playing in 51 games… Third year defenseman Tyler Hansen leads the Blazers and the WHL with a +33 rating… Ryan Hanes, Colin Smith, JC Lipon, Austin Madaisky, Bronson Maschmeyer, Chase Schaber, Chase Souto and Brock Balson have all surpassed their goal output from last season with career high totals… Bronson Maschmeyer is the Blazers current iron man playing in his 196^th consecutive game tonight… Brendan Ranford is the longest serving Blazer and has played 257 WHL games and has 239 points all with the Blazers… Forward JC Lipon has 16 goals and 49 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 36 victories this year… The Blazers have a league leading 15 shorthanded goals, compared to only 4 shorthanded markers all of last season… The Blazers are 14-3-0-0 on Friday nights this season… The Blazers are 12-1-0-0 in their past 13 home games... The hockey club boasts a 30-4-1-2 record against Western Conference opponents this season… Import forward Tim Bozon played in the CHL Top Prospects game in Kelowna on Wednesday… The Blazers are ranked 2^nd in the latest BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10… Forwards Brandon Herrod and Ryan Hanes are both returned to the line-up Wednesday. Herrod has missed six games, while Hanes has been out the last 15 games both with injuries... Brandon Herrod recorded his 250^th WHL point with a goal on Wednesday.