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Warm Up The Bus – My Take on the Kamloops Blazers: Alberta Road Trip

Tuesday October 16, 2012: Game #2 – Kamloops @ Red Deer

The Blazers are set to play game number two of the five game Alberta road trip tonight in Red Deer. The Rebels currently sit 3rd in the Central Division, behind Alberta rivals Calgary and Edmonton.

THE NIGHT BEFORE: The Blazers haven’t played since Sunday afternoon in Calgary, where the powerplay went 5 for 10 and the penalty kill 2 for 4 en route to a 5-2 Blazer victory. Kamloops handed the Hitmen their first regulation loss of the season. JC Lipon recorded another four points to add to his league leading total, which sat at 22 prior to the game Tuesday night. The Rebels also played their last game against the Hitmen, a game in which Red Deer fell by a 4-2 count. After tonight, the Rebels will take on the Kootenay Ice for a weekend home-and-home series.

WHO TO WATCH: JC Lipon is white hot. After three games last week, the 19 year old Regina native recorded 10 points in just three games to increase his point total, and league lead, to 22 points. Close behind is linemate Colin Smith who, as of game time, sits second in the league with 18 points. Leading the way for Red Deer is WHL veteran Charles Inglis, who leads the team with 10 points, including seven goals. The Blazers will also have to watch out for hard-hitting Matthew Dumba, who was selected seventh overall in this summer’s NHL entry draft.

“KEEPING” TIME: Expect Taran Kozun between the pipes for the Blazers tonight, as Cole Cheveldave is expected to rest for tomorrow night’s marquee matchup with the Oil Kings. Kozun has played in three games thus far this season, and the sophomore goaltender has posted a decent 2.84 GAA and a .909 SV %. Bolton Pouliot is expected to start for the Rebels.

FIRSTS: This is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. After his first WHL point and a +4 rating last week against Victoria, rookie defenceman Ryan Rehill has been held out of the line-up. After getting his first WHL Player of the week honor last season, JC Lipon has won it for the 2nd straight week. Could tonight be the night that the Blazers get their first duplicate GWG scorer? So far, eight different players have scored the eventual game winner. This is former Blazers' D Brandon Underwood's first game against the Blazers with the Rebels. Underwood was dealt to Red Deer from Regina earlier this year.

MY PREDICTION: The Blazers will prove valiant, but all good things must come to an end, and the Rebels will win a hard fought game.

Predicted score: KAM 2 RD 3

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BLAZERS FACE THE REBELS TONIGHT

GETTING INTO STRIDE: The Blazers have started the 2012-13 season with a 8-0-0-1 record. The Blazers have won their last six games by a combined score of 29-8. The hockey club is in the middle of one of the toughest stretches of the year. They are playing four games in five nights this week and seven in eleven days overall. The Blazers took the first game of their Central Division road trip with a 5-2 win in Calgary on Sunday night. Following tonight’s game, the Blazers are in Edmonton on Wednesday, October 17th. The Blazers will finish up the trip this weekend with a game in Lethbridge on Friday, October 19th and in Kootenay on Saturday, October 20th.

Vs. Red Deer - Last Season (2-Game Series)

Game 1: 10/19/11, at Red Deer 4, Kamloops 2

Game 2: 11/11/11, vs. Red Deer 5, Kamloops 3

Game 3: 02/17/12, vs. Red Deer 3, Kamloops 2

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

Vs. Red Deer - This Season (2-Game Series)

Game 1: 10/16/12, at Red Deer, Kamloops

Game 2: 02/09/13, vs. Red Deer, Kamloops

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

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 25 players (2 goaltenders, 9 defensemen and 14 forwards). The Blazers swung a deal with Tri-City last week to acquire 19-year-old rearguard Sam Grist. Grist is a 6’4”, 200lb defender who adds size and experience to the backend. The roster includes 12 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, eight players from the free agent list, four 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., five from Saskatchewan, three from Manitoba, one from the USA, one from the Czech Republic, and one from Switzerland. There are 18 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 Rebels will meet only twice this season, with both teams playing once at home and once on the road. Last season, the Rebels had the Blazers number. The Rebels won all three meetings. Oddly enough, the Rebels were the only team to beat the Blazers at least three times last season. These two teams will meet once again on February 9th in Kamloops.

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 (4+10=14) 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 (6+12=18), Tim Bozon (6+7=13), and JC Lipon (9+13=22). Smith, who had 35 goals and 85 points last season, is the center on the dynamic line. Bozon, who had 36 goals last season, is slotted at left wing and tends to be the guy to finish. Lipon, who had 65 points last season, is the right winger whose grit and tenacity on the puck helps create chances. The Blazers also have 20-year-olds Dylan Willick (3+4=7) and Jordan DePape (1+1=2) up front. Both players are veteran 20-year-olds who have recorded 20+ goal seasons and averaged just under a point a game. 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 (5+2=7) and Matt Needham (2+3=5) both had terrific rookie seasons and are providing offensive depth to the hockey club. Chase Souto (0+2=2) has played with Needham and Ully and has been solid in the early going. The depth continues as Aspen Sterzer (1+1=2) and Rob Trzonkowski (1+1=2) can skate and easily move up the line-up if 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. The Blazers return six WHL veterans on defence and have three rookies on the back-end. A pair of 19-year-old defensemen will lead the way as Tyler Hansen (0+1=1) and Marek Hrbas (1+4=5) provide two 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. Hrbas is expected to play in all situations. The addition of 19-year-old Sam Grist (0+3=3) adds more size and grit to the back-end. A trio of 18-year-olds have stepped up their game this season led by third-year rearguard Brady Gaudet (0+4=4). Along with Gaudet, Tyler Bell (0+1=1) and Landon Cross (1+2=3) 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+0=0) and Ryan Rehill (0+1=1) continue to develop and improve day in and day out. In goal, the Blazers are strong. Cole Cheveldave (6-0-0-0, 1.65, .936) is expected to make a bulk of the starts this season. The 19-year-old was a second team Western Conference All-Star last season. 18-year-old Taran Kozun (2-0-0-1, 2.84, .909) is the back-up. Kozun has already got his feet wet with some playing time early on this season and he has been sharp. The 18-year-old spent some time with the Blazers during the start of the regular season and in the playoffs last season.

RED DEER REBELS ‘Who to Watch’: The Rebels are a relatively young group. After suffering so many injuries last season, the Rebels are looking to bounce back and make the playoffs. Charles Inglis will be counted on to lead the offensive push. The 20-year-old has seven goals and 10 points on the season so far. Inglis has a solid supporting cast starting with 20-year-old Turner Elson who is signed by the Calgary Flames. Tyson Ness, Matt Bellerive and Joel Hamilton add some depth up front. Young players Christian Stockl, Cory Millette and Connor Bleackley have been solid early on for the Rebels. Stockl was acquired from Saskatoon in a trade for 20-year-old Adam Kambietz last week. Other returning forwards include Colten Mayor, Chad Robinson, Brooks Maxwell, and Marc McCoy. The Rebels defense is led by 18-year-old Mathew Dumba. Dumba is a first round NHL draft pick to the Minnesota Wild. He is a well-rounded defender that has an edge to his game. His mobility and ability to make an open ice hit is phenomenal. He is always a fun player to watch. The Rebels defense also features 20-year-old former Blazer Brandon Underwood. Kayle Doetzel is another name to watch as the 17-year-old is mentioned as a potential NHL Draft Pick. Other defenders include Cody Thiel, Devan Fafard, and rookies Jan Bittner, Haydn Fleury, Kevin Pochuk and Riley Boomgaarden. The Rebels are currently carrying three goaltenders as veterans Patrik Bartosak and Bolton Pouliot are joined by Grant Naherniak. Bartosak has been unexpectedly scratched recently as Bolton Pouliot has carried the load in goal.

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

INJURY REPORT: Jordan DePape (Upper body, one week), Landon Cross (Lower body, day-to-day). Man games lost due to injury – 11.

DID YOU KNOWRob Trzonkowski is the first Blazer to ever wear #37… First year defenseman Jordan Thomson leads the Blazers with a +9 rating this season, tops among WHL rookies… JC Lipon leads the Blazers and the WHL in scoring with 9 goals, 13 assists and 22 points… Dylan Willick takes over the Blazers current iron man streak playing in his 196th consecutive game tonight after Bronson Maschmeyer played in 216 consecutive games to finish his junior career… Brendan Ranford is the longest serving Blazer and has played 285 WHL games and has 284 points all with the Blazers which puts him 11th in Blazers all-time scoring after passing Robin Bawa’s 278 points on Wednesday… Ranford needs to play 57 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 three players who scored 35+ goals last season in Brendan Ranford (40), Colin Smith (35) and Tim Bozon (36)… Forward JC Lipon is the WHL Player of the Week for the second week in a row after putting up 6 goals, 4 assists in three games last week... JC Lipon has 17 points in his last five games, including nine goals… Defenseman Josh Connolly is the younger brother of former Prince George Cougar Brett Connolly… The Blazers have eight different players who have scored the game winning goal in eight wins so far this season.

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BLAZERS SHUTOUT REBELS 4-0 IN RED DEER

The Blazers continued their strong start improving to 9-0-0-1 with a 4-0 win over the Red Deer Rebels on Tuesday night. Taran Kozun earned his first WHL shutout and improved his record to 3-0-0-1 stopping 32 shots. Tim Bozon and Colin Smith each had three point nights, while JC Lipon added to his WHL scoring lead with two assists and now has 24 points in 10 games.

The first period was scoreless with the Blazers holding a slight lead in the shot department 11-9. There was not much to speak of in the period as both teams stayed out of the penalty box.

The Blazers got on the scoreboard in the second period. Sam Grist put a shot at the net and Colin Smith dug it out of skates to put home his seventh goal of the season. Tim Bozon made it 2-0 in the final five minutes of the second period. Lipon gave a puck to Smith who set up Bozon in front of the net and he potted his seventh of the season. The Blazers took the 2-0 lead into the final period.

Chase Souto made it 3-0 4:03 into the third period getting his first of the season. He went to the net hard and put in a rebound off a shot from Dylan Willick. Bozon rounded out the scoring on a terrific play by Colin Smith. Smith drew two defenders to him and fed Bozon who scored his eighth goal of the season. From there, the Blazers cruised to their seventh victory in a row and improved their road record to 4-0-0-1 on the season.

Colin Smith had the winning goal which marks the ninth different player to score the game winner in nine wins this season. The Blazers were 0-for-6 on the power play and finished 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

The Blazers next action is tomorrow night in Edmonton as they face the defending WHL Champions. Game time is 7:00pm/PT.

I'll have the next W.U.T.B. before puck drop. 9-0-0-1!!!!!!! :towel:

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What a Game, Tonight should be even better, I would love for the Blazers to pull this one out but it's going to be tough. Were coming off a game last night, where the Oil Kings are rested. Not only that, but they we'll be up for this one as many are touting it a preview of the WHL final (not just me haha).

Oil Kings take this one 4-3

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