Western Hockey League news 10/10

Blazers Week In Review

The Blazers picked up 5 of a possible 6 points on their recently-completed 3-game homestand to bump their record to 3-2-1-1 which is good for second place in the BC Division. Here's how last week went:

October 3rd vs KELOWNA; 5-4 Rockets (OT): Myles McRae scored the winner with 29 seconds left in overtime as the Rockets edged the Blazers 5-4 on Tuesday at Interior Savings Centre. Despite outshooting the Rockets 39-18 and having an 11-3 advantage in powerplays...defensive miscues cost gave Kelowna some quality scoring chances...which led to their goals. Ray Macias, CJ Stretch, Brady Mason, and Brock Nixon scored for the home side as they went 1-for-11 with the extra man...and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Dalyn Flette took the loss while Kris Westblom earned the win.

October 7th vs CHILLIWACK; 2-0 Blazers: Dustin Butler's Blazer debut was a memorable one as he made 25 saves for his 7th career shutout in a 2-0 victory over Chilliwack on Saturday night. Matt Schmermund and Ryan White scored for the Blazers...the first WHL goal for both players...as the home team held period leads of 1-0 and 2-0. Schmermund's goal capped a dominating first 11 minutes as the Blazers outshot the Bruins 12-0 to that point. Final shots ended up 32-25 Kamloops. The Blazers were 1-for-11 on the PP and 9-for-9 on the PK.

October 9th vs SWIFT CURRENT; 5-2 Blazers: The line of Brock Nixon, Juuso Puustinen, and Travis Dunstall combined for seven points as the Blazers wrapped up a 3-game homestand with a 5-2 win over Swift Current on Monday afternoon. The Blazers held period leads of 2-0 and 4-1...with the home side scoring twice in a 47 second span at the end of the second period to break open a 2-1 game. Puustinen scored twice, while Nixon, Reid Jorgensen, and Brady Mason added singles for the Blazers as they outshot the Broncos 32-17 on the day. Dustin Butler picked up his second straight win while Travis Yonkman took his first loss of the season. The Blazers were 1-for-7 on the PP and 5-for-6 on the PK.

THE WEEK TO COME

Tuesday: Practice, 2pm, Interior Savings Centre
Wedesday: Practice, 2pm, Interior Savings Centre
Thursday: Practice, 9am, Interior Savings Centre; 11:30am bus for Red Deer
Friday: GAME DAY @ CALGARY; Face-off 6:00, Radio NL-McDonald's Pre-Game Show 5:30
Saturday: GAME DAY @ RED DEER; Face-off 6:30, Radio NL-McDonald's Pre-Game Show 5:00
Sunday: TBD

ADT CANADA-RUSSIA CHALLENGE

The ADT Canada-Russia Challenge is coming to Kamloops on Thursday, November 30th. Team WHL will take on the Russians in a precursor to the National Junior Team Tryout Camp and the World Junior Hockey Championships. Tickets will go on sale for Blazer Season Ticket Holders starting Monday, October 16th, with sales opening to the general public on Monday, October 30th. Season ticket holders will have the option to purchase their seats for the game until October 30th at which time the tickets will be open to the general public. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youths and seniors. Tickets will be available at the Interior Savings Centre Box Office.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

Tuesday, October 10th: Family Fitness Night, 6:30 - 7:30pm @ John Tod Elementary; players TBD
Monday, October 16th: Booster Club Pizza Night, 5:00pm @ SportsAction Lounge at Interior Savings Centre
Wednesday, October 18th: Dallas Elementary School Visit, 10am; players TBD
Sunday, October 22nd: Blueliner Breakfast, 8:30am @ SportsAction Lounge in Interior Savings Centre; all players will be on hand
Tuesday, October 31st: SKSS SmartRisk Pumpkin Drop, 12:50pm - 1:15pm @ South Kamloops Senior Secondary; players TBD

OPEN DURING RENOVATIONS

www.blazerhockey.com is continuing to undergo renovations. We ask that our fans remain patient as we work to improve our site. We are expecting to have the work completed by mid-October.

Gear Up and Get in Free

Everett, WA - October 10, 2006: If you ever want to feel like a player, now you can. On Tuesday, October 17 against the Tri-City Americans, all fans that enter into the Everett Events Center with their hockey equipment on will get in the game for free at the Everett Events Center. Fans must be wearing the following hockey equipment to get in the building free of charge. No exceptions:

Hockey Helmet

Shoulder Pads

Elbow Pads

Hockey Pants

Hockey Shin Pads

Hockey Socks

Favorite Hockey Jersey

Gloves are optional

(No Sticks or Skates Allowed)

All fans with their hockey equipment on must enter the main doors on the Hewitt Avenue side of the E.E.C. to get in the game for free next Tuesday night. Tuesday is also $10.00 Tuesday. All Red and Orange level seats are discounted to $10.00.

The Silvertips will battle the Tri-City Americans for the first of eight meetings between the two US Division rivals. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.

Hitmen to play three games in four nights

HITMEN LAST WEEK:

October 6th vs. Kootenay

ICE 8 HITMEN 4

Ryan Russell and Ben Maxwell combined for eight points as the Ice took the first of eight meetings with the Hitmen. Russell scored a natural hat trick in the second period to open up a 5-0 lead for Kootenay. Calgary responded with three unanswered goals, but could get no closer. Brett Sonne with a pair, Carson McMillan and Karl Alzner scored in the loss. The Hitmen out shot Kootenay 43-33. Calgary went 3-7 on the powerplay, Kootenay 3-10.

October 8th vs. Lethbridge

HITMEN 2 HURRICANES 0

Dan Spence and Martin Jones combined on a 24 save shutout as the Hitmen blanked their opposition for the first time this season. Second period goals from Keegan Dansereau and Carson McMillan would prove to be the only offense the Hitmen would need. Calgary carried the play from start to finish outshooting Lethbridge 43-33 including 20-10 in the second period. The Hitmen finished 1-9 on the powerplay. Lethbridge 0-7.

GAME NOTES: WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11TH AT LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES

HITMEN HEADLINES: The Hitmen wrap up a home and home series with the Hurricanes tonight in Lethbridge. Calgary captured their first meeting 2-0 Sunday afternoon in the Pengrowth Saddledome. Keegan Dansereau and Carson McMillan scored a pair of second period goals while Dan Spence and Martin Jones combined on a 24 save shutout. Calgary went 1-9 on the powerplay, Lethbridge 0-7. The win improves the Hitmen record to 4-3-0-0, good for 8 points.

VS LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is second of eight meetings with the Hurricanes. Last season the Hitmen won all three games in Lethbridge. The Hitmen and Hurricanes meet again Wednesday, October 25th in Lethbridge.

2005-06 GRADS: Justin Pogge is currently with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, Jeff Schultz is with the AHL's Hershey Bears and Brett Carson is with the ECHL's Florida Everblades. Kris Deines is attending the University of Lethbridge while Shaden Moore is at the University of Alberta.

POINT STREAKS: Karl Alzner, Carson McMillan and Alex Plante are all riding three game point streaks. Alzner (1G4A), McMillan (2G2A), Plante (0G4A).

HITMEN SCORING: The Hitmen have scored 21 goals in five games for an average of 3 per game. Of their 21 goals, 14 have been on the powerplay, the remaining 7 at even strength.

PLANTE'S PRODUCTION: Hitmen defenceman Alex Plante had four points in 54 games last season. He has five in his first seven games this season.

WHL TOP 10: Karl Alzner is tied for 5th in defencemen scoring with eight points. Alzner is also 5th in powerplay assists with seven.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary is 14-61 on the powerplay, that's third in the WHL at 23.0%. The penalty kill is 5th best; 63-73 for 86.3%. Thru the first seven games the Hitmen and their opposition have combined for 134 powerplays, that's an average of 19.1 per game.

DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have 4 NHL picks ...Ryan White-(3rd round Montreal 2006), Robin Figren - (3rd round NYI 2006), Brodie Dupont-(3rd round NY Rangers 2005), Freddie Pettersson-(5th round Edmonton 2005).

ROSTER MOVES: On Sunday the Hitmen traded 20 year-old forward Matt Isbister to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a third round pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft.

HITMEN MONTH BY MONTH: September 2-2-0-0. October 1-1-0-0.

THE ROSTER: Calgary is carrying 25 players; (15 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goalies)

-Break down....3 (20 year-olds), 5 (19 year-olds), 8 (18year-olds), 4 (17 year-olds), and 5 (16 year-olds).

INJURIES: Dylan Yeo WRIST (2 weeks). Freddie Pettersson KNEE (2 weeks). Brendan Rowinski Shoulder (7-9 weeks).

UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen play the return match with the Hurricanes in Lethbridge on Wednesday night. Calgary is then back home Friday to play Kamloops before heading to Medicine Hat on Saturday.

Giants Weekly Recap

After another undefeated week of Western Hockey League action, the Vancouver Giants are busy this week preparing for a home-and-home weekend series against the Seattle Thundebirds.

Last Wednesday, the Giants posted a 5-4 shoot-out win over the Prince George Cougars at the CN Centre. That game the Giants trailed 4-1 into the final four minutes of the third period. In addition, the victory was Don Hay's 300th win as a Head Coach in WHL.

On Friday, the Giants shut-out the Cougars 6-0. J.D. Watt netted a natural hat trick in the third period while Dustin Slade collected his second shut-out of the season and 20th of his career. He is one away from tying the all-time WHL record.

Last Saturday, Vancouver returned home to defeat the Swift Current Broncos 3-1. That night, the Giants went 2-for-12 on the power play while the Broncos went 1-for-14.

On Monday, the Giants got past the Chilliwack Bruins 5-4 at Prospera Centre. Vancouver out-shot the Bruins 44-21 on a night which saw the Giants tie a club record for consecutive wins in the regular season.

The Giants remain the only undefeated team in the Canadian Hockey League heading into this week. On Friday October 13, the Giants will host the Thunderbirds (7:30pm) while on Saturday October 14, the two teams will do battle at the Key Arena (7:05pm).

Giants Place Scharff On Waivers

The Vancouver Giants have announced they have placed 20 year-old CHAD SCHARFF on waivers this afternoon.

Scharff is into his fourth full season in the Western Hockey League. In 179 games played with the Giants, the native of Airdrie, Alberta collected 12 goals, 16 assists, and 115 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 28 career playoff games over the past three years.

"Chad has been one of the most reliable players to wear a Giants uniform," says Giants General Manager Scott Bonner. "As a forward or a defenceman, Chad never disappointed our organization with his effort and dedication both on and off the ice."

"Chad has been a true leader and motivator with our club," adds Giants Head Coach Don Hay. "This has been a very difficult decision process to go through, but we feel we've made the best decision for the future of our club. Everybody in our organization wishes Chad all the best in his hockey future."

Other teams in the Western Hockey League are eligible to claim Scharff in the league's waiver process by Thursday.

Weekly Ice Report

ICE CHIPS: The KOOTENAY ICE enter the fourth week of the 2006-2007 season with a 4-3-0-0 record (3-2-0-0 at home, 1-1-0-0 on the road) and tied for fourth place in the CENTRAL DIVISION with the CALGARY HITMEN...The next home game for the ICE is Sunday, October 15 when they host the PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS, game time is 6:00 pm.

KRAFT FOODS NIGHT: When KOOTENAY hosts the COUGARS on October 15, KRAFT FOODS will be the title sponsor...Fans in attendance at the game will have the opportunity to win great prizes compliments of KRAFT FOODS.

DID YOU KNOW: BEN MAXWELL is second in the League in overall scoring with fifteen points...MAXWELL, who needs to play in three more games to reach 150 in his WHL career, is sixth in the WHL in assists with nine...MIKE BUSTO is tied for fourth in the WHL in scoring by Defensemen with eight points... BUSTO is tied for seventh in assists with eight...RYAN RUSSELL recorded his 150th career WHL point October 6 in CALGARY (73-78-151 career record)...RUSSELL set a franchise record for the fastest three goals scored by one player versus the HITMEN...RUSSELL recorded three goals in three minutes, twenty-seven seconds (previous record was held by SCOTT BURT at four minutes, thirty-three seconds)...TYLAN STEPHANS recorded his first career WHL goal October 7 versus the KELOWNA ROCKETS...The ICE recorded their 350th regular season win October 6 in CALGARY (31 in Edmonton, 319 in Cranbrook)...KOOTENAY tied the franchise record for fewest shots allowed in a game with only 13 shots against on Sunday, October 8 versus the BRANDON WHEAT KINGS.

SCORING STREAKS: BEN MAXWELL has recorded at least one point in each of the first seven games this season (6-9-15 in span)...ARNAUD JACQUEMET (2-4-6 in span), STEVE DASILVA (2-2-4 in span) and CLAYTON BAUER (1-2-3 in span) have each recorded at least one point in each of their last three games.

INJURIES: TRENT FUSSI will be out of the KOOTENAY line-up indefinitely with a broken arm...JOHN NEGRIN will be out of the ICE line-up three to four weeks with an ankle injury... PAUL MACDONALD will be out of the KOOTENAY line-up three weeks with a broken leg.

ONE YEAR AGO: After seven games of 2005-2006 season the ICE were 5-1-0-1, after eight games 5-2-0-1 and after nine games 5-3-0-1.

UPCOMING WEEK:

Tues. Oct. 10 Practice 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex

Wed. Oct. 11 ICE @ Saskatoon 7:00 pm (102.9 FM - The Drive)

Thurs. Oct. 12 Travel Day

Fri. Oct. 13 ICE @ Prince Albert 7:00 pm (102.9 FM - The Drive)

Sat. Oct. 14 Practice 6:00 - 7:30 pm Cranbrook Rec Plex

Sun. Oct. 15 ICE vs. Prince George 6:00 pm (102.9 FM - The Drive)

WEEK IN REVIEW - October 2 - 8

Friday, October 6 - Kootenay 8 @ Calgary 4 - Record 2-3-0-0 - Attendance: 7,324

Goals: 1 - Maxwell (4) from Jacquemet

2 - Fussi (1) from Stickland and King

3 - Russell (3) from Maxwell and DaSilva

4 - Russell (4) from Jacquemet and Maxwell

5 - Russell (5) from Maxwell and Jacquemet

6 - Greenan (2) from Sylvester

7 - Maxwell (5) from Russell

8 - Bailey (2) from Bauer

Goalie: Taylor Dakers (39 Saves, 4 GA)

Saturday, October 7 - Kootenay 5 vs. Kelowna 1 - Record 3-3-0-0 - Attendance: 3,018

Goals: 1 - DaSilva (2) from Greenan and Maxwell

2 - Jacquemet (2) from Maxwell and Busto

3 - Bauer (1) from Kurceba and Greenan

4 - Sylvester (2) from Bailey and Greenan

5 - Stephens (1) from King and Stickland

Goalie: Taylor Dakers (19 Saves, 1 GA)

Sunday, October 8 - Kootenay 3 vs. Brandon 1 - Record 4-3-0-0 - Attendance: 2,563

Goals: 1 - DaSilva (3) from Bauer and Billsten

2 - Jacquemet (3) from Busto and DaSilva

3 - Maxwell (6) from Russell and Jacquemet

Goalie: Taylor Dakers (12 Saves, 1 GA)

Giants Deal Netminder To Regina

The Vancouver Giants have announced 18 year-old goaltender TOMMY TARTAGLIONE has been traded to the Regina Pats in exchange for a 4th round WHL bantam draft pick.

Tartaglione is into his second season in the WHL. The native of Harbor City, California played ten games with the Giants last year, posting a 5-3 record with a 2.15 goals against average and a 89.5 save percentage. He spent the majority of last season playing Junior B for the Delta Ice Hawks of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League, leading them to a regular season and playoff championship.

"Tommy has been a loyal and fierce competitor in our organization the past couple of seasons," says Scott Bonner. "We feel we have tremendous depth in our goaltending position and we believe Tommy deserves to play in the WHL. We wish him all the best with the Pats this season."

The Giants now have 23 players on their roster (2 goalies, 7 defencemen, 14 forwards). They remain the only undefeated team in the CHL and will look to improve on their 9-0 record Friday October 13 when they host the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Silvertips Acquire Veteran Goaltender from Pats

Everett, WA - October 10, 2006: Everett Silvertips VP/General Manager, Doug Soetaert has announced that the Everett Silvertips have acquired veteran goaltender David Reekie from the Regina Pats for a 5th round draft pick in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

Reekie comes to the Silvertips with valuable experience with three seasons in the WHL and the Regina Pats. This season, the Saskatoon, SK native collected a 1-3 record with the Pats in 4 games. Last season, Reekie finished with 31 wins in 55 appearances for the Pats. He also recorded a 3.13 GAA and an 89.6% SP with 2 Shutouts for Regina last season. Overall in his WHL career, Reekie has appeared in 94 games and played in 5046 minutes.

The Everett Silvertips will be a busy hockey club this weekend as they play three games in three nights on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Silvertips will hit the road on Friday, October 13 to battle the Spokane Chiefs at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:00 p.m. The Tips return home on Saturday, October 14 to host the Portland Winter Hawks at the Everett Events Center. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. On Sunday, October 15 the Chilliwack Bruins make their first ever visit to the Everett Events Center to battle the Silvertips. Game time Sunday is 5:05 p.m. For tickets for Saturday and Sunday log onto www.everettsilvertips.com or call 1-866-332-8499.

Ben Maxwell named the CHL Player of the Week

Toronto - The Canadian Hockey League announced today that Kootenay Ice forward Ben Maxwell is the CHL Player of the Week.

Maxwell was named the CHL's Player of the Week after scoring three goals and eight points in three games last week. Maxwell, an 18-year old native of Vancouver, B.C. scored two goals and added three assist in an 8-4 win over the Calgary Hitmen, Friday night. Maxwell followed that effort Saturday with a pair of assists in a 5-1 win over the Kelowna Rockets and contributed a goal in a 3-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings. Maxwell potted two power-play goals and a short handed marker as he improved his season total to 15 points (6G, 9A) and sits second in WHL league scoring.

Viatcheslav Trukhno of the Gatineau Olympiques was the QMJHL Player of the Week after collecting eight assists in three games. Jeremy Duchesne of the Halifax Mooseheads was the QMJHL's Defensive Player of the Week recording two wins, including a shutout, while posting an impressive 1.44 goals-against-average and a .959 save percentage. Brian Little of the Barrie Colts was the OHL Player of the Week after scoring two goals and 10 points. Sebastian Dahm of the Sarnia Sting was named the ADT CHL Goaltender of the week helping Sarnia continue their four game win streak recording two wins and posting a 1.990 goals-against-average and .927 save percentage.