Blazers in PG for two
The Kamloops Blazers play their third of four straight road games tonight (Dec. 17) in Prince George against the Cougars before the Western Hockey League’s Christmas break.
Kamloops suffered a demoralizing 5-4 loss to the Winterhawks in Portland on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
Blazer captain Chase Schaber and his linemate Jordan DePape were both inactive for Wednesday’s game due to suspensions and the young squad fought hard in their absence.
Portland’s Sven Bartschi scored late in the third period to snatch an all-important road point away from Kamloops, which hopped onto a bus immediately after the loss and drove through the night to Prince George.
Continuing to roll for Kamloops was Brendan Ranford, who tallied twice in Portland, boosting his league-leading goal total to 28. He also leads the league in points with 53.
Colin Smith and Bronson Maschmeyer rounded out the Blazers’ scoring against Portland.
Schaber, who was suspended one game for what was deemed an inappropriate gesture on Saturday, Dec. 11, in a game against the Chiefs in Spokane, returns to Kamloops’ lineup tonight against the Cougars.
DePape is slated to return to the lineup in time for a home date with the Vancouver Giants on Dec. 28.
He is serving a five-game suspension for an illegal hit on Swift Current Bronco Killian Hutt on Friday, Dec. 10, at Interior Savings Centre.
On Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Kamloops Blazers acquired 6-foot-4, 205-pound Thomas Frazee, a 20-year-old centreman, from the Regina Pats.
The Blazers sent 20-year-old forward Shayne Neigum, winger Lyndon Martell, 17, and a 2011 third-round bantam pick the other way.
Frazee makes his Blazers debut tonight in Prince George, where the Blazers will finish the back end of a doubleheader against the Cougars on Saturday, Dec. 18.
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