Blazers take over top spot in the WHL
Two weekend wins have lifted the Kamloops Blazers into top spot in the WHL.
Kamloops disposed of the Tri-City Americans 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday, Jan. 21, in Kennewick, Wash., one night removed from knocking off the Thunderbirds 5-3 in Seattle on Friday, Jan. 20.
The Blazers’ win streak is now at nine games.
Kamloops, with 71 points, is two points clear of Tri-City and the Edmonton Oil Kings atop the league standings.
Tri-City held top spot in last week’s BMO CHL Mastercard Top-10 rankings.
The London Knights and Shawinigan Cataractes held the second and third spots, respectively, with Kamloops holding the fourth spot.
There is a good chance the Blazers wind up in the No. 2 spot when this week’s rankings are released on Wednesday, Jan. 25, with London moving into top spot.
Chase Souto, Colin Smith, Chase Schaber (4), Bronson Maschmeyer and Brendan Ranford lit the lamp for Kamloops on the weekend.
Schaber and Maschmeyer scored for the Blazers in the shootout against the Americans on Saturday.
Blazer goaltender Cam Lanigan got back into the win column on Friday and Cole Cheveldave took over between the pipes on Saturday.
Kamloops will be in Kelowna to play the Rockets on Wednesday before heading to Victoria to play the Royals twice, on Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28.
The Blazers’ next home action is against the Spokane Chiefs on Feb. 1.
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