Twitter abuzz with Blazer banter
If the social-media world is any indication, there isn't much room left on the Blazer Train.
Twitter blew up on Tuesday, Oct. 30, after Colin Smith scored in a shootout to give the visiting Kamloops Blazers a 3-2 win over the Everett Silvertips, handing the Blue and Orange its 14th straight victory — a franchise record.
"Judging by my twitter feed, Kamloopsians are really starting to jump onto the @blazerhockey bandwagon. #14Ws #recordsetter," Blazer fan Dave Behnsen said on Twitter.
Both the 1986-1987 and 1989-1990 Blazers were halted at 13 straight wins and, with less than 10 minutes to play in the third period of Tuesday's game, it looked like this season's edition of the team might not get to 14, either.
Then again, when Chase Souto scored at 14:39 of the third frame to tie the game, it was not all that surprising.
These are, after all, the Cardiac Blazers.
"As Keener [Radio NL's Jon Keen] says, just another day in the office," Keefer said on Twitter.
"There isn't words to describe their heart and determination."
Blazer right-winger JC Lipon, who leads the Western Hockey League in goals with 16 and points with 40, capped an October — or Liptober, according to many on Twitter — to remember with the Blazers' opening goal.
The Regina product is averaging 2.35 points per game. (Thanks to Twitter's @WHLFacts for that statistic.)
Smith assisted on Souto's goal, bringing his Canadian Hockey League-best point streak to 17 games.
Goaltender Cole Cheveldave extended his perfect record to 11-0-0, while the Blazers moved to 16-0-1 on the season.
The only blemish on Kamloops' record is a shootout loss to the Victoria Royals on Sept. 28.
Not everyone on Twitter was shedding a completely positive light on the Blazers' current streak.
Dan Russell of CKNW suggested there should be an asterisk in the WHL record book.
"Thanks to NHL awarding loser pts & CHL adopting them, Kamloops club record win streak needs *. Previous record set without OT gimmick," Russell wrote. "Its wrong when OT win is put into your main WIN column, but if u lose it doesnt show up in your main LOSS column. Can NHL CBA fix that pls!"
WHL games ended in a tie after overtime in both seasons Kamloops won 13 straight.
Kamloops is in Kelowna tonight (Nov. 1) to play the Rockets.
The Blazers will then host Prince George on Friday, Nov. 2, at Interior Savings Centre. Faceoff is at 7 p.m.
There's no doubt the road-weary Blazers are looking forward to some home cooking.
"#blazertrain is rolling back to Canada hot! Feels great having so much support from the city!! Thank you fans!" Tweeted Cheveldave.
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