BLAZERS MAKE IT PERFECT WEEKEND SWEEP

The Blazers celebrate a goal over the Kelowna Rockets (Photo: Kelvin Harrison)

What is more difficult? Playing your 7^th and final game of a 14-day road trip early in the WHL season, or playing the night before in Portland and arriving back in Kamloops at approximately 6:45am to prepare for another game? Both scenarios have their cons, but the Blazers were full marks in a 3-0 home ice victory over the Prince George Cougars on Saturday night.

On Sunday, the Rockets and Blazers were both playing their third game in as many nights. The Rockets came in after weekend games in Victoria, while the Blazers were at home waiting for the Rockets. The Blazers won the game in the second period as they took a 3-1 lead and won the game 3-2.

Playing three games in three nights challenges a team’s character, depth and stamina. Winning all three games is a credit to a team’s character, depth and stamina. The last time the Blazers won three games in three nights was during the 2006-07 season. The hockey club put up 40-wins that season. 

Goaltender Cole Cheveldave has impressed in his four starts this season. The 18-year-old rookie has played well, and the stats back it up. It is very early, but it is nice to see Cheveldave among the league leaders in goals against average and save percentage. He will get consideration for WHL Goaltender of the Week honours. The Blazers have a good situation with three goaltenders on their roster, each in different age groups (Lanigan – 19, Cheveldave – 18, Kozun – 17). All three goaltenders have earned wins for the Blazers this season.

The Blazers have shown their depth as it seems different players step up on different nights. Friday night, Brendan Ranford, Chase Schaber and Cam Lanigan were the difference in a 5-4 overtime win in Portland. Saturday night it was Colin Smith, Dylan Willick and Cole Cheveldave that the Blazers relied on. On Sunday night JC Lipon scored the winner and Cheveldave was solid once again. It is great to see different players step up at different times.

A terrific stat to note: In the Blazers seven wins, seven different players have scored the game winning goal. Everybody needs to be on board to win.

The Blazers only have one play in the Top 20 in WHL scoring. The offence is spread out though as the hockey club also has six players that are averaging at least a point per game.

One final stat to ponder, 20 of the 21 roster players have a positive +/- rating this season. Last season, only one player on the roster finished as a + player.

A day off for the players is in order today, with the Blazers in the midst of playing six games in nine nights. The Blazers get a bit of a breather after this portion of the schedule. Following this coming weekend, the Blazers only play 9 games over their next 31 days.

The hockey club will depart for Red Deer tomorrow morning. The Blazers are making their only trip of the season to Alberta this week. The team will play in Red Deer Wednesday night, Lethbridge Friday night and in Medicine Hat on Saturday night to conclude the trip.

Thoughts from the road will be coming this week.