WEEKEND GAMES, COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS

L to R: Chase Schaber, Austin Madaisky, Ryan Hanes, J.T. Barnett, Josh Caron.

The Blazers are preparing for home games on Friday and Saturday night against two Central Division opponents. The Red Deer Rebels will be here for an afternoon game on Friday, November 11^th at 2:00pm. The Edmonton Oil Kings will play here on Saturday, November 12^th at 7:00pm.

Believe it or not, the Rebels and Oil Kings both did not play a game at the Interior Savings Centre last season. In fact, the last time the Rebels were here was on January 15^th, 2010 and the Oil Kings made their last visit on December 5^th, 2009.

This season the Blazers won’t play games in Edmonton, Calgary and Kootenay. Edmonton and Calgary will both visit the ISC twice. The defending WHL Champion Kootenay Ice will be here on November 23^rd in the only match up between the Blazers and Ice.

Community service is a huge part of being a junior hockey player. The Blazers are especially involved in the community over these next two weeks since they don’t play any weekday games. On Tuesday, the non High School players were either presenting the RCMP sponsored EDGE program to Grade 5 and 6 students or Carpet Bowling with Seniors.

Today, the Blazers will be at the North Shore Wendy’s at 6:00pm to have some dinner and share some stories. The public is welcome to join the team.

On Thursday, two players will be doing the EDGE presentation and the rest of the team will be playing a “Sit Down” Floor hockey game with special needs students.

For those who are unaware, EDGE stands for Educate, Develop, Grow and Excel. Six Blazers went to Vancouver in September and were accompanied by members of the Kamloops RCMP detachment. The players went through different workshops which included visiting a Recovery Center and talking to patients, visiting with an ex-Hells Angel member and touring the downtown Eastside of Vancouver. The players present and share their eye-opening experiences to Grade 5 and 6 students throughout the Kamloops School district.

Lastly, the Blazers will be hosting a post-game Fan Skate following the game on Friday afternoon. All fans are welcome to bring their skates and join the Blazers on the ice.  

Make sure to come out and support your B.C. Division leading Kamloops Blazers this weekend! You won’t regret it!