Blazers postgame box

THE SCORE
Medicine Hat 3, Kamloops 1

WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers started well but weren’t quite able to match the Tigers’
intensity when the visitors turned it up in the second period.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (15-16-1-1), who have lost three straight, remain eighth in the
Western Conference, nine points ahead of the Prince George Cougars and two
back of the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips.

THE POWER PLAY
The Blazers’ power-play woes continue. They were 0-for-4 with the man
advantage and now are 6-for-51 (11.8 per cent) with the man advantage over
the last nine games.

THE STARTING LINE
Kamloops opened with a forward line of Brady Calla, Scott Wasden and Kenton
Dulle. The eBay line — all three are trade acquisitions — scored on its
second shift with Wasden finding the range and was the home team’s best unit
in this one.

THE DRAFT PICK
C Brendan Ranford, the Blazers' first pick, 15th overall, in the 2007 bantam
draft, is leading the Alberta Midget Hockey League in scoring. Playing for
the Edmonon Canadian Athletic Club, he has 50 points, including a
league-high 31 assists, in 21 games. He is likely to play for the Blazers on
Friday and Saturday in Prince George.

THE OWNERS, PART 1
C Mark Recchi, one of the Blazers' five owners, is scheduled to make his
debut with the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers tonight as they play host to the
Boston Bruins. He was claimed by Atlanta on waivers from the Pittsburgh
Penguins on Saturday.

THE OWNERS, PART 2
D Darryl Sydor, another of the Blazers' owners, admits to having heard his
name in trade rumours. "They know I'm not happy," Sydor, who signed as a
free agent with Pittsburgh over the summer, told the Dallas Morning News.
"They got me here for a reason, and I'd like to help them. But that's not
working out right now, and I don't think they can have my contract and a
healthy scratch." Sydor, who signed a one-year deal at $2.5 million, was
scratched through five recent games.

THE SELLOUTS
When the Tigers next play at home — on Dec. 29 — they will celebrate their
211th straight sellout, including regular season and playoffs. A sellout in
the Arena is 4,006 fans.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. LW Tyler Ennis, Medicine Hat. Leads the speed brigade.

2. RW Yashar Farmanara, Medicine Hat. Still more speed.

3. G Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. Stood up under pressure.

UP NEXT
The Blazers are in Prince George to play the Cougars on Friday and Saturday
nights. Kamloops next plays at home Dec. 30 when it entertains the Vancouver
Giants.