Ranford to join Blazers this week

C Brendan Ranford, the Kamloops Blazers’ first pick in the 2007 bantam draft, may make his WHL debut on Friday against the visiting Tri-City Americans. Ranford, the 15^th pick in the 2007 draft, is to arrive in Kamloops on Wednesday. He will practise with the Blazers on Wednesday and Thursday and stay with them as they play three games in as many nights. It is anticipated that he will get into at least two of the games, if not all three. . . . After meeting the Americans, the Blazers face the Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday and the Giants in Vancouver on Sunday. . . . Ranford, a nephew of former NHL G Bill Ranford, is having a marvelous season with Gregg Distributors (Edmonton Canadian Athletic Club) of the Alberta Midget Hockey League. He has played 25 games and leads the league in assists (36) and points (60). In fact, he has a nine-point lead in the scoring race. Ranford, who will turn 16 in May, has six game-winning goals, six power-play goals, four shorthanded goals and 40 penalty minutes.