Blazers box

From The Daily News of Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008 . . .

THE SCORE
Kamloops 5, Kelowna 3

WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers took control with three quick goals early in the second period
and it was their game after that.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (21-23-1-1) are tied for sixth in the Western Conference with
the Seattle Thunderbirds and Chilliwack Bruins, both of were idle. The
Rockets (27-14-2-4) are fourth, seven points off the lead.

THE SEASON SERIES
The Blazers are 4-3-0-0 versus the Rockets with just one game left in the
series — in Kamloops on Feb. 8. . . . Of course, if you’re a Rockets’ fan,
they are 3-3-0-1 against the Blazers, who won one game in a shootout.

THE FIRST PERIOD
The Blazers have been outscored 65-31 in first periods — they were down 2-1
last night — this season. They have scored the game’s first goal only 14
times in 46 games and are 9-4-0-1 when doing so.

THE GOALTENDER
Torrie Jung was to have started in goal for the Rockets but tweaked his back
late in the pregame warmup. As a result, Kris Westblom was the starter.
Westblom stopped 20 shots, 14 fewer than Justin Leclerc of the Blazers.

THE SCRAPPER
LW Matt Wray of the Blazers scored his first WHL goal, getting off a shot
and going hard to the net to pump in his own rebound. Coming at 2:49 of the
second period, it broke a 2-2 tie.

THE LEAGUE LEADER
Kelowna C Colin Long, an 18-year-old from Santa Ana, Calif., leads the WHL
points race. Long, who drew two assists last night, has 69 points, four more
than Chilliwack Bruins C Mark Santorelli.

THE EX-BLAZERS
D Victor Bartley, dealt by the Blazers to Regina earlier this month,
continues to nurse a groin injury and has yet to play for the Pats. He sat
out a 6-2 victory over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings last night. D Ryan
Bender, the Blazers’ captain who also went east in that deal, now is wearing
an ‘A’ with the Pats.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. G Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. He’s the man.

2. LW Ivan Rohac, Kamloops. The straw that stirs the drink.

3 (a). C Alex Rodgers, Kamloops. An honourary European?

3. (b) RW Juuso Puustinen, Kamloops. Line was too much for Rockets.

UP NEXT
The Prince George Cougars, who trail the Blazers by 15 points, will be here
Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.