Blazers box

THE SCORE
Sunday
Prince George 4, Kamloops 2
Saturday
Vancouver 3, Kamloops 1

WHAT HAPPENED
The Cougars, playing their last game of the season, wanted Sunday’s game
more than did the Blazers. . . . On Saturday, Kamloops G Justin Leclerc was
magnificent as the Giants held a wide territorial edge. The Blazers,
however, did play with enthusiasm and emotion, things that have been mostly
lacking this season, including Sunday.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (27-41-2-2) finished eighth in the Western Conference and will
open a first-round series Friday and Saturday against the Tri-City Americans
in Kennewick, Wash. . . . The Cougars (20-48-1-3) finished ninth and out of
the playoffs.

THE LOSSES
This edition of the Blazers will go down in the history books as the first
Blazers team to lose 40 regular-season games. The 1981-82 Jr. Oilers, who
morphed into the Blazers, lost 53 games in their first season.

THE NUMBERS
After firing GM/head coach Dean Clark on Nov. 7, the Blazers went 21-32-1-1.
After trading away D Victor Bartley, D Ryan Bender and C Brock Nixon on
Jan. 4, the Blazers were 8-22-1-1.

THE TICKETS
Tickets for the Blazers' first two playoff home dates will be on sale this
morning at the Interior Savings Centre box office. The series with the
Tri-City Americans opens in Kennewick, Wash., on Friday and Saturday and
continues in Kamloops March 25 and 26.

THE NHL BRAGGING RIGHTS
The Americans’ ownership group includes NHL players Stu Barnes and Olaf
Kolzig, who are co-presidents. The Blazers’ ownership group includes NHLers
Shane Doan, Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Darryl Sydor.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS
Sunday
1. G Real Cyr, Prince George. Loves this building.

2. C Greg Gardner, Prince George. Captain was blocking shots late in final
career game.

3. RW Jimmy Bubnick, Kamloops. Time for him to be on team’s first line.

Saturday
1. G Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. A crowd-stirring performance.

2. G. Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. See No. 1.

3. G Justin Leclerc, Kamloops. See No. 1.

UP NEXT
The Blazers will meet the Tri-City Americans, who finished first overall, in
Kennewick, Wash., on Friday.