Blazers box

THE SCORE
Kelowna 6, Kamloops 2

WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers got off to a solid start but faded fast once the Rockets pushed
back. And it was over once Kamloops got caught up in the officiating.

THE BENCH MINOR
Kamloops head coach Barry Smith ran afoul of referee Nathan Wieler, who
worked solo in this one, and picked up a bench minor at 10:34 of the third.
It put his team two-men down and the Rockets promptly scored to go up 5-2.

THE RIVALRY
These two teams will meet nine times this season, with five of those
gatherings in Kamloops. Last season, they met eight times, with the Blazers
going 5-3-0-0. Of course, this is the WHL, so if you’re a Rockets’ fan, they
were 3-3-0-2 in the series.

THE STREAK
The Rockets went into this one on a six-game winless streak in Kamloops.
They had last won here on Nov. 14, 2006, when they beat the Blazers, 5-4.

THE TUESDAY GAME
Contrary to what you may have read here yesterday, the Blazers do have a
home game before heading into Alberta late next week. The Memorial
Cup-champion Spokane Chiefs make their first of two appearances here on
Tuesday. Game time is 7 p.m. After that, the Blazers head for weekend
games in Edmonton and Calgary.

THE GOALTENDER
There wasn’t anything new on the trade front Friday regarding Blazers G
James Priestner, 17, who is at home in Edmonton awaiting a swap. Word in WHL
circles is that the Blazers and Brandon Wheat Kings could get something done
Sunday.

THE GENERAL MANAGER
Kelly Kisio, the GM of the Calgary Hitmen, was in attendance last night.
Don’t get too excited, though. He has a daughter attending TRU so this trip
was more personal than business.

THE OWNER
Another face in the crowd belonged to former Blazers sniper Len Barrie, now
a co-owner of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. He was here to watch his son,
Tyson, one of the Rockets defencemen.

THE TRYOUT
LW Troy Ofukany, who is from Kamloops and used up his WHL eligibility last
season, has signed an amateur tryout deal with the AHL's Quad City Flames,
who open training camp at the wireless Center in Moline, Ill., on Tuesday.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. C Cody Almond, Kelowna. Two points and leadership.

2. LW Lucas Bloodoff, Kelowna. Two assists for a one-handed man who was
supposed to miss four weeks.

3. D Tyson Barrie, Kelowna. The quarterback.

UP NEXT
The Blazers are in Kelowna tonight and at home to the Spokane Chiefs on
Tuesday. Game time is 7 p.m.