Blazers box

THE SCORE
Kamloops 5, Seattle 2

WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers didn’t try to protect a 2-1 lead; instead, they kept getting
pucks and players to the net, scored three third-period goals and won going
away.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (5-8-0-2) are tied for seventh, with the Chilliwack Bruins
(5-6-1-1), in the Western Conference, seven points ahead of the struggling
Thunderbirds (2-9-0-1).

THE FIRST GOAL
Kamloops C Jake Trask, 17, scored the game’s first goal and it was his first
in the WHL. He got his first point Friday when he drew an assist on F Uriah
Machuga’s first WHL goal in a 5-2 loss to the Silvertips in Everett.

THE FIGHT
Seattle F Luke Lockhart had to be helped off the ice after being KO’d in a
third-period scrap with Kamloops D Linden Saip. Lockhart was felled by a
left forearm smash followed by an overhand right.

THE STREAKS
Kamlops C C.J. Stretch had one assist to run his point streak to seven
games. He has a goal and six assists over that stretch. . . . Blazers RW
Tyler Shattock had his point streak end at five games, during which he had
two goals and three assists.

THE GENERAL MANAGERS
Three Western Conference GMs were in the building — Craig Bonner of the
Blazers, Russ Farwell of the Thunderbirds and Bob Tory of the Tri-City
Americans. Tory said WHL waters are “full of baited hooks” but that there
aren’t any takers at the moment.

THE SCHEDULE
The Thunderbirds have played 10 of their 12 games on the road, where they
are 1-8-0-1. They are to move into the brand new Kent, Wash., Events Center
in late December, so will play 26 of their first 34 games on the road.

THE QUOTE
"It is a crazy schedule, but I don't think there are any excuses. Yeah, it's
been tough playing so many games on the road, but if you are going to be
successful you have to win at home and on the road. We have to find a way to
get some wins right now." — Seattle C Jim O’Brien, in the Seattle Times.

IT’S OFFICIAL
Organizers of a new bantam hockey tournament have called a news conference
for Friday, 11 a.m., at McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre. The
tournament, which will be called the Kamloops International Bantam Ice
Hockey Tournament (KIBIHT), will replace the original KIBIHT, which has
relocated to Langley, on the local sporting schedule.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. D Michal Siska, Kamloops. Best d-man on the ice.

2. RW Kenton Dulle, Kamloops. Went to the net.

3. D Giffen Nyren, Kamloops. Right there with Siska.

NEXT UP
The Blazers face the Bruins in Chilliwack on Saturday and then return home
to meet the Brandon Wheat Kings, including former teammates James Priestner
and Mark Schneider, on Sunday. Note that game time is 5 p.m.