Blazers box

THE SCORE
Moose Jaw 8, Kamloops 4

WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers, after erasing 2-0 and 3-2 deficits, folded up like a cardboard
suitcase in a rainstorm and surrendered five of the game’s last six goals.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (16-20-1-4) remain sixth in the 10-team Western Conference, two
points behind the Everett Silvertips (17-15-5-0) and four in front of the
Seattle Thunderbirds (15-20-1-2), who play their first game in the new arena
in Kent, Wash., tonight.

THE GATE
There was a problem with the gate so the visiting team’s penalty box wasn’t
used in the first period. Potential problems were avoided when the officials
never penalized both teams at the same time. The gate was repaired during
the first intermission.

THE EX-WARRIORS
RW Brady Calla and D Giffen Nyren both were acquired by the Blazers from the
Warriors. Calla was pointless and minus-1, while Nyren had a rough night and
didn’t get off the bench in the third period.

THE PENALTY KILLERS
After struggling for much of the season, and being near the bottom of the
statistics, the Blazers were 10-for-10 on the penalty kill over their last
two games. But, in this one, they gave up three PP goals on five
opportunities. Moose Jaw also scored two shorthanded goals.

THE DEFENCEMAN
Michal Siska of the Blazers is pointless through five games with Slovakia at
the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. The Slovakians stunned the U.S.,
5-3, on Friday and will play Sweden in a semifinal today.

THE SHOOTER
Moose Jaw C Joel Broda, 19, leads the WHL with 33 goals after scoring twice
last night. He also has seven goals in his last three games. What is most impressive about Broda’s total is that only six of them have come on the power play. . . . He also has only 12 assists, the disparity suggesting that he shoots first and asks questions later.

THE DEADLINE
The WHL’s trade deadline arrives Jan. 10 and you can bet that Broda, whom
the Warriors acquired early last season from the Tri-City Americans, will be
the subject of much conversation between now and then.

THE GENERAL MANAGER
Kamloops GM Craig Bonner wasn’t in attendance last night. Instead, he was in
Prince George watching the Cougars and Tri-City Americans. That could mean
some trade talk between Bonner and Americans’ GM Bob Tory.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. D Travis Hamonic, Moose Jaw. Three goals.

2. C Joel Broda, Moose Jaw. Scored twice and could have had three or four
more.

3. D Ryan Stanton, Moose Jaw. Good night all around.

NEXT UP
The Blazers travel to Vancouver to play the Giants tonight and then are in
Kent, Wash., against Seattle on Sunday. Kamloops next plays at home
Wednesday, 7 p.m., against the Portland Winter Hawks.