Blazers box

THE SCORE
Tri-City 6, Kamloops 3

WHAT HAPPENED
The Blazers gave up two early PP goals and found themselves down 4-0 before
the game was 13 minutes. The hole was too deep to climb out of against the
U.S. Division’s top team.

THE STANDINGS
The Blazers (20-22-1-4) slipped into sixth in the Western Conference, two
points behind the Everett Silvertips (21-17-5-0), who beat the visiting
Seattle Thunderbirds, 7-5.

THE GOALTENDER
Kamloops G Jon Groenheyde, who got the start in this one, was 2-0-0-1 in
career starts against the Americans. He gave up four goals on 15 shots
before the game was 13 minutes old and was replaced by Justin Leclerc.

THE MAJOR
Kamloops F Scott Wasden, the team captain, was ejected at 4:41 of the first
period with a kneeing major. He almost certainly will be suspended as the
WHL office looks into the hit that took D Brett Plouffe out of the game with
what an injury to his right leg

THE OVATION
Tri-City G Chet Pickard was saluted prior to the game for having been part
of Team Canada’s victory at the World Junior Championship. The crowd
responded with a standing ovation; Pickard acknowledged that with a couple
of waves.

THE GENERAL MANAGER
Kamloops GM Craig Bonner arrived just in time for the game. He had been in
St. Albert, Alta., at a bantam tournament. While he made it home, guess
what? You’re right. His luggage didn’t; at least, not with him.

THE SEASON SERIES
Two of the games between these teams ended in shootouts. So with the
four-game season series now over, the Blazers finished 1-1-0-2. Of course,
if you’re an Americans’ fan, they were 3-1-0-0. . . . Over the last four
seasons, the Ams are 15-5 against the Blazers, including a four-game sweep
in last season’s playoffs.

THE STREAK
Kamloops C C.J. Stretch has career-highs in goals (17), assists (38) and
points (55). He had one assist last night and is on an eight-game point
streak, with 13 points, including six goals, over that stretch. He has
points in nine of 10 games since the Christmas break.

THE DAILY NEWS THREE STARS

1. RW Mitch Fadden, Tri-City. Four points. It was his puck.

2. D Mitch McColm, Tri-City. Ate up a lot of minutes.

3. RW Jimmy Bubnick, Kamloops. Two assists and some grit.

NEXT UP
The Blazers will play their next four games on the road, starting
Saturday in Portland against the Winter Hawks. Kamloops next is at home on
Jan. 24 against the Kelowna Rockets.