Blazers shoot way past Bruins

By GREGG DRINNAN
Daily News Sports Editor
Craig Bonner, the general manager of the Kamloops Blazers, still has some
cards left in his hand.
But he doesn’t know that he’ll be able to play any of them prior to the
arrival of today’s WHL trade deadline at 2 p.m.
Which means that what 4,604 noisy fans saw in Friday night’s 4-3 shootout
victory over the Chilliwack Bruins at Interior Savings Centre is likely what
they’ll get for the remainder of this season.
Bonner said during the game that he would like to acquire a depth forward,
but that it would have to be for a bantam draft pick. And, he said, he isn’t
sure that he will be able to get something done.
In the meantime, his club will prepare for a rematch with the Bruins tonight
in Chilliwack.
Last night, the Blazers, including goaltender Justin Leclerc, got off to a
slow start and it showed on the scoreboard as they trailed 3-1 going into
the second period.
But after getting caught well out of his net and in traffic as centre Andy
Smith scored on a deke to the backhand at 17:30 of the first period, Leclerc
stopped everything that was thrown his way.
Right-winger Kenton Dulle pulled the Blazers to within one, at 3-2, with a
wrist shot upstairs on goaltender Mark Friesen at 12:18 of the second
period.
And right-winger Jimmy Bubnick forced overtime with his 20th goal of the
season, taking a Seth Compton victory in the faceoff circle and drilling it
home at 15:59 of the third period.
It was a successful end to a long day for Compton, who was acquired from the
Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday night. He left Spokane with his folks, Shelly
and Steve, yesterday at 9 a.m., arrived here shortly after 4 p.m., and
performed admirably.
“It was a long day, but I didn’t have to do any of the driving,” Compton
said, adding that the trade “surprised me quite a bit. . . . I wasn’t
expecting a trade. I put a lot of work into that organization. It was a
bummer, it took me a while to get over it, but I’m up here now and I’m
excited to be part of the Kamloops Blazers.”
Compton, who is from West Richland, Wash., was in his fifth season with the
Chiefs. Prior to yesterday, he didn’t know anyone on the Blazers’ roster.
“I knew Vic Bartley . . . he played here a while back but obviously he’s not
here anymore,” Compton said with a laugh, referring to a former Blazers
defenceman now with the Regina Pats.
“Seth did real well,” Kamloops head coach Barry Smith said. “I liked what he
did. He manages the puck well. He did some real good things out there for
us.
“I think he gives us defensive presence but I think he has an offensive
upside, too. He did a good job at the end in the faceoff circle.”
In the shootout, only Kamloops centre C.J. Stretch, the circus’s first
shooter, was able to score. The goal by Stretch, who had scored his side’s
first regulation-time goal with a terrific spin-o-rama move on defenceman
Brett Ward, gave the Blazers their second victory in six shootout
appearances.
Ward and Alexander Wiklund also scored for the Bruins, who had a chance to
put this one away when Kamloops defenceman Giffen Nyren was slapped with a
boarding major and game misconduct for a nasty hit on defenceman Jesse
Craige at 6:03 of the third period.
The Bruins, leading 3-2, couldn’t beat Leclerc who got excellent support
from the penalty killers.
Then, in overtime, Kamloops defenceman Michal Siska was penalized for
holding and, again, Leclerc stood tall. He made three fine saves and the
Bruins also were guilty of shooting wide on at least two occasions.
Leclerc had started only one of the Blazers’ previous five games, and he got
the hook in that one, an 8-4 loss to the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.
Since then, he had watched Jon Groenheyde start three straight games.
“It was pretty natural for Jonny to play those three games,” Leclerc said.
“He played really well in Tri-City. I played probably my worst game of the
season against Moose Jaw. Then he played two other great games.
“He’s forcing the coach to put him in. Having said that, I want to do the
same thing. I want to make the coach put me in.”
Smith wasn’t sure who will start tonight in Chilliwack.
“I will have to think about that one long and hard,” Smith said.
Of course, with today’s trade deadline, perhaps . . .
“I have heard that we’re looking to get younger,” Leclerc, 19, said, “so
it’s completely possible that I’ll be somewhere else. But it really hasn’t
been on my mind.”
JUST NOTES: Referee Matt Kirk gave each team seven minors. The Blazers took
two of three majors and a game misconduct, with the Bruins taking two
misconducts. . . . Nyren will be suspended pending an investigation by the
WHL office so won’t play tonight in Chilliwack. D Nick Ross, who was traded
to Vancouver on Thursday, scored the Giants’ first goal in a 4-1 victory
over the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook last night. Vancouver C Casey
Pierro-Zabotel, who is from Kamloops, set up his team’s first three goals.

gdrinnan@kamloopsnews.ca
gdrinnan.blogspot.com