F Zdenek Blatny (Seattle, Kootenay, 1998-2001) signed a contract with Dukla Trencin (Slovakia Extraliga) after being released from his tryout with Kosice (Slovakia Extraliga) last week. Contract terms were not announced.
------
The Kamloops Blazers are in Kent, Wash., where they will face the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight, and the T-Birds are going to do something that sounds really, really net.
One of the Seattle players is going to wear a wireless microphone.According to a Monday release from the Thunderbirds:
“A select Seattle Thunderbirds player will wear a wireless microphone and be filmed during the game on Tuesday against the Kamloops Blazers for a special segment on Q It Up Sports on Sunday, Jan. 23.
“Q It Up Sports is a half-hour sports show hosted by Aaron Levine that airs every Sunday on Joe TV (KZJO 22) at 9:30 p.m. and on Q13 (KCPQ 13) at 10:30 p.m.”
According to Ian Henry, the Thunderbirds’ director of public relations, "Aaron contacted us recently about doing something similar to the very popular 24/7 Capitals/Penguins: Road to the Winter Classic HBO series.
“We thought this was a great idea and worked with Aaron to make it happen. We chose the Kamloops game because it coincides with our very popular 2-for-Tuesday promotion."
The Thunderbirds want their fans to help them decide who will wear the microphone tonight so, if you want to participate, visit the team’s Facebook and Twitter pages and make yourself heard.
By the way, the afore-mentioned 2-for-Tuesday promotion involves fans being able to purchase two tickets for the price of one, along with $2 hot dogs, $2 popcorn, $2 sodas and $2 beers.
---
When the Kamloops Blazers climbed on their bus Monday morning and headed for Kent, Wash., there were some empty seats.
Forwards Jordan DePape (leg), Thomas Frazee (knee), Bernhard Keil (shoulder) and Chase Schaber (groin) didn’t make the trip, so will miss games against the Seattle Thunderbirds and Tri-City Americans tonight and Wednesday, respectively.Forward Logan McVeigh, who left Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the visiting Portland Winterhawks in the first period with a leg injury, will try to play tonight in Kent.
It appears that the Blazers will have forward Ryan Hanes and defenceman Brandon Underwood in uniform. Both were given game misconducts after a scuffle at the game-ending buzzer on Saturday but it doesn’t appear that either will be suspended.
The Blazers, who will be playing their 12th game in 23 nights since returning from the Christmas break, have lost four in a row and five of six, all this after they won four of five upon their return to action.
Kamloops (20-24-2) goes into tonight tied with the Everett Silvertips for ninth place in the Western Conference. The Thunderbirds (18-19-8) are seventh, but just two points ahead of the Blazers.
------
If you follow the Portland Winterhawks don’t forget that their Saturday game against the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds will start at 2 p.m. It’s at Memorial Coliseum. . . . With four players at the Top Prospects Game, Portland has brought in F Nic Petan for tonight’s game against the visiting Tri-City Americans. Petan was the 16th overall pick in the 2010 bantam draft. He made his WHL debut on Dec. 18 in Seattle, picking up one assist in a 4-2 loss to the host Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . The 5-foot-8, 145-pound Petan plays for the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the B.C. major midget league. He has 33 points, including 11 goals, in 25 games. . . . G Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels is the WHL player of the week. He was 3-0-0, 0.32, .988 last week. He put up two shutouts, giving him a WHL-leading eight on the season. He also leads the WHL in GAA (1.80), save percentage (.933) and victories (28). . . . Can you say MVP? . . . Chilliwack Bruins F Steve Oursov has had his suspension set at three games after the Jan. 12 knee-on-knee hit on which F Brett Connolly of the Prince George Cougars was injured. Oursov wasn’t penalized on the play, so was suspended under supplementary discipline. . . . As well, the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes each were fined $250 for the multi-fight situation in which they became involved in Lethbridge on Jan. 14. . . . The Moose Jaw Warriors will be without F Spencer Edwards, their captain, for up to two weeks. He suffered a shoulder injury in a 3-2 victory over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday. . . .
Posts
