Blazers scouting report

SCOUTING REPORT
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS at KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
Sunday, 5 p.m., Interior Savings Centre (Radio NL 610)

PRINCE GEORGE (14-21-0-1): The Cougars, who meet the Giants in Vancouver
tonight, last played Dec. 17 when they beat the visiting Blazers, 3-2. . . .
The Cougars are 4-3-0-0 since head coach Drew Schoneck was replaced by
assistant coach Wade Klippenstein on Dec. 1. . . . The Cougars are eighth in
the 10-team Western Conference, two points behind the Seattle Thunderbirds
(14-17-1-2). . . . Prince George is 4-6-0-0 in its last 10 games and is
4-14-0-0 on the road. . . . The Cougars have lost LW Dana Tyrell, their
captain and leading scorer, for the remainder of the season. He suffered a
knee injury while playing for Team Canada in an exhibition game against
Sweden on Dec. 19 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. . . . In fact, the
Cougars are without their entire top line -- Tyrell, C Brett Connolly, the
highly touted 16-year-old from Prince George, who is with Team Pacific at
the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni, and RW Marek Viedensky, who
is with Slovakia at the World Junior Championship in Ottawa. . . . With
those three gone, F Brian Matte and F Parker Stanfield share the team lead
in goals (13), while D Cameron Cepek leads in assists (20) and points (27).
. . . Injuries: LW Dana Tyrell (knee, out), F Corey Tyrell (rotator cuff,
possible).
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KAMLOOPS (14-19-1-3): The Blazers return from the Christmas break to
play three games in as many nights. They meet the Rockets in Kelowna
tonight, play at home against the Cougars on Sunday and then travel to
Kennewick, Wash., for a game with the Tri-City Americans on Monday. . . .
Kamloops is sixth in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Everett
Silvertips (15-13-5-0). . . . The Blazers haven¹t played at home since Dec.
13 when they were blanked 2-0 by the Swift Current Broncos. . . . Kamloops,
which is 3-6-1-0 in its last 10 outings, went into the break having lost its
last three games and six of seven. . . . The Blazers are 3-2-0-0 against the
Cougars, having beaten them here three times. . . . D Michal Siska is
playing for Slovakia at the World Junior Championship in Ottawa, while F
Brendan Ranford is with Team Pacific at the WHC in Port Alberni. . . . The
Blazers are 10-8-1-1 at home. . . . G Justin Leclerc has started 30 of the
Blazers' first 37 games this season. . . . LW Shayne Wiebe has the team lead
in goals (16), with C C.J. Stretch tops in assists (30) and points (41). . .
. Injuries: C Mark Hall (knee, out).
-- GREGG DRINNAN