Billy Blade
02-11-2005, 02:23 PM
Source: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/sports.html
Road trip starts off right
By Chris Jurewicz
This one was played in the Central time zone and over before most Kamloopsians had finished their supper.
The Kamloops Blazers beat the host Swift Current Broncos, 2-0, on Wednesday in a WHL game that took only two hours six minutes to play.
Centre Reid Jorgensen scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season to lead the Blazers, who improved to 20-27-6-2 and moved two points ahead of the Prince George Cougars in the chase for the B.C. Division’s fourth and final playoff spot. Jorgensen’s first goal came 43 seconds after the opening faceoff. The insurance marker came at 8:41 of the third period.
“It was a real fast hockey game,” said Blazers head coach Mark Ferner. “The end of the second period, it was 8:30 (CST). It just flew by. There weren’t a lot of penalties, there wasn’t a lot of stuff after the whistle.”
The teams combined for just 24 minutes in penalties.
Ferner said Jorgensen, who was strong in two weekend ties with the Kelowna Rockets, was solid again. Jorgensen started on a line with Terrance Delaronde and Moises Gutierrez.
“They were very good for us,” Ferner said. “Obviously, they started and they had a real good first shift and got a goal on that shift. We talk about it a lot that any shift can be the difference and that one ... turned into the game-winning goal.
“I think Jorgensen played one of his better games I’ve seen him play — not that he hasn’t been playing well — he just stepped it up a little bit and was very good.”
Kamloops goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 30 saves for his fifth shutout of the season. It was Dubnyk’s 13th career shutout, tying him with Corey Hirsch for first on the Blazers’ all-time list. Hirsch played in Kamloops from 1988-92 and had 13 shutouts in 181 games. Last night’s game was Dubnyk’s 121st in the regular season.
Dubnyk may have been at his best late in the second period. Kamloops left-winger Bryan Kauk was sent to the penalty box for roughing and, just 19 seconds later, defenceman Roman Tesliuk earned a minor for hooking. That gave the Broncos a two-man advantage for 1:41.
Dubnyk made several big saves to keep the score 1-0.
“We did a real good job,” Ferner said of the kill. “Positionally, we were real fine. They had some opportunities and Dubnyk was certainly good in that situation. But we did a real good job, we didn’t panic, we had a real tight triangle. We contained them and kept them to the outside.”
The Blazers were without centre Aaron Richards and left-winger Richard Jasovsky, both of whom have concussions. Left-winger Adam Chorneyko and defenceman Benn Olson were healthy scratches.
Kamloops, which is 2-0-2 in February, is in possession of a playoff spot for the first time since Oct. 22. Then, the Blazers had seven points and the Cougars had six.
The Blazers are off today. On Friday, they visit the Red Deer Rebels, who beat them 7-0 on Jan. 16. That game came one night after the Calgary Hitmen beat the Blazers, 6-0. A night earlier, Kamloops played Lethbridge to a 2-2 tie.
Ferner remembers the trip and knows his team has something to prove.
“We have something to prove and we’d like to think we’re a better hockey team for it,” he said. “We need to come out with as good of efforts as tonight and the last two against Kelowna to give us a good chance to win.”
Kamloops visits Calgary on Saturday and plays in Medicine Hat against the Tigers on Sunday.
Road trip starts off right
By Chris Jurewicz
This one was played in the Central time zone and over before most Kamloopsians had finished their supper.
The Kamloops Blazers beat the host Swift Current Broncos, 2-0, on Wednesday in a WHL game that took only two hours six minutes to play.
Centre Reid Jorgensen scored his 15th and 16th goals of the season to lead the Blazers, who improved to 20-27-6-2 and moved two points ahead of the Prince George Cougars in the chase for the B.C. Division’s fourth and final playoff spot. Jorgensen’s first goal came 43 seconds after the opening faceoff. The insurance marker came at 8:41 of the third period.
“It was a real fast hockey game,” said Blazers head coach Mark Ferner. “The end of the second period, it was 8:30 (CST). It just flew by. There weren’t a lot of penalties, there wasn’t a lot of stuff after the whistle.”
The teams combined for just 24 minutes in penalties.
Ferner said Jorgensen, who was strong in two weekend ties with the Kelowna Rockets, was solid again. Jorgensen started on a line with Terrance Delaronde and Moises Gutierrez.
“They were very good for us,” Ferner said. “Obviously, they started and they had a real good first shift and got a goal on that shift. We talk about it a lot that any shift can be the difference and that one ... turned into the game-winning goal.
“I think Jorgensen played one of his better games I’ve seen him play — not that he hasn’t been playing well — he just stepped it up a little bit and was very good.”
Kamloops goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 30 saves for his fifth shutout of the season. It was Dubnyk’s 13th career shutout, tying him with Corey Hirsch for first on the Blazers’ all-time list. Hirsch played in Kamloops from 1988-92 and had 13 shutouts in 181 games. Last night’s game was Dubnyk’s 121st in the regular season.
Dubnyk may have been at his best late in the second period. Kamloops left-winger Bryan Kauk was sent to the penalty box for roughing and, just 19 seconds later, defenceman Roman Tesliuk earned a minor for hooking. That gave the Broncos a two-man advantage for 1:41.
Dubnyk made several big saves to keep the score 1-0.
“We did a real good job,” Ferner said of the kill. “Positionally, we were real fine. They had some opportunities and Dubnyk was certainly good in that situation. But we did a real good job, we didn’t panic, we had a real tight triangle. We contained them and kept them to the outside.”
The Blazers were without centre Aaron Richards and left-winger Richard Jasovsky, both of whom have concussions. Left-winger Adam Chorneyko and defenceman Benn Olson were healthy scratches.
Kamloops, which is 2-0-2 in February, is in possession of a playoff spot for the first time since Oct. 22. Then, the Blazers had seven points and the Cougars had six.
The Blazers are off today. On Friday, they visit the Red Deer Rebels, who beat them 7-0 on Jan. 16. That game came one night after the Calgary Hitmen beat the Blazers, 6-0. A night earlier, Kamloops played Lethbridge to a 2-2 tie.
Ferner remembers the trip and knows his team has something to prove.
“We have something to prove and we’d like to think we’re a better hockey team for it,” he said. “We need to come out with as good of efforts as tonight and the last two against Kelowna to give us a good chance to win.”
Kamloops visits Calgary on Saturday and plays in Medicine Hat against the Tigers on Sunday.