Blazers too hot for Royals
Blazers too hot for Royals
CLEVE DHEENSAW
KAMLOOPS — The “Blazers Legends” banner hanging here from the rafters of Interior Savings Centre lists names you’ve definitely heard of — Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan, Scott Niedermayer and Crofton’s Doug Bodger — and then some others who have largely been forgotten outside of this city.
As the second seed in the Western Conference, the Blazers believe they may have a roster this season that has the potential to add some new heroes to that banner.
Just to emphasize the point, each fan entering the arena Friday evening was given a white T-shirt with the Blazers logo above the single word: “Believe.”
And these Kamloops players indeed proved true believers in a 4-1 victory over the Victoria Royals to open their best-of-seven first-round Western Hockey League playoff series.
“I thought we played all right but they [Blazers] had a push in the second period [to break open a 1-1 game] and we didn’t react,” said Royals assistant captain Tim Traber.
“But it’s a seven-game series for a reason. We’ll push tomorrow to get a win.”
Blazers assistant captain Dylan Willick opened scoring in the series at 9:29 of the first period. Then 20year-old Czech import Robin Soudek welcomed himself back to the Royals lineup after injury with a laser shot that pinged in off the post at 11:36 on the power play.
A wicked assist from behind the net by Colin Smith allowed Swiss sensation Tim Bozon — the 39th ranked North Americanbased skater for the 2012 NHL draft and the Western Conference nominee for WHL rookie of the year — to find the short side to make it 2-1 for Kamloops at 4:13 of the second period.
Rookie Royals’ defenceman Keegan Kanzig, who put his team under a lot of pressure by drawing his third consecutive minor penalty, was punished when Blazers captain Chase Schaber scored to make it 3-1 after Kanzig had just stepped back onto the ice at 17:03 of the second. The wheels started coming off the Victoria bus when defenceman Austin Madaisky counted 47 seconds later.
“We played OK but they had that second-period push and we didn’t respond,” said Victoria’s lone scorer Soudek.
“We have to be more physical than we were today. We have to play our game. We let them play their game tonight.”
Keith Hamilton made 30 saves in goal for Victoria while Western Conference second-team all-star Cole Cheveldave stopped 26 shots for Kamloops, including the save of the night off Victoria forward Ben Walker in the third period.
“The second period lapse took the wind out of our sails,” said Royals head coach Marc Habscheid.
“I thought we were just OK tonight. Our best players have to be our best players. There is more there. We’re not going away.”
Game 2 is here tonight at 7 p.m. (live on Shaw TV) before the series shifts to the Island for Games 3-4 on Tuesday and Wednesday at Save-on-foods Memorial Centre.
Royals in a hole against Blazers
Royals in a hole against Blazers
BY CLEVE DHEENSAW, TIMES COLONIST MARCH 24, 2012 10:26 PM
KAMLOOPS — On the base of an old bridge across the North Thompson River, someone has spray painted in large blue letters “Go Blazers.”
The local junior hockey team is integral to the identity of Canadian small towns in a way it can never be in larger markets. Added to the mix here in this quintessential junior hockey town is the sense that after a low decade in the Western Hockey League, the Kamloops Blazers are finally back.
They certainly appear to be as the second-seed Blazers took a 2-0 lead over the seventh-seed Victoria Royals in their best-of-seven opening round Western Conference playoff series with a 7-4 victory Saturday night before 4,527 fans. Kamloops’ 53-28 shots advantage spoke volumes, especially considering the Blazers spent the last half of the game in clampdown mode.
“We’ve got to believe in ourselves we can do it [rebound in the series],” said Royals forward Zane Jones.
The Interior Savings Centre is a gem of a rink that has the feature which old-school Victoria hockey fans constantly complain they miss most from the old Memorial Arena on Blanshard Street — a mezzanine walkway encircling the bowl between levels from which fans can watch the game while standing. Standing or sitting, these Kamloops fans know they have a team more than capable of advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
“We’ve got to be better for the full 60 from puck drop to the end,” said Victoria defenceman Jordan Fransoo, a draft pick of the Ottawa Senators.
“We’ve got to stick with our style of game and we can’t go with them and their style.”
Jordan DePape, on a penalty shot, gave Kamloops the lead at 19:24 of the first period.
Then Tim Bozon scored his third goal of the playoffs in the first minute of the second period before Jamie Crooks responded for Victoria at 2:54. But a questionable goaltender interference call on Dakota Conroy allowed Brady Gaudet to restore Kamloops’ two-goal cushion at 8:15. Kamloops captain Chase Schaber counted at 9:03 and that was it for Victoria starting goalie Keith Hamilton as Jared Rathjen came in to the game. Not that it helped as Dylan Willick and Cole Ully continued scoring for Kamloops in the second period. Austin Carroll, Robin Soudek and Taylor Crunk with his first career WHL goal scored third-period goals for Victoria and DePape on the power play for Kamloops.
“We’re not going away,” said Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.
“We believe we can win this series.”
Games 3-4 are Tuesday and Wednesday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“Again a 10-12 minute stretch did us in like the first game [4-1 Kamloops victory Friday]. We’re coming home now and believe we can beat these guys,” said Victoria assistant captain Tim Traber.
You're a Goalie, You're Supposed to be like that
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the Royal Flush
please dont try to defend him...its a season of bad goaltending...
Agreed that the 'keeping hasn't been up to snuff all season, but our D has been absolutely appalling as well. For all Rintoul's offensive upside and extensive experience, he has been a liability more often than not. Tonight's Rintoul "own goal" against Rathjen was a classic.
All in, Rathjen deserves the start on Tuesday. Both on his own merits and for development purposes.