2015-16 GAME NOTES

March 4th vs. THE FINISH LINE: The Kamloops Blazers franchise is in their 35th season in the and the 32nd season as the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers are fourth in the B.C. Division and seventh in the Western Conference with a 30-25-5-4 record this season.

The Blazers are coming off a 5-0 win at home on Wednesday night over the Spokane Chiefs. Kamloops received goals from all four lines in the win and Connor Ingram made 26 saves to earn a shutout, and the Blazers leapfrogged the Chiefs for seventh in the Western Conference standings in the process. The Blazers have won three of their past four games heading into tonight’s matchup, while the Rockets have won three straight games and seven of their last eight overall.

THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Rockets are playing for the sixth of eight meetings overall this season. The Rockets have taken the first five games of the season series, and four of the five games have been decided by one . The Rockets won back-to-back games in the WHL’s opening weekend of a home-and-home series on Sept. 25th and 26th. They beat the Blazers 4-3 in overtime back on November 18th, and earned back-to-back wins on Dec. 27th and Dec. 28th by 2-1 and 3-2 scores, respectively. These two teams will meet again tomorrow night in Kelowna, and close out the season series on March 11th in Kelowna as well.

Vs. Kelowna - Last Season (10-Game Series) Game 1: 09/20/14, at Kelowna 6, Kamloops 1 Vs. Kelowna - This Season (8-Game Series) Game 2: 10/15/14, vs. Kelowna 6, Kamloops 4 Game 1: 09/25/15, at Kelowna 4, Kamloops 3 Game 3: 12/27/14, at Kelowna 4, Kamloops 2 Game 2: 09/26/15, vs. Kelowna 7, Kamloops 3 Game 4: 01/02/15, vs. Kelowna 6, Kamloops 4 Game 3: 11/18/15, vs. Kelowna 4, Kamloops 3 OT Game 5: 01/09/15, vs. Kelowna 2, Kamloops 1 SO Game 4: 12/27/15, vs. Kelowna 2, Kamloops 1 Game 6: 02/06/15, at Kelowna 5, Kamloops 3 Game 5: 12/28/15, at Kelowna 3, Kamloops 2 Game 7: 02/07/15, vs. Kelowna 5, Kamloops 2 Game 6: 03/04/16, vs. Kelowna, Kamloops Game 8: 02/18/15, at Kelowna 11, Kamloops 4 Game 7: 03/05/16, at Kelowna, Kamloops Game 9: 03/13/15, vs. Kelowna 1, Kamloops 5 Game 8: 03/11/16, at Kelowna, Kamloops Game 10: 03/14/15, at Kelowna 2, Kamloops 1 Blazers are 0-4-1-0 in season series Blazers were 1-8-0-1 in season series

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 24 players (3 , 7 defensemen and 14 forwards). The roster includes 13 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, seven players via trade, three players from the free agent list, and one player selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes 10 players from B.C., four from Alberta, five from Saskatchewan, two from Manitoba, one from USA, and two from Czech Republic. There are 16 WHL veterans on the roster and seven WHL rookies.

BY THE NUMBERS: Matt Needham is the Blazers longest tenured player first suiting up for the hockey club during the 2010-11 season and played his 300th career WHL game on February 6th vs. Edmonton Oil Kings. Needham (157 assists) is 18th in Blazers history. Ryan Rehill is 14th all-time on the Blazers penalty minute list with 497 career minutes… Matt Needham recorded his 150th career assist on January 29th vs. Vancouver… Collin Shirley played his 250th career WHL game on January 29th vs. Vancouver… Quinn Benjafield played in his 100th career WHL game January 29th vs. Vancouver… Connor Ingram is the 11th in franchise history to play 100 games with the Blazers.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS ‘Who to Watch’: The Kamloops Blazers forwards are led by veteran players Matt Needham (21-36--57), Deven Sideroff (18-34--52), Collin Shirley (33-38--71), Gage Quinney (25-28--53), and Matt Revel (19-28--45). Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets in October. Needham, Shirley and Revel are all players entering their fourth or fifth seasons in the WHL. 19-year-old import forward Jiri Smejkal (5-20--25) was acquired from the Moose Jaw Warriors for some secondary scoring. Nick Chyzowski (12-10-- 22) is in his third WHL season and has provided secondary scoring in a more prominent role. Jake Kryski (12-25--37) and Quinn Benjafield (9-12--20) are two 17-year-olds’ both in their second seasons. They have proved to be regular contributors. Matt Campese (8-4- -12) has stepped into a larger role this season moving up and down the line-up. Jermaine Loewen (7-6--13) still has time to grow and develop, and has provided a big physical presence on the ice. Garrett Pilon (13-23--36), Spencer Bast (3-8--11) and Erik Miller (1-4--5) are all in their first seasons with the hockey club. Pilon has been terrific as a versatile player moving up and down the line-up.

On defense, Ryan Rehill (10-26—36) is the elder statesmen in his fourth and final season in the WHL. Dallas Valentine (3-11--14) was acquired from Moose Jaw in October. He has given the hockey club a veteran presence. Defenseman Cam Reagan (0-5--5) had limited ice time last season, but has started to play regularly this year. Dawson Davidson (5-28--33) has impressed as a 17-year-old playing well at both ends of the ice. Ondrej Vala (3-14--15) is the hockey club’s newest import player from the Czech Republic. The 17-year-old possesses size at 6’4” and plays a solid two-way game. Nolan Kneen (1-6--7) and Conner McDonald (1-2--3) are a pair of 16-year-olds that are in their first season of patrolling the backend. In goal, Connor Ingram (27-15-5-4) solidified himself as the Blazers starter last season and the 18-year-old is continuing his strong play. Dylan Ferguson (3-10-0-0) is the back-up and the 17-year-old has given the team a chance to win in his opportunities this season.

KELOWNA ROCKETS ‘Who to Watch’: The Rockets sit second in the WHL standings with a 44-16-3-0 record. Tyson Baillie is a 20-year-old into his fifth WHL season is fourth in the WHL in scoring with 37 goals and 86 points. Forwards Rourke Chartier (Canada), Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic) and Calvin Thurkauf (Switzerland) all took part in the recent World Junior Championships in Finland. The Rockets have some dynamic threats in 17-year-old Dillon Dube and 18-year-old Nick Merkley. Dube is a point-per-game player and Merkley was one of the 2015-16 KAMLOOPS BLAZERS GAME NOTES final cuts for Canada’s World Junior team. Cole Linaker is a 20-year-old into his fourth season with the franchise. Justin Kirkland is another drafted player that contributes offensively, and is second on the team with 59 points. Rodney Southam and Riley Stadel, a defenseman- turned-forward have pivotal roles for the Rockets. Tate Coughlin and Tanner Wishnowski are both 18-year-old forwards. Kole Lind and Jordan Borstmayer are both first year forwards.

On the backend, the Rockets are young. They have a trio in veterans that all played key minutes last season. Devante Stephens recently turned 19, while Lucas Johansen and Joe Gatenby are both only 18, but all are counted on to be the leaders. Cal Foote is a talented first year player from Denver and the son of former NHLer Adam Foote. Gordie Ballhorn is an 18-year-old rookie that played in the AJHL last season. Danny Gatenby is the younger brother of Joe Gatenby, and 17-year-old Braydyn Chizen make up the backend.

In goal, the Rockets have 19-year-old Michael Herringer as their starter, backed up by 17-year-old Brodan Salmond. The Rockets took a huge blow in the crease when 20-year-old goalie Jackson Whistle went down with an injury just before the turn of the New Year. The team announced earlier this week that Whistle will miss the remainder of the season to have surgery to repair labral tears in each of his hips. His last WHL win came against the Blazers back on December 28th.

NHL DRAFT: Ryan Rehill (New Jersey, 5th round, 131st overall in 2014), Deven Sideroff (Anaheim, 3rd round, 84th overall in 2015).

INJURY REPORT: Man games lost due to injury – 86.

DID YOU KNOW… Don Hay is 2nd in Blazers franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (291) with 202 career regular season wins… Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 670 regular season wins… Stu MacGregor took over as the Blazers General Manager on October 13th, 2015… Gage Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets on October 14th in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick… Jiri Smejkal was acquired from Moose Jaw on January 10th for Patrik Maier and a 5th round draft pick… Forwards Collin Shirley and Deven Sideroff played for Team WHL at the CHL Canada Russia Series… Shirley had a team leading five points and Sideroff had two points in two games… Defenseman Nolan Kneen played for Canada’s Under-17 National Team at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek in October/November… Defenseman Ryan Rehill (New Jersey), forward Deven Sideroff (Anaheim), and goaltender Connor Ingram (Detroit) all attended NHL training camps in September… Ondrej Vala (70), Garrett Pilon (187), Dawson Davidson (197) and Connor Ingram (12th among goaltenders), were all rated in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings… Jermaine Loewen was born in Jamaica and has only been playing hockey for seven years… Matt Needham’s father Mike played for the Blazers from 1986-1990… Nick Chyzowski’s father Dave played for the Blazers from 1987-1990.

REGULAR SEASON LEADERS (BLAZERS): REGULAR SEASON LEADERS (ROCKETS)

 Goals: Collin Shirley (33)  Goals: Tyson Baillie (37)  Assists: Collin Shirley (38)  Assists: Tyson Baillie (49)  Points: Collin Shirley (71)  Points: Tyson Baillie (86)  Penalty Minutes: Ryan Rehill (83)  Penalty Minutes: Riley Stadel (94)  Plus/Minus: Gage Quinney (+24)  Plus/Minus: Joe Gatenby (+30)  Rookie Points: Garrett Pilon (36)  Rookie Points: Calvin Thurkauf (39)  GAA: Connor Ingram (2.72)  Goals Against Average: Jackson Whistle (2.54)  Save Percentage: Connor Ingram (.918)  Save Percentage: Jackson Whistle (.920)  Power Play: 19.8% (12th)  Power Play: 21.9% (7th)  Penalty Kill: 82.2% (4th)  Penalty Kill: 80.1% (9th)

2015-16 BLAZERS HIGHS & LOWS:

 Most Goals Scored: 9, vs. Prince George Nov 7  Fewest Goals Scored: 0, vs. Edmonton Feb 6  Most Goals Against: 9, at Prince George Jan 22  Fewest Goals Against: 0, vs. Swift Current Dec 19, at Portland Jan 10, at Vancouver Feb 12, vs. Spokane Mar 2  Most Powerplay Chances For: 8, vs. Medicine Hat Dec 5  Most Powerplay Chances Against: 9, vs. Kelowna Sept 26  Most Powerplay Goals Scored: 3, vs. Prince George Nov 15, vs. Seattle Feb 28  Most Powerplay Goals Against: 4, at Lethbridge Jan 15  Most Shots Taken: 44, vs. Kelowna Sept 26  Fewest Shots Taken: 17, vs. Everett Jan 2  Most Shots Against: 47, at Prince George Nov 27  Fewest Shots Against: 20, at Spokane Oct 17  Last Shutout: vs Spokane Mar 2  Last Time Shutout: vs. Edmonton Feb 6  OT Game Winning Goals: vs. Spokane Nov 3 – Collin Shirley, at Portland Jan 9 – Ryan Rehill, vs. Vancouver Feb 13 – Gage Quinney, at Everett Feb 26 – Deven Sideroff  SO Game Winning Goals: at Prince George Nov 27 – Jake Kryski 2015-16 KAMLOOPS BLAZERS GAME NOTES

REGULAR SEASON RECORD by MONTH and DAY OF WEEK Month Games Record Home Road Day Games Win Loss OTL SOL September 2 0-2-0-0 0-1-0-0 0-1-0-0 Monday 2 1 1 0 0 October 11 5-6-0-0 4-3-0-0 1-3-0-0 Tuesday 6 4 1 0 0 November 10 6-1-3-0 4-0-2-0 2-1-1-0 Wednesday 13 4 5 1 2 December 12 6-5-0-1 1-3-0-1 5-2-0-0 Thursday 0 0 0 0 0 January 14 6-4-2-2 3-1-2-1 3-3-0-1 Friday 24 9 8 3 1 February 14 6-7-0-1 4-2-0-0 2-5-0-1 Saturday 21 9 8 1 0 March 9 1-0-0-0 1-0-0-0 0-0-0-0 Sunday 6 3 2 0 1 Totals 72 30-25-5-4 17-10-4-2 13-15-1-2 Totals 72 30 25 5 4 2015-16 KAMLOOPS BLAZERS GAME NOTES

BLAZERS’ LAST GOALS, ASSISTS, STARTS, WINS, and SHUTOUTS # PLAYER LAST GOAL LAST ASSIST 6 Dallas Valentine Jan 29 vs. Vancouver Feb 21 at Vancouver 7 Gage Quinney Feb 28 vs. Seattle Feb 26 at Everett 10 Matt Revel Mar 2 vs. Spokane Mar 2 vs. Spokane 11 Erik Miller Dec 16 at Brandon Feb 28 vs. Seattle 12 Jake Kryski Mar 2 vs. Spokane Mar 2 vs. Spokane 14 Matt Needham Mar 2 vs. Spokane Feb 28 vs. Seattle 15 Collin Shirley Feb 27 vs. Vancouver Mar 2 vs. Spokane 16 Nick Chyzowski Feb 21 at Vancouver Feb 26 at Everett 17 Jiri Smejkal Feb 21 at Vancouver Feb 20 at Victoria 22 Quinn Benjafield Mar 2 vs. Spokane Feb 21 at Vancouver 23 Spencer Bast Feb 20 at Victoria Feb 20 at Victoria 24 Ryan Rehill Feb 28 vs. Seattle Mar 2 vs. Spokane 25 Cam Reagan Feb 2 at Tri-City 27 Nolan Kneen Oct 2 at Victoria Feb 2 at Tri-City 29 Matthew Campese Feb 20 at Victoria Jan 13 at Medicine Hat 32 Jermaine Loewen Mar 2 vs. Spokane Feb 17 vs. Red Deer 33 Conner McDonald Jan 23 at Prince George Jan 1 vs. Victoria 34 Deven Sideroff Feb 26 at Everett Feb 27 vs. Vancouver 38 Dawson Davidson Feb 28 vs. Seattle Mar 2 vs. Spokane (2) 41 Garrett Pilon Feb 12 at Vancouver Feb 17 vs. Red Deer 42 Ondrej Vala Dec 11 vs. Saskatoon Mar 2 vs. Spokane (2)

# GOALIE LAST START LAST WIN (score) LAST SHUTOUT (saves) 31 Dylan Ferguson Feb 20 at Victoria Jan 9 at Portland (4-3, 29 svs) 35 Cole Kehler Feb 6/15 at Kelowna 39 Connor Ingram Mar 2 vs. Spokane Mar 2 vs. Spokane (5-0 W, 27 SV) Mar 2 vs. Spokane (27 SV)

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Bantam Draft Import Draft Trade Needham 1st – ’10 Vala* 1st – ‘15 Kryski (w / PA 07/13) Benjafield 1st – ‘13 Shirley (w / KTN 10/13) Kneen* 1st – ‘14 Free Agent List Revel (w / STN 01/14) Chyzowski 2nd – ‘12 Sideroff Campese (w / VIC 11/14) McDonald* 2nd – ‘14 Ingram Valentine (w / MJ 10/15) Loewen 3rd – ‘13 Bast* Quinney (w / KEL 10/15) Davidson 3rd – ‘13 Smejkal (w / MJ 01/16) Miller* 3rd – ‘14 Reagan 4th – ‘12 Rehill 6th – ‘10 Kehler 6th – ‘12 Pilon* 7th – ‘13 Ferguson* 8th – ‘13

ROSTER STATS: Year by Year breakdown by player: Player Total: 24 (95) 20 – 3: Needham, Rehill, Quinney WHL Experience in Years: 31 (96) 19 – 4: Shirley, Revel, Smejkal, Valentine Average Height: 6’ 0.4” (97) 18 – 7: Chyzowski, Reagan, Sideroff, Ingram, Campese, Bast, Kehler Average Weight: 186.5 lbs. (98) 17 – 7: Benjafield, Davidson, Ferguson, Kryski, Loewen, Pilon, Vala Average Age: 17.91 yrs. (99) 16 – 3: Kneen, McDonald, Miller

2015-16 KAMLOOPS BLAZERS GAME NOTES

NEXT FIVE Games LAST FIVE Games: 3-1-0-1 Date Opponent Date Opponent Result Mar 4 Vs. Kelowna Mar 2 Vs. Spokane 5-0 W Mar 5 At Kelowna Feb 28 Vs. Seattle 4-3 L Mar 8 At Tri-City Feb 27 Vs. Vancouver 4-2 W Mar 9 At Spokane Feb 26 At Everett 3-2 W Mar 11 At Kelowna Feb 21 At Vancouver 4-4 OTL

SHUTOUTS: HAT-TRICKS: For: 3 For: 3 Goalie Date Opponent Shots Score Scorer Date Opp. Goalie Score Connor Ingram Dec 19 Swift Current 33 3-0 W Gage Quinney Nov 15 PG McBride / Grant 9-1 W Connor Ingram Jan 10 Portland 21 3-0 W Matt Needham Jan 8 TRI Sarthou 3-2 W Connor Ingram Feb 12 Vancouver 34 5-0 W Matt Needham Feb 27 VAN Morrissey 4-2 W Connor Ingram Mar 2 Spokane 27 5-0 W

Against: 2 Against: 1 Scorer Date Opp. Goalie Score Goalie Date Opponent Shots Score Ryan Gropp Nov 20 SEA Ingram 4-3 L Patrick Dea Feb 6 Edmonton 24 4-0 L Kole Lind Dec 28 KEL Ferguson 3-2 L

PENALTY SHOTS: Shooter Date Opponent Goalie Result

THREE STAR STANDINGS: Player 1st 2nd 3rd TOTAL Sep./Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Connor Ingram 14 8 6 28 3 5 6 6 7 1 Collin Shirley 5 3 3 11 2 4 2 2 1 Gage Quinney 3 6 0 9 2 2 1 2 2 Garrett Pilon 1 6 0 7 2 3 1 1 Matt Needham 2 2 3 7 1 2 2 2 Matt Revel 1 2 4 7 2 1 2 1 Ryan Rehill 1 2 2 5 1 2 1 1 1 Deven Sideroff 1 1 2 4 1 3 Jermaine Loewen 2 0 1 3 2 1 Jake Kryski 0 2 1 3 1 1 1 Ondrej Vala 0 2 1 3 1 2 Dawson Davidson 1 0 1 2 1 1 Quinn Benjafield 0 1 1 2 1 1 Dylan Ferguson 0 1 0 1 1 Nick Chyzowski 0 0 1 1 1 Luke Zazula 0 0 1 1 1