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Blazers blast Wheat Kings

By: Rob Henderson

Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 at 12:00 AM | Comments: 0

It became clear quickly on Friday night that the Brandon Wheat Kings were no threat to the Kamloops Blazers' winning streak.

The Blazers scored five times in the first period and earned their 11th straight Western Hockey League victory, crushing the Wheat Kings 8-1 in Kamloops, B.C.

"We talked about it being a great challenge for us to come in here and play the top-ranked team in the country," Wheat Kings assistant coach Darren Ritchie said, "and obviously we weren't prepared to play the way we had to tonight, and the result is what it is."

Tim Bozon and Dylan Willick both had two goals and an assist as the Blazers improved to 13-0-0-1. Colin Smith had a goal and three assists, while former Wheat King Jordan DePape, Tyler Hansen and Cole Ully also scored for Kamloops.

Alessio Bertaggia replied with the lone goal for the Wheat Kings, who fell to 7-6-2-0 heading into the final game of their West Coast road trip Saturday against the Prince George Cougars (8:30 p.m., CKLQ).

The Blazers feasted on the Wheat Kings' penalty-killing unit, scoring three of their first-period goals on the power play. Bozon's second goal of the game sent Brandon goalie Corbin Boes to the bench after four goals on 14 shots.

"I think we just weren't ready to play," Ritchie said. "We knew that their power play was one of the best in the league and when we take penalties like we did and aren't ready to play, you are going to be behind quick, and unfortunately we were tonight."

Starting the second period on the power play wasn't much of a remedy for the Wheat Kings, as Willick tallied a short-handed marker only 22 seconds into the frame.

Outshot 34-9 and trailing 7-0 through two periods, the Wheat Kings fell behind 8-0 in the third before Bertaggia broke the goose-egg, as his centring pass was redirected into the Blazers' net for his 10th goal of the season.

Now 2-3-1-0 on the road trip, Ritchie said the Wheat Kings showed some positive signs in the third period, giving something to build on for Saturday's game against the Cougars.

"It's a new day tomorrow, the sun will come up," Ritchie said. "We've got a chance to redeem ourselves after tonight's effort, so I think our guys know that if we can get a win tomorrow, .500 on this trip would be good."

ONE-TIMERS: Brandon G Curtis Honey made 25 saves on 29 shots after replacing Boes … Kamloops G Cole Cheveldave made 20 stops … Brandon went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Kamloops was 3-for-6 … Blazers D Landon Cross, a Brandonite, had an assist and was +1 … Brandon played without D Tyler Yaworski, who was suspended indefinitely after a check to the head late in Wednesday's game in Vancouver that left Giants C Cain Franson with an upper-body injury … Brandon also scratched RW Jason Swyripa (wrist, indefinite), LW Richard Nejezchleb (shoulder, one week) and D Riley Van Horne … Among the Kamloops scratches was rookie D Jordan Thomson of Wawanesa … The game was DePape's first since injuring his shoulder on Oct. 10 … After Saturday's game, the Wheat Kings return to Brandon and play their first home game in three weeks on Friday against the Moose Jaw Warriors … The Wheat Kings weren't the only blowout victims Friday night as C Curtis Valk had five goals and an assist to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers to a 10-1 road win over the Calgary Hitmen.

» rhenders@brandonsun.com

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