Onwards and Upwards !!

/in /by

It’s only a five game sample but there is reason to believe the Kamloops Blazers turned a big corner with wins against Kelowna and Vancouver after losing to Spokane, Seattle and Portland to start the new WHL season.

Winning at any time is crucial for teams on the rebound but winning against teams in your own division is imperative to make the playoffs. This team is expected to make it to the spring dance but how it does against the Giants and Rockets will go far in determining its identity and how games will be won.

Team speed stood out against teams that have owned the BC division since the Blazers fall from grace began too many years ago to remember.   They pushed the pace, forcing Vancouver and Kelowna to keep up. It was more noticeable against the Rockets who are a bigger, more physical outfit while the Giants give the impression they’ll play it anyway you want to (that’s what defending champions do)

The Blazers skating prowess gives them the ability to “get there” and be physical when they have to in key areas to create confusion resulting in turnovers and scoring chances. It’s a great recipe to dictate the game providing you can stay healthy. It generally catches up to teams in the long run if they’ve been leaned on game after game but right now you’re seeing a team finding its identity and finding a way to win. It’s a big part of the evolution process.

Being at home for five of their next seven should be a catalyst for team confidence. They’re at home Wed. Oct.2 vs Seattle and Friday, Oct.5 vs Everett before visiting Everett and Kelowna Oct. 11 and 12 and returning home for games against Swift Current Oct.15, Vancouver Oct. 18 and, Kelowna Oct.19

Playing 16 of their first 17 game or one quarter of their schedule against western conference teams will be an indication of where they stand in the big picture.

Taking Shape in a new season

/in /by

As the curtain rises on a new season, hope springs eternal in all 22 WHL cities but even more so in Kamloops. The team had an exciting finish to last season, winning six of its last seven games to force a tiebreaker for a playoff spot before losing a six game first round series to Victoria.  Winning a playoff series is now a 7 year itch.

The 2019-2020 edition appears set to take flight after spending the majority of last season underachieving.  Wait until next year was the cry at the time.  Now, next year has arrived.

The development of this group of players has been interesting to watch, especially the forwards  who are fast and skilled with any of the combinations capable of lighting it up every night.  They have the ability to wear teams down offensively.

The two biggest questions marks are discipline, and the ability to play well behind the blueline.  It has been a three ring circus for the last couple of years, but, defensive play is always a concern in junior hockey, If this  year’s team spends too much time trying to get it right, GM Matt Bardsley may be forced into some wheeling and dealing to  acquire some bonafide leadership.  It would be his stamp on the team since taking over the GM reigns prior to last season.

He’s dealing from a position of strength because of a deeper roster of talent and some chips to bargain with.  Truth be known, the only two players on this year’s roster recruited by the team under Bardsley are Martin Lang and, Inaki Baragano, both acquired through the import draft.  All of the other players were either listed, or drafted, or acquired by the departed Stu McGregor—Matt Recchi regime.

The team would be well served to go young and let some of its brilliant 16 and 17 year olds get more than token ice time to compliment the veterans. The same scenario existed in 1993 after winning the 1992 Memorial Cup setting the franchise up to back to back Memorial Cups in 94 and, 95.

The roster is that deep and though it’s impossible to predict when another run can happen, it’s definitely not out of the question.

The time is now with the right tweaks and proper direction.