Blazers Blank Hurricanes 3-0 in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS, BC - Cole Cheveldave stopped all 24 shots he faced as the Hurricanes were shut out 3-0 by the Kamloops Blazers.

A solid start to this game for Lethbridge, but it would be the Blazers who would strike first. Damien Ketlo came out to play the puck, it went off his stick and out in front of the Hurricanes goal where it was tapped in off a rebound by Brendan Ranford. That good bounce gave the Blazers a 1-0 lead. Lethbridge had some good chances to score in that opening period, but couldn't find a way to get the puck by Blazers' rookie goaltender Cole Cheveldave. Kamloops held the edge iin shots 12-8.

In the second, the Blazers would extend their lead by a two. Chase Souto got his stick on a point shot, deflecting the puck between Ketlo's legs, giving Kamloops a 2-0 lead. The Blazers would get one more before the period came to an end. Tim Bozon took a nice feed at the side of the Hurricanes goal and buried his 23rd of the season to make it 3-0 Blazers. For the second straight period, the Canes were unable to score and the Blazers would take that three goal lead into the dressing room after 40 minutes. Lethbridge didn't register it's first shot until the 13 minute mark of the period. Kamloops held the edge in shots 26-16 after two periods.

In the third, neither team was able to score. The Hurricanes again, took more than 10 minutes of the period to register their first shot goal. They had a few good chances after that, but Cole Cheveldave would shut the door as the Blazers blanked the Hurricanes 3-0. It was the rookie goaltender's 4th shut out of the year for Kamloops. The Blazers won their 7th game in a row. The loss dropped the Hurricanes record to 17-30-0-1 on the season. Kamloops out shot the Hurricanes 35-24. The Canes went 0/3 on the power play while Blazers finished the night 0/5.

Assisitant Coach Chisamore said on the CJOC post game that not getting a shot on goal until half way through a period is unacceptable and the Hurricanes have to find a way to generate more shots and get more traffic in front of opponents goals.

The Hurricanes played with out defenceman Albin Blomqvist Wednesday in Kamloops. He got his bell rung in Vancouver on Tuesday and will sit out the next few games as a precaution. Head Coach and GM Rich Preston says Blomqvist should be ready to go again next week.

NEXT UP

The Hurricanes will close out this BC road trip Friday (Jan. 20) when they play the Rockets in Kelowna for the second time this season. Lethbridge lost there a month ago and will be looking to return the favour in that Okanagan city this weekend. Game time is 8:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30. The Canes return home next week for three games in four nights at the ENMAX Centre starting with Kootenay Wednesday (Jan. 25) , Medicine Hat Friday (Jan. 27), and Prince Albert Saturday (Jan. 28)

Thanks,
Pat