Overview:
The Kamloops Blazers have had a great start to the season. They are 11-4 and currently hold the top spot in the BC Division with 22 points. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Who’s Up Front:
18-year-old forward Colin Smith leads the way offensively for Kamloops. He has 19 points through 15 games and has contributed nine goals, which is good enough for a share of the team lead. Smith is complimented nicely by the likes of Chase Schaber, Dylan Willick and Tim Bozon.
Who’s on D:
Defensively the Blazers are led by 19-year-old Austin Madaisky. Madaisky has tallied 12 points so far this season and all three of his goals have come on the power play.
Who’s in Goal:
After starting the season with three capable goaltenders, the Kamloops Blazers are now down to two. Cam Lanigan and Cole Cheveldave. Both goaltenders have similar numbers and both have recorded five wins, so either way you slice it Guy Charron has a reliable guy that he can go with. The Cougars have seen both Lanigan and Cheveldave so far this season.
X-Factor:
Brendan Ranford remains one of the top offensive catalysts in the WHL. Ranford has 16 points through 12 games, and is tied with Colin Smith for the team lead in goal scoring. Ranford has great vision, and controls the puck extremely well. Keeping Ranford in check will be very important for the Cougars if they want to come out on top this weekend.
Overview:
The Prince George Cougars snapped an eight -game slide with a 2-1 win on Saturday against Vancouver. They are 4-11-0-1 and are looking to climb the ladder of the B.C. Division. Two points tonight would greatly help their cause.
Who’s Up Front:
Prince George Cougars forward Charles Inglis comes into Friday’s game riding a six-game point streak which has seen him tally four goals and four assists in that span. Inglis is the driving force behind the Cougars offense when he is at his best. He’s quick, tenacious and has a quick release that rivals any other goal scorer in the WHL. A big night from Inglis will go a long way for the Cougars in their quest for victory.
Who’s on D:
Cougars defenceman Dan Gibb will likely be a game-time decision for the Cats on Friday. Gibb has missed the last two games with injury, but is close to being ready. Gibb’s presence on the back-end has been missed in recent games. Dean Clark has used the duo of Dan Gibb and Cody Carlson to shut-down the opposing team’s top lines, and with Martin Marincin still suspended for one-more game, it makes Gibb’s presence even more important in the lineup. The Cougars will hope that Gibb is ready to go and if so it makes the Cougars backend even better.
Who’s in Goal:
Drew Owsley was unreal on Saturday against Vancouver. He made 28 saves for his fourth victory of the season, and it would not surprise me at all of Owsley got two more starts again this weekend. Owsley has played well in both games against Kamloops this season, and he’ll need to be in top form given how successful Kamloops has been in recent weeks. In saying that, Devon Fordyce has been working hard in practice and has shown that he’s more than capable of playing at this level.
X-Factor:
Cougars forward Alex Forsberg looks to be gaining more confidence with each passing game. Forsberg is tied for the team lead in scoring with 10 points, and scored the game-winner on Saturday against Vancouver. If Forsberg can continue to earn points and contribute offensively, the sky is truly the limit for a kid with his talent. I’m expecting another strong weekend from Alex Forsberg and the Prince George Cougars.
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