Bruins Host Blazers

January 19, 2008

Bruins defenceman Nick Holden has 2 goals and 5 assists in 6 games vs Kamloops this season. Bob Frid Photo.

The Chilliwack Bruins host the Kamloops Blazers tonight at Prospera Centre. Game time is 7pm.

Tonight’s matchup is the 7th of 10 meetings this season between the Chilliwack Bruins (21-20-3-1) and the Kamloops Blazers (22-23-1-1). Kamloops has won four of the first six games including both games played in Chilliwack. The two teams are tied for sixth in the Western Conference. The Bruins have played two fewer games than the Blazers.

The Bruins are coming off a 3-2 loss last night in Kelowna. Also last night, the Blazers defeated the Prince George Cougars 5-2 on home ice.

Prior to the game, the Bruins will recognize Oscar Moller's silver medal performance at the recent World Junior Championships. Fans are also encouraged to wear their hockey jerseys. Fans wearing jerseys will have the opportunity to win great prizes.

Bruins Stats / Game Notes

Win / Loss Record:

Overall Record 21-20-3-1

Home Record: 13-10-0-0

Road Record: 8-10-3-1

Saturday Record: 7-8-0-0

January Record: 4-2-0-0

vs Kamloops 07/08: 2-4-0-0

vs Kamloops All Time: 6-8-0-0

2007/08 Power Play:

Overall: 4th  49/235 (20.9%)

Home: 15th  22/127 (17.3%)

Away: 1st  27/108 (25.0%)

vs Kamloops: 8/38 (21.1%)

SHGA: 5

2007/08 Penalty Killing:

Overall: 6th  212/254 (83.5%)

Home: 7th  110/129 (85.3%)

Away: 9th  102/125 (81.6%)

vs Kamloops: 30/37 (81.1%)

SHGF: 3

2007/08 Bruins Regular Season Leaders:

Goals: Oscar Moller (26)

Assists: Mark Santorelli (48)

Points: Mark Santorelli (69)  

Powerplay Goals: 11 – Brandon Campos (1 with Everett, 10 with Chilliwack)

Powerplay assists: Mark Santorelli (27) 

Powerplay points: Mark Santorelli (36)  

Shorthanded Goals: Mike Proudley / Mark Santorelli / Brandon Campos (1)

Plus/Minus: Mark Santorelli / Oscar Moller (+11)

Penalty Minutes: Chris Van Duynhoven (62)

Wins: Matt Esposito (16) 

Goals Against Average: Mark Friesen (2.69)

Shutouts: Matt Esposito (1)

Save Percentage: Mark Friesen (91.1%)

Bruins in the top ten:

Points: Mark Santorelli Tied 2nd (69) / Oscar Moller Tied 9th (54)

Goals: Oscar Moller Tied 5th (26)

Assists: Mark Santorelli  1st (48)

PP Goals: Brandon Campos Tied 5th (11) /  Oscar Moller Tied 9th (10)

PP Assists: Mark Santorelli 1st (27)

First Goals: Mark Santorelli  Tied 3rd (6)

Defenceman Points: Nick Holden Tied 6th (36)

Roster Notes: The Bruins currently have 22 players on their active roster including two goaltenders, six defencemen and fourteen forwards. By age, Chilliwack has two 16 year olds (Howse, Ramsay), seven 17 year olds (Robinson, Metz, Darragh, Einhorn, Friesen, Strong, McNaught), seven 18 year olds (Meropoulis, Potter, Proudley, Smuk, Moller, Van Duynhoven, Esposito), three 19 year olds (Santorelli, Bhungal, Pighin) and three 20 year olds (Campos, Holden, Chapman).

Drafted Players: Mark Santorelli (Nashville 4th round 2007) Oscar Moller (Los Angeles 2nd round 2007)

Injuries: Partik Bhungal (leg) – indefinite   Matt Esposito – day to day  Matt Meropoulis – day to day

Metz gets two – Brayden Metz recorded his first WHL 2 goal game last night in a 3-2 loss in Kelowna. Metz now has three goals on the season.

Scoring Race: Bruins forward Mark Santorelli is in second place in WHL scoring with 69 points. Santorelli trails Kelowna’s Colin Long by one point.  Despite missing eight games while at the World Junior Hockey Championships, Oscar Moller is 9th in league scoring with 54 points.

Iron Men: Cody Smuk and Mark Santorelli are the only two players to have appeared in every game the Bruins have played. Including five playoff games, both have played in 122 consecutive games. Santorelli, Smuk and Nick Holden are the only Bruins to have played in all 45 games this season.

McNaught Added: The Bruins have added 17 year old forward Randy McNaught to their active roster. McNaught joins the Bruins from the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. In 25 games with the Clippers this season, McNaught recorded 2 goals and 3 assists to go with 54 penalty minutes.

Career Highs: Nick Holden has set new career highs this season with 11 goals and 36 points. Last season, in 67 games, Holden scored eight times and finished with 31 points. Matt Esposito has set a new personal best and Bruins team record with 16 wins.

Pighin Awarded: 19 year old forward Evan Pighin has been named the Bruins Player of the Month for December. In 11 games in December, Pighin scored six times and added five assists. On December 4th vs Prince George Pighin had a personal best four points (2g 2a).

After forty tells the story: Chilliwack has a record of 15-1-0-0 when leading after forty minutes of play. When trailing after two periods, the Bruins are 1-16-1-0.

Extra Time: The Bruins are 1-3 in overtime and 3-1 in shootouts this season.