BLAZERS' RANFORD WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Kamloops Blazers forward Brendan Ranford is the WHL Player of the Week.

Ranford picked up six points, scoring three goals and three assists in three games over the past week, helping the Blazers bounced back in their Kal Tire WHL Western Conference semi-final against the Portland Winterhawks.

On Tuesday, April 10th, the Kal Tire WHL Western Conference semi-final shifted back to Kamloops with the Winterhawks leading the series 2-0. In game three, Ranford scored one goal and one assist in a game that saw the Winterhawks take a 3-0 series lead downing the Blazers 5-2. The next night, Wednesday, April 11th, Ranford scored one goal, added two assists and was named the games 3rd Star as the Blazers staved off elimination with a 5-4 comeback win. On Saturday, April 14th, at the Rose Garden in Portland, the Winterhawks hosted the Blazers in game five, leading the series 3-1. Ranford scored one goal in the Blazers 7-2 triumph over the Winterhawks.

With the series now 3-2 in favor of the Portland Winterhawks, the Kal Tire WHL Western Conference semi-final heads back to Kamloops for game six on Monday, April 16th - 7:00pm at the Interior Savings Centre.

A 19-year-old from Edmonton, AB, Ranford is in his fourth full season with the Kamloops Blazers. He was a 15th overall selection in the 2007 WHL Draft and was a 7th round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 NHL Draft.

The WHL has also nominated Laurent Brossoit of the Edmonton Oil Kings for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Brossoitposted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week with one shut-out, stopping 49 of 50 shots faced for a 0.50 goals-against average and 0.980 save percentage. Brossoit, a native of Surrey, BC, helped the Oil Kings to wins in game three and four over the Brandon Wheat Kings to take the Husky WHL Eastern Conference semi-final 4-0.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)