By Earl Seitz

Palaga, Garand ready to seize the moment

Nov 1, 2017 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — While Dylan Ferguson rode shotgun at the end of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights bench last night in New York, back in Kamloops the Blazers were making their goaltending plans for two games this weekend.

“When you lose your number one goalie, it’s going to be a big impact” says coach Don Hay,  “It’s no different than when Ingram went away last year.”

Max Palaga has been thrust into the starters role.   It has come a little quicker for Palaga than it did for Ferguson last December, who waited nearly a season and a half for the opportunity.

Ferguson took over then as the starter while Connor Ingram was at the World Junior Tournament.

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Says Palaga “Dylan had an awesome opportunity last year, it got him to so many more places and so many more opportunities.  I’m just hoping I can follow the same path.”

15-year old 2017 bantam  draft pick Dylan Garand has been called up from the Delta Hockey Academy to backup Palaga this weekend.

As the circle goes round Garand now finds himself in the same situation as Palaga was in last December.

“I think I’m going to learn a lot here, being in the room — what it takes to get to the next level” says Garand.

Now, until Ferguson returns, the net is Palaga’s, and that starts Friday night  against the Vancouver Giants.

Don Hay says “A little more pressure when you know that security blanket is not there behind you — so we’ll see if he’s ready.

The Blazers play the Giants Friday in Vancouver and then back at the Sandman Centre on Saturday.