By Chad Klassen

Ferguson turnaround helping Blazers return to playoff chase

Feb 7, 2019 | 5:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — A lot has changed since Dylan Ferguson pulled himself after the first period against Moose Jaw last month. 

The 20 year old gave up three goals in a 5-2 loss to the Warriors on Jan. 15. He took off the next game against Prince Albert, but since returning to the net, Ferguson has been stellar. 

“I just think I’ve paid more attention to the details and the little things,” said Ferguson. “[Goaltender coach Dan DePalma] has been great working with me and [Dylan] Garand. We’ve really put in the work to get to this spot.”

Ferguson has started in seven of the last eight games, posting a 5-0-2 record and 1.53 goals against average. In his previous seven starts, he went 1-6-0 and had a 4.46 GAA. Amidst the turnaround was his first shutout in a 3-0 Blazers win over Spokane on Jan. 25. Ferguson admits that gave him a huge boost.

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“I felt like myself in there. I really just let things happen and wasn’t trying to overthink,” he noted. “I just played how I felt like I could play and one thing led to another.”

Head coach Serge Lajoie says the shutout was a launching point for his netminder. 

“The shutout itself would’ve given him a lot of confidence with some of the saves he made and how he earned that shutout. You can’t help but, as an athlete, come out of that game and just feel so energized,” said the first-year head coach. “The WHL recognized him with some of those saves. They were plays of the week. I think for Dylan, he’s just taken that game and really just kept getting better and better.”

Lajoie is proud how Ferguson has bounced back from some dark times. His improved play has the Blazers back in the hunt for the playoffs, one point behind Seattle for the final wildcard spot and two behind Kelowna in the B.C. Division. Kamloops knows full-well he has to be at his best if they hope to play in the postseason. 

“It’s key to our success to have Dylan playing at the level he knows he’s playing,” said Lajoie.