Bad luck Blazers just looking for a break

“We’ve been in some really tight games and it comes down to just a goal or two,” leading scorer Connor Levis explains. “I think the leaders are going to lead the way and the young guys are learning lots. They’re developing. We’re just going to make sure we’re competing hard every night and listening to our coaches. I think we’re going see some pretty successful results and we’re going to turn some things around.”

Roster turnover is undoubtedly a huge factor for this team. Eight of last year’s top ten scorers are no longer with the club. While it’s not a surprise that players like Stankoven, Zellweger, Masters and Seminoff aren’t back for their 20-year-old seasons, it has created opportunities for the vets who are back to step up and fill those roles.

“Most of my career, I’ve been playing on that fourth line, which has been a lot of fun and there’s still a couple guys on the team who I played with,” said Dylan Sydor. “Playing more minutes and playing in those really important situations, it’s really what you look forward to your whole career, so I’m just happy I can be part of it.”

Both Sydor and Levis find themselves in leadership roles this season. They each have a part to play in helping bridge the gap between this group and those teams that won four straight BC Division titles.

“I think getting one per cent better every day,” said Sydor. “Especially with a lot of young guys in the lineup. It’s definitely there, there’s a lot of potential. We want to keep working, keep pushing each other to get better every single day, and at the end of the year, we can be happy with where we started compared to where we finish.”

“It’s all about staying positive,” said Levis. “We know we have a good team, and when we’re playing our game, we can win hockey games. It’s important we maintain our energy, we don’t let losses affect us negatively. We just keep pushing, keep listening to our coaches, and playing hard.”

The Blazers are in Prince Albert on Tuesday (December 12th) to take on the Raiders, a team in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference. In games like these, if the Blazers can find a way to get a win against a team that — on paper — has had more success, it can go a long way in the development of this young hockey club.

“If you can get through these trips and figure out a way to have some success, it’s a real confidence boost,” Clouston says.

by Adam Donnelly

Bad luck Blazers just looking for a break

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