BLAZERS EARN 5-3 VICTORY OVER ROYALS

The Blazers improved their record to 2-0 in the WHL preseason with a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Royals on Friday night in Maple Ridge. The Royals opened the scoring as Clay Spencer buried a power play marker to make it 1-0 for the Royals. The Blazers quickly replied as JC Lipon’s shot was deflected and went in past goaltender Jared Rathjen to tie it up at 1-1. The Blazers were strong in the first period as the outshot the Royals 14-8.

Chase Souto gave the Blazers a lead early in the second period as he put home a rebound on a 5-on-3 power play to make it 2-1. Lipon scored his second goal of the game as Tim Bozon’s errant shot went to Lipon to make it 3-1. The Royals got one back on an odd man rush as Spencer scored his second of the game on a rebound. The Blazers outshot the Royals 27-16 through two periods.

JC Lipon completed his hat-trick as he fired a shot from the slot past goaltender Michael Herringer to make it 4-2 for the Blazers. The Royals struck back as Kolton Dixon one-timed a shot past Taran Kozun to cut the lead to 4-3. The Blazers sealed the deal as Dylan Willick put it into an open net to give the Blazers a 5-3 victory.

JC Lipon finished the game with three goals and an assist and leads the Blazers in scoring with five points in two preseason games. The Blazers were 2-for-9 on the power play and the Royals were 2-for-7. Taran Kozun earned the win for the Blazers making 24 saves. Jared Rathjen stopped 20 shots for the Royals in 32:31 minutes of play while Michael Herringer stopped 15 of 16 shots.

The Blazers are back on the ice at home on Wednesday, September 5^th as they host the Vancouver Giants.  

GAME SUMMARY