Calgary 6 Kamloops 3

The Calgary Hitmen got goals from six different players en-route to a 6-3 win over the Canadian Hockey League’s number seven ranked Kamloops Blazers Friday night at Interior Savings Centre.

After giving up the opening goal, the Hitmen scored five answered building period leads of 3-1 and 5-1.

Jake Virtanen, Collin Bowman, Calder Brooks, Brooks Macek, Jimmy Bubnick and Alex Gogolev all scored for Calgary. 

For Virtanen it was his first goal in the Western Hockey League in just his second game while Bubnick scored on a night when he played his 300th regular season game. 

Both Bowman and Brooks chipped in a pair of assists to finish with three points each. 

Kamloops outshot the Hitmen 32-29 with Brandon Glover making 29 saves in the win.

Calgary, 18-16-2-1 on the season moves two points ahead of Red Deer for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. 

The Hitmen, now 1-1 on their five game BC road trip, return to action on New Year’s Day in Kelowna for a matinee against the Rockets.

Calgary Hitmen 6 at Kamloops Blazers 3
Friday, December 30, 2011 - Interior Savings Centre - Kamloops, BC

Calgary 3 2 1 - 6
Kamloops 1 0 2 - 3

1st Period
1, Kamloops, Madaisky 9 (Willick, Schaber), 5:40 (PP).
2, Calgary, Virtanen 1 (Brooks, Bowman), 11:50.
3, Calgary, Rissling 3 (Bowman, Brooks), 12:35.
4, Calgary, Brooks 3 (Brassart, Clayton), 19:46 (PP).
Penalties-Clayton Cal (tripping), 5:25; Bowman Cal (roughing), 6:37; Madaisky Kam (roughing), 6:37; Schaber Kam (hooking), 7:19; Rissling Cal (interference), 13:03; Maschmeyer Kam (hooking), 18:57; Bowman Cal (roughing), 19:46.

2nd Period
5, Calgary, Macek 8 (Clayton, Brassart), 6:15 (PP).
6, Calgary, Bubnick 14 (Bowman, Gayle), 13:47 (PP).
Penalties-Ranford Kam (checking to the head), 5:09; Trzonkowski Cal (roughing), 7:44; Hansen Kam (roughing), 12:22; Maschmeyer Kam (interference), 14:39; Gayle Cal (slashing), 16:56; Rissling Cal (elbowing), 18:49.

3rd Period
7, Kamloops, Bozon 17 (Lipon, Smith), 0:53.
8, Kamloops, Thomson 1 (Bozon, Madaisky), 7:27 (PP).
9, Calgary, Gogolev 14   9:09.
Penalties-Kosterman Cal (holding), 2:17; Brassart Cal (embellishment), 6:49; Ranford Kam (hooking), 10:30; Trzonkowski Cal (checking to the head), 12:56; Brassart Cal (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 13:58; Schaber Kam (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 13:58; Roach Cal (10-minute misconduct), 16:35; Ranford Kam (10-minute misconduct), 16:35; Souto Kam (inter. on goaltender), 16:35; Lipon Kam (interference), 17:40; Sylvester Cal (cross checking), 18:48; Bell Kam (cross checking), 18:48.

Shots on Goal-Calgary 10-11-8-29. Kamloops 9-6-17-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Calgary 3 / 8; Kamloops 2 / 9.
Goalies-Calgary, Glover 9-8-0-0 (32 shots-29 saves). Kamloops, Lanigan 7-4-0-0 (10 shots-7 saves); Cheveldave 17-5-1-2 (19 shots-16 saves).
A-4,013
Referees-Nick Swaine (35), Colby Smith (57).
Linesmen-Ryan Dawson (134), Michael Boisvert (111).