The Western Hockey League announced today that Kamloops Blazers captain Zane Franklin has been named the WHL On the Run
Franklin posted 10 points (2G-8A) and a plus-six rating across four wins for the Blazers this week. Now riding an eight-game winning streak, the Blazers have opened up a 10-point lead atop the B.C. Division as teams approach the final third of their regular season.
On Tuesday, Franklin opened his week with a four-point performance in a 6-3 win over the Spokane Chiefs. With his team already up 2-0, Franklin factored into his team’s final four goals, topping it off with a short-handed goal to close out his team’s scoring. Franklin was named the second star of the game for his efforts.
Returning home to host the Tri-City Americans for a pair of games, Franklin recorded a goal and four points in Friday’s 12-3 win and a pair of assists in Saturday’s 9-0 triumph. Franklin scored Kamloops’ second goal Friday while picking up assists on their sixth, eighth, and ninth goals. The following night, Franklin picked up primary helpers on his team’s second and fourth goals.
Franklin was held off the scoresheet in Sunday’s 4-0 road win against the Vancouver Giants, but still recorded four shots and a plus-one rating in the 250th game of his WHL regular season career.
The productive week boosted Franklin into the WHL scoring lead with 72 points (25G-47A) through 44 games, marking career-best totals in both assists and points. Franklin’s totals include 12 power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and two game-winning goals. Franklin leads the WHL in assists, ranks sixth in goals, and is tied for the lead in power-play goals with cousin Orrin Centazzo and Medicine Hat Tigers forward Ryan Chyzowski.
A 5-foot-9, 200-pound product of Marwayne, Alta., Franklin was originally chosen in the second round, 43rd overall, by the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. In 250 WHL regular season games between the Hurricanes and Blazers, Franklin has posted 194 points (73G-121A), including 27 power-play goals, two short-handed goals, and nine game-winning goals. In 36 WHL playoff games, Franklin has recorded 11 points (5G-6A), including one game-winning goal.
Franklin and the Blazers will now head north for a pair of weekend contests against the Prince George Cougars. Puck drop for the first game is on Friday, January 24 (7:00 p.m. PT) at the CN Centre.