BLAZERS WIN 5-2 IN PENTICTON
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers made the trip to the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday to take on the red hot Penticton Vees, who entered the contest riding a 14-game winning streak.
The first opened with both teams trading low-danger chances as we broke through the first five minutes. Blazers netminder Logan Edmonstone was tested with a couple high danger chances, but turned them aside.
Kamloops would strike first, Josh Evaschesen tipped home a point shot from Ryan Michael to open the scoring and give the Blazers a 1-0 lead. Evaschesen now has six goals in his last six games. Penticton nearly responded just moments later when Noah Milford burst down the wing and tried to fire one high on Edmonstone who got a piece of it for a timely stop. The Blazers kept pushing and doubled their lead as Ty Bonkowski buried it to make it 2-0.
The second frame started off with a higher pace as Penticton pushed early to get on the board. Edmonstone stayed busy in the crease, and was tested on a loose puck in front but sprawled out to make the stop.
The physical tone ramped up when Bonkowski was drilled into the boards by Callum Stone, prompting J.P. Hurlbert to jump in for his first scrap, throwing a flurry of rights and dropping Stone, pumping up his bench. Kamloops generated energy off that and Evaschesen nearly scored his second of the night, but McCallum made the stop. Edmonstone remained sharp, denying Samuel Drancak on a dangerous net-front opportunity to keep the Blazers ahead by two.
Kamloops came out flying to start the third, and once again it was Josh Evaschesen leading the charge. Evaschesen finished off a feed from Nathan Behm to make it 3-0. Penticton nearly got on the board moments later when Diego Johnson threatened in tight, but a combined effort from Edmonstone and Cooper Moore kept the puck out on the goal line.
Penticton would finally breakthrough as Matteo Danis jumped on a quick rebound to make it 3-1. With 4:08 left, Penticton pulled McCallum for the extra attacker. Edmonstone turned aside a flurry of chances, but Ethan Weber managed to sneak one through to bring the Vees within a goal.
Kamloops responded immediately, making no mistake on the ensuing empty-net opportunity as Behm buried his chance to restore the two-goal cushion. The Blazers weren’t done yet, Isa Guram added another one into the empty net to seal a 5-2 victory, snapping Penticton’s 14 game winning streak.
Next up: Kamloops will face the Prince George Cougars Saturday night at the Sandman Centre.
