GOALTENDING A STRENGTH IN BLAZERS RECENT SURGE
By Marty Hastings
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Kamloops Blazers’ head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston is crediting goaltenders Jesse Sanche and Dylan Ernst for contributing to the team’s ascension since the WHL trade deadline on Jan. 10.
“They’re both getting opportunities and there is a little bit of healthy competition, which I think is important,” said Clouston, whose Blazers have won nine of their last 13 games to escape the Western Conference basement.
“Maybe that’s part of it. They’re both seeing the other guy play well. It’s competing, but it’s supportive and you build off of the other goalie’s success.”
Ernst stopped 33 shots in a 3-1 victory over the visiting Victoria Royals on Monday at Sandman Centre. He has played in nine games since the deadline and won four of them, posting a .897 save percentage and 3.64 goals-against average during the stretch.
“This year, at the start, it obviously wasn’t the best, but after the first couple of months, I feel like I’ve been playing pretty good,” said Ernst, who turned 20 on Feb. 6. “I’ve got confidence. I know Sanche has confidence, too, so everything is looking up.”
Sanche, 17, was stellar in a 2-1 triumph over the Western Conference-leading Prince George Cougars on Saturday at Sandman Centre, turning aside 47 shots to earn first-star honours.
“Yeah, I feel like I’ve definitely improved,” said Sanche, who has played in 10 games since the deadline, posting four wins, a .892 save percentage and 3.89 GAA. “I’ve got to give a big thanks to Dan [Blazers’ goaltending coach Dan De Palma] and the coaching staff. It’s all about consistency and not riding too high or dwelling on the lows, just trying to be your best self every day.”
Sanche, the 6-foot-1, 182-pound netminder from Kelowna, was asked about his relationship with Ernst.
“Ernie’s always been here for me. Seeing his habits and how he pushes himself on and off the ice, it’s definitely rubbed off on me a little bit in an amazing way,” Sanche said. “We’re close friends. We’re just looking to push each other so we can find more wins down the stretch here.”
Ernst was asked competition between the pipes.
“It’s really cool,” said Ernst, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound backstop from Weyburn, Sask. “I’ve known him for a couple of years now. It’s nice to get a strong goalie on the back end who can play in these three-on-threes we have coming up. It’s really good to get some depth.”
Kamloops (18-31) is slated to host Prince George (38-15) on Friday, a 7 p.m. start at Sandman Centre.
The Blazers are scheduled to square off against the Vancouver Giants (27-25) on Saturday in Langley and the Seattle Thunderbirds (19-33) on Sunday in Kent, Wash.
“We saw some ups and downs through the first part of the season for both guys,” Clouston said. “Their structure, their focus on what’s important, just like the rest of the team, has been much better for, in general, the last 13 games or so.”
Competition for ice time and favour among coaching staff and team brass is alive and well while the Blazers make a late-season surge for the playoffs, jostling for position that will continue next summer at training camp, when a new wave of players arrive to push for roster spots.
Among the wave will be goaltender Logan Edmonstone, the Blazers’ draft pick (Round 8, 2022 WHL Prospects Draft) who is enjoying a strong 16-year-old campaign with the under-18 Saskatoon Contacts, with a .921 save percentage and four shutouts after 34 games.
“For the rest of this season, it’s just win, try and find a way to push for playoffs and do the best we can,” Sanche said. “For next season, I don’t want to look too far ahead. It’s about here and now and being present. We’ve got to worry about today. Next year is a long way away.”