Blazers at Winterhawks 03/05 | WHL Highlights 2024-25
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
It was a busy night full of goals at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Kamloops Blazers made a quick exit last night from Seattle following their 3-2 victory over the Thunderbirds and headed to Oregon for a matchup against the Portland Winterhawks. This was the second tilt between the two clubs in a week as Kamloops took the first meeting 3-2.
30 seconds into the frame and it was Portland striking first with Joel Plante sniping it past Dylan Ernst to get the quick lead. Following a powerplay or the Blazers, it was Tommy Lafrenière setting up Jordan Keller who tapped home the pass beating Ondrej Stebetak and tying the game at 1-1. Portland kept pressing, with Kyle McDonough and Tyson Jugnauth working a cycle to break through Ernst, but the Blazers’ netminder held strong. Moments later, Plante powered his way to the net in a one-on-one battle, beating Isa Guram, but once again, Ernst made a crucial save. The fast-tempo hockey continued on as Emmitt Finnie brought the puck the other way firing it at Stebetak who covered it up.
Portland regained the lead when Diego Buttazzoni walked into the offensive zone and fired a pinpoint shot past Ernst to make it 2-1. Just 30 seconds later, Josh Zakreski extended the lead, beating Ernst on the glove side. The Blazers didn’t back down though as Oren Shtrom, who recently committed to the University of Alaska-Anchorage, drove hard to the net, battling to jam the puck past Stebetak, but was turned away. Shortly after, fellow Blazers’ NCAA commit Beau Courtney pounced on a rebound, only for Stebetak to make a diving stop. Kamloops went to their second powerplay of the night, and once again, Lafrenière found Keller, who buried his second goal of the period to cut the deficit to 3-2 heading into the intermission.
The second frame got off to a quick start as Winterhawks’ forward Kayd Ruedig beat Ernst to give Portland another two-goal lead. But, the Blazers responded quickly as Vit Zahejsky made a couple of quick deceptive moves and had Stebetak beat but unselfishly gave the puck to Finnie who ripped home the puck on the empty net to cut the lead to one.
Around the 10-minute mark, Zahejsky and Shtrom nearly connected on an offensive rush, but Stebetak shut the door. Kamloops had their third powerplay late in the period but couldn’t capitalize, heading into the final frame trailing 4-3. Kamloops’s chances kept on rolling but Stebetak kept Portland in the game.
Just a few short minutes into the third, Kamloops had a brilliant chance to tie the game up but it was waived off for no goal. The Blazers kept their pressure up and as the game continued deeper on with chances from Matteo Koci and John Szabo, the Blazers looked to whatever avenue they could to cut the lead. Stebetak kept the highlight reel saves going as Courtney put the puck net front and Stebetak sprawled out to stop it. Kamloops pulled Ernst with 2:01 remaining in the game looking to tie it up but were unable to solve Stebetak once more with desperation chances from Harrison Brunicke and company.
Kamloops will look to host the Vancouver Giants on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
