BLAZERS DEFEAT VEES 7-5
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers hosted the newest expansion franchise, the Penticton Vees, for a Saturday night matchup.
The opening few minutes of the frame were controlled by the Vees who had several high-danger chances, but Blazers goaltender Logan Edmonstone stood strong to weather the early pressure. Kamloops nearly struck first when Nathan Behm was sprung on a breakaway, but Andrew Reyelts made a pad save.
The Blazers would keep pushing and Rhett Ravndahl buried his second goal in as many games to make it 1-0 Kamloops. Moments later, Penticton’s Jacob Kvasnicka had a breakaway of his own, but Edmonstone responded with a sprawling stop to preserve the lead.
The Blazers nearly made it a two goal game when Cooper Moore was left alone in front of the net, but Reyelts shut the door. Penticton eventually evened it up when Ethan Weber’s point shot was redirected in to make it 1-1. The Blazers then got one back, as Andrew Thomson recorded his first goal of the season to make it 2-1 late in the period.
The Vees got the second period off to a quick start when Kvasnicka fired a shot that beat Edmonstone 37 seconds in to tie the game at 2-2. The momentum shifted back toward Kamloops shortly after when Kayd Ruedig dropped the gloves in a spirited tilt with Brittan Alstead, igniting the Blazers bench and the Sandman Centre crowd.
The Blazers capitalized on the surge of energy as Tommy Lafrenière threaded a silky feed to Behm, who buried his 16th goal. The Vees would respond shortly after, as Brooks DeMars shoveled home a loose puck to tie the game at 3-3.
Kamloops then garnered a powerplay and it was Lafrenière burying his 18th of the season to restore the Blazers lead 4-3. The physicality ramped up again when Logan Lanti was hit hard into the boards, and Madden Tymchak immediately came to his defense, scrapping Morgan Tastad and bringing the crowd to its feet. Kamloops fed off the energy and responded as Cooper Moore buried a net front goal to extend the lead to 5-3 heading into the intermission.
The final frame opened with sustained pressure from both teams through the first five minutes, as momentum swung back and forth with scoring chances at both ends Penticton would breakthrough first, as Nolan Stevenson’s shot beat Edmonstone to cut the Blazers lead to one. Penticton would follow up, as Brady Birnie found space in front and tied the game at 5-5.
Kamloops didn’t flinch, Dryden Deobald delivered a milestone moment, redirecting a shot from Moore to restore the lead 6-5, recording his first career WHL goal. The Vees would pull their goalie and Lafrenière would strike for his second of the night to secure a 7-5 Blazers victory.
