BLAZERS WIN 11-1 IN VICTORIA
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers headed down to Vancouver Island for a back-to-back set against the Victoria Royals, opening up Tuesday night.
Kamloops turned to Logan Edmonstone between the pipes, as the reigning CHL Protector of the Week came off a massive 97-save week and earned the start. The Royals went with their no. 1 goaltender, Ethan Eskit.
The opening frame began cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out in their first game of the season. Victoria struck first, as Roan Woodward broke free and slipped a five hole shot past Edmonstone. Kamloops responded shortly after, J.P. Hurlbert scored his 33rd of the season, beating Eskit to tie the game up at 1-1.
The Blazers kept pushing and took the lead when Isa Guram fired a point shot that Jordan Keller tipped past Eskit to make it 2-1. The momentum stayed with the Blazers as the fourth line got in on the action, Owen Cooper roofed one on Eskit to make it 3-1. The Blazers capped off a dominant first period in the final minute, as Tommy Lafreniere sniped one home to make it 4-1.
The Blazers got the second period off to a quick start as Keller beat Jake Pilon and buried his second of the night to extend the Blazers’ lead to 5-1. Victoria responded with a breakaway chance shortly after, but Edmonstone stood tall and shut the door.
The Royals pressed again, as Woodward looked to get his second of the night, but Edmonstone robbed him. Kamloops would capitalize shorty after when Nathan Behm threaded the needle and found Keller for the hat trick goal to make it 6-1.
Victoria came out with a jump in the third, looking to get back on the scoresheet, but Edmonstone remained rock solid between the pipes. Cooper Moore nearly added to the Blazers lead on a high-danger chance, but Pilon sprawled across the crease to get a pad on it.
Hurlbert danced up the wing and slid a pass to Ty Bonkowski, who found Lafreniere in the slot for his second of the night to make it 7-1. Keller would then notch his fourth of the night, dancing through the Royals defence, before sliding it past Pilon to make it 8-1.
Not long after, Ty Coupland would score his first as a Blazer, extending the lead to 9-1. The goals continued to come, as Hurlbert would blast a one-timer past Pilon to make it 10-1. Kamloops would cap off the major win as Coupland buried his second of the night, sealing the game 11-1.
