Kamloops Blazers at Seattle Thunderbirds 12/19 | WHL Highlights 2025-26
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers headed into Seattle for the final game before the Christmas Break.
Kamloops welcomed Asher Gingras back into the lineup, marking his first action since October 26 after missing time with an injury.
The first period opened with low scoring chances through the opening 10 minutes as the Blazers played a strong defensive game, limiting Seattle to just four shots. The Thunderbirds nearly opened the scoring when Coster Dunn found himself on the doorstep, but Logan Edmonstone came up with a big save to keep the game scoreless
The physicality ramped up when Thunderbirds forward Simon Lovsin threw a big hit on Owen Cooper which resulted in veteran Rhett Ravndahl immediately stepping in to handle business.
The second period opened with a par of quality chances for the Blazers, the best one coming from Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nathan Behm who riled a shot but was stopped by Marek Sklenicka.
Kamloops came close again moments later when Behm found Tommy Lafrenière with a feed in tight, but Sklenicka kicked out the pad to deny it.
The Blazers garnered a powerplay and Behm nearly opened the scoring, ringing a shot off the crossbar, before J.P. Hurlbert followed with a chance down low that also clanged iron.
The third opened with chances from Seattle as Dunn found space, made a quick move, and fired a shot into the chest of Logan Edmonstone. Kamloops continued to apply pressure and saw chances come from Josh Evaschesen and Behm, but neither could solve Sklenicka.
The Blazers came agonizingly close when Evaschesen stripped the puck from behind the Seattle net and cut to the front but rang it off the crossbar. Kamloops continued to push as Kayd Ruedig danced through three Thunderbirds and found himself in tight, but couldn’t get a shot off.
With neither side able to break through in regulation, the score remained tied after 60 minutes, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, Cooper Moore nearly finished the game 30 seconds in, but Sklenicka got a pad on it to make the desperation save. The Thunderbirds applied pressure of their own and came in on a two-on-one which Edmonstone shut down.
With the game still knotted at zero, it headed to a shootout where Seattle picked up the win 1-0. Edmonstone stopped 40 shots in 65:00 of action despite the loss.
The Blazers will return from the Christmas Break and be in action next Saturday, December 27th at home against the Calgary Hitmen.
