Kamloops Blazers at Vancouver Giants 10/26 | WHL Highlights 2025-26
The Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants met for their second half of their back-to-back set and what would be Kamloops’ third straight game.
The Blazers controlled much of the offence through the opening 10 minutes, generating chances on the powerplay from Ty Bonkowski and Carson Olsen, but Burke Hood stood tall between the pipes.
Giants’ forward Cameron Schmidt then found himself on a two-on-one opportunity but, Blazers netminder Logan Edmonstone held his ground, forcing a pass that was redirected. Kamloops would break through first as Tommy Lafreniere would take the puck deep and deliver a tape to tape pass to Josh Evaschesen, who notched his sixth goal of the season. Kamloops nearly struck again when JP Hurlbert was sprung on a breakaway, but Hood got a piece of it keeping the game at 1-0.
Kamloops opened the second period on the penalty kill and managed to kill it off before earning a power-play chance of their own. Hurlbert nearly connected on a one-timer, but Hood made the stop to keep it out.
Moments later, the Giants responded as Jacob Oreskovic beat Edmonstone shorthanded to tie the game at 1-1. The Blazers wasted no time responding, regaining the lead back as Isa Guram buried his third of the season. Kamloops extended their lead soon after when Cooper Moore’s relentless forecheck forced a turnover that found Kayd Ruedig, who was able to redirect the puck off a Giants player and past Hood.
Edmonstone then came up with a flurry of saves, tracking the puck well and kicking out a crucial chance. On the other end it was Jacob Dumansky setting the pace and generating a high danger chance, but Hood was able to get a pad on it.
Vancouver continued to push late in the frame as Adam Titlbach found himself on a breakaway, but Edmonstone turned it aside. However, the Giants would finally break through before the buzzer, when Blake Chorney capitalized on a Kamloops turnover to cut the lead to 3–2 heading into the third period.
Vancouver pulled even early in the third, as Tyus Sparks redirected a Ryan Lin point shot to make it 3-3. Kamloops kept the pressure up and Joaquin Geras nearly restored the lead on a weird turnover from the Giants netminder. The physical tone ramped up when Asher Gingras leveled Aaron Obobaifo with a huge open-ice hit. Moments later, Carson Olsen finished a heavy check on Jacob Oreskovic and was whistled, sending Vancouver to the powerplay. On the ensuing powerplay, Cameron Schmidt found the back of the net giving Vancouver the lead.
With 1:33 left the Blazers pulled Edmonstone looking for the equalizer but were unable to come up with a tying goal despite heavy chances. Sparks would end the game on an empty net, making it 5-3.
In the dying seconds, Gingras would get tangled up along the boards with a Giants player and needed help off the ice from Blazers athletic therapist Taylor Cochrane. More word on his condition will be available in the coming days.
Kamloops will host the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
