Kamloops Blazers secure spot in 2019 #WHLPlayoffs

The Kamloops Blazers are headed to the 2019 Western Hockey League Playoffs.

With a packed Sandman Centre behind them, the Blazers defeated the Rockets 5-1 in a wild tiebreaker game Tuesday to earn third place in the B.C. Division. After Kyrell Sopotyk and Mark Liwiski traded goals in the second, the Blazers erupted for four unanswered goals in the third. The changing moment in the game came as the Blazers scored two short-handed goals in an 88-second span.

Kamloops overcame a seven-point deficit in the final two weeks of the regular season, going down to the final minutes of Game 68 in order to force Tuesday’s tiebreaker game against the Rockets.

Zane Franklin led the Blazers in the regular season with 68 points (28G-40A) while Connor Zary finished with 67 points (24G-43A). Captain Jermaine Loewen (Dallas Stars) and Brodi Stuart also surpassed the 20-goal plateau.

Rookie goaltender Dylan Garand continued his strong run in recent weeks. Improving to 6-0-1-0, with a 1.93 goals-against-average, .930 save percentage and one shutout since March 6. He made 27 saves on 28 shots Tuesday.

The field is now set for the 2019 WHL Playoffs. The Prince Albert Raiders, Everett Silvertips, Vancouver Giants, Portland Winterhawks, Saskatoon Blades, Spokane Chiefs, Edmonton Oil Kings, Victoria Royals, Tri-City Americans, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Calgary Hitmen, Moose Jaw Warriors, Medicine Hat Tigers,  Seattle Thunderbirds, the Red Deer Rebels, and Blazers will all compete for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The Raiders, Giants, Silvertips, and Oil Kings have each clinched their respective divisions while the Raiders have also secured the top record in the Eastern Conference and WHL, earning them the 2018-19 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions.