KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers scored once in the first period, once in the second and three more times in the third to defeat the Victoria Royals by a 5-3 score at McArthur Island Arena on Friday night.
Erik Miller got things going for the Blazers at 12:15 of the opening frame, tipping home a pass from Brodi Stuart.
The Blazers would score just 17 seconds into the second frame, as Carson Denomie got his first of the preseason, beating Victoria netminder Dylan Myskiw on a nice centring pass from Garrett Pilon.
The Royals would answer back with the man advantage, as Jared Legien worked a nice give and go with Yan Khomenko to cut the Blazer lead to one.
Just three and half minutes later Vicotria would tie things up, again with the extra man. A Kamloops turnover in the Royals end led to a four-on-two rush the other way. The puck would be tipped off the post before Dino Kambeitz buried it in the Blazer goal to tie the game at two.
It would remain that way until early in the third when Stuart would find Miller wide open in front. Miller finished high over Brock Gould’s left shoulder to give the Blazers the lead.
Pilon and Jermaine Loewen would add goals for Kamloops later in the third before Legien scored his second of the night with 1:09 to play; the Blazers were too much for Victoria on this night, as the home team cruised to victory.
Dylan Ferguson stopped 25 of 28 between the pipes for Kamloops. Myskiw and Gould split duties for the Royals, stopping a combined 36 of 41 shots.
The Blazers next preseason tilt comes on Tuesday, September 5th, as they travel to Kelowna to take on the Rockets.
