Junior Blazers lose 5-4 to Seafair in Western Canadian opener

In Thursday afternoon’s tilt, Kamloops opened the scoring with a goal by first-year bantam Carter Streek who scored in close to make it 1-0 for the hosts. The B.C. champions tied the game with 3:44 left in the opening frame. Michael Abfrall evened the game. Then with 48 seconds left in the first, Seafair took the lead on a goal by Davis Sato.

The Junior Blazers came out with jump in the second and scored two quick goals. The first evened the score at two from Owen Haight 1:09 into the middle frame. Two and a half minutes later, they regained the lead when Branden Toye put his name on the scoreboard.

Before the end of the second, however, the Islanders responded. Jacob Bonkowski had a great individual effort, taking the puck right to the net and tucking it past Thompson goalie Evan Pascoe.

The score was 3-3 going to the third, and in the final frame Seafair took the lead with 9:10 left and then stretch their lead to two goals with 4:59 remaining. The Junior Blazers pulled Pascoe and scored the 5-4 goal 50 seconds later with 1:04, but couldn’t quite get the equalizer.

The Junior Blazers have a short rest before playing the Manitoba champion Winnipeg Hawks tonight at 7 p.m. at McArthur Island.

by Chad Klassen

Junior Blazers lose 5-4 to Seafair in Western Canadian opener

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