Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers/Allen Douglas

By Adam Donnelly

GIANTS' TENDECK LOOMS LARGE

Blazers lose goaltender Garand to injury, lose a second consecutive game to Giants

Feb 1, 2020 | 11:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — It was a hairy afternoon on highways around BC, which is why the opening face-off between the Kamloops Blazers and the Langley Giants was delayed by 75 minutes Saturday night.

Once the game was decided at Sandman Centre, Langley skated away with their second consecutive win over Kamloops, a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Tristen Neilsen had two goals for the Giants, while Justin Sourdiff scored the game-winner. Josh Pillar and Connor Zary tallied for the Blazers.

The Giants snatched momentum from the Blazers part-way through the second period. With the game even at one goal apiece and the Blazers on a powerplay, the Giants’ Nielsen drove hard to the net and crashed into Kamloops netminder Dylan Garand. Garand remained down after the collision and eventually left the game, although he did so under his own power.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

20h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

Dec 13, 2024

Kamloops defenceman Quinn Schmiemann was given a two-minute tripping minor on the play. Neither Blazers fans nor coaching staff thought the penalty was warranted.

“The concern is the injury on the goaltender,” Blazers Coach Shaun Clouston said after the game. “There’s going to be some games between now and then where we get calls, or we don’t get calls. The concern is a guy driving hard to the net and running into the goalie.”

The Giants would score twice in quick succession, and hang on for the win. Langley Goaltender David Tendeck made 40 saves in the victory, while Garand and Rayce Ramsay combined for 23 saves in a losing effort.

Clouston said that medical staff would evaluate Garand’s injury, and the team would know more details later in the week.

“He got hit hard, you know. A lower-body injury. I really don’t know a lot, because it happened in the middle of the game there, and I haven’t talked to the doctors.”

The Blazers head out onto the road for a trio of games next weekend; First, Friday and Saturday nights against the Royals in Victoria and then a Sunday match-up against the Giants on the way back from the Island.

The next home game is on Valentine’s Day, as the Blazers welcome the Red Deer Rebels to town.