(Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers Win Season Opener

Blazers kick off WHL hub season, beat Giants 7-3

Mar 27, 2021 | 8:45 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers hadn’t played a Western Hockey League (WHL) game on Sandman Centre ice since March 6, 2020, and they showed their eagerness right out of the gate.

Montana Onyebuchi scored 31 seconds into the Blazers’ shortened 2021 WHL season opener against the Vancouver Giants on Friday (March 26). It was part of a four-goal first period that paved the way for a 7-3 Blazers win in the Kamloops hub.

Captain Connor Zary (three assists) and Matthew Seminoff (two goals and one assist) led the way offensively for Kamloops. Elsewhere, 16-year-old rookie Connor Levis scored his first two goals in his WHL debut.

The Blazers look to sweep their first weekend in the Kamloops hub for a 2-0 start when they face the Prince George Cougars at 7 p.m.

Scoring Summary

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First Period

1-0, Blazers, Montana Onyebuchi (1) from Connor Zary and Logan Stankoven, 0:31

2-0, Blazers, Matthew Seminoff (1) from Orrin Centazzo and Inaki Baragano, 3:08

3-0, Blazers, Connor Levis (1) from Daylan Kuefler and Fraser Minten, 13:43

3-1, Giants, Tristen Nielsen (1) from Kaden Kohle, 16:08

4-1, Blazers, Logan Stankoven (1) from Connor Zary and Quinn Schmiemann (power play), 18:36

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

4-2, Giants, Bryce Bader (1) from Marko Stacha and Adam Hall, 4:04

5-2, Blazers, Connor Levis 2 (2) from Caedan Bankier, 4:13

5-3, Giants, Eric Florchuk (1) from Tristen Nielsen, 11:13

6-3, Blazers, Matthew Seminoff 2 (2) from Connor Zary, 12:27

7-3, Blazers, Quinn Schmiemann (1) from Matthew Seminoff, 12:56

Goaltending

Blazers, Dylan Garand (W), 19 saves on 22 shots in 60 minutes played.

Giants, Drew Sim (L), 20 saves on 27 shots in 60 minutes played.