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Blazers Comeback

Blazers score four unanswered in the third, beat Royals 6-3

Apr 10, 2021 | 8:45 AM

KAMLOOPS — All’s well that ends well.

For the Kamloops Blazers, their game Friday (April 9) against the Victoria Royals at the Sandman Centre hub started well and finished as good as expected. Although the path between the two wells was a bumpy commute.

After the Blazers took a 2-0 lead exiting the first period, the Royals pushed back with two goals of their own to tie it in the second. Brayden Tracey scoring just 48 seconds into the third period gave the Royals their first lead at 3-2, and gave Blazers fans some uneasiness.

However, within three minutes after falling behind, an emphatic slapshot from Quinn Schmiemann along the left boards and the eventual game winning goal by Reese Belton – that went to review after initially being called post-and-out on the ice – put the Blazers up for good.

Orrin Centazzo scored his second of the night as the insurance goal and Logan Stankoven scored his sixth of the B.C. Western Hockey League (WHL) Hub campaign to secure the Blazers a 6-3 win.

Kamloops is off until Sunday (April 11) when they play the Victoria Royals at 2 p.m., this time, in the Kelowna hub.

As of publication, the Blazers are in a tie for first in the B.C. WHL Hub with the Vancouver Giants. Both teams have a 5-1 record for 10 points.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Orrin Centazzo (2) from Connor Zary and Sean Strange, 6:15

2-0, Blazers, Connor Zary (3) from Quinn Schmiemann and Josh Pillar (power play), 10:10

Second Period

2-1, Royals, Riley Gannon (1) unassisted, 9:48

2-2, Royals, Tanner Scott (1) from Trentyn Crane and Jason Spizawka, 15:46

Third Period

3-2, Royals, Brayden Tracey (5) from Kalem Parker and Brayden Schuurman (power play), 0:48

3-3, Blazers, Quin Schmiemann (2) from Orrin Centazzo and Connor Zary, 2:00

4-3, Blazers, Reese Belton (1) from Inaki Baragano and Fraser Minten, 3:44

5-3, Blazers, Orrin Centazzo 2 (3) from Josh Pillar and Sean Strange, 11:17

6-3, Blazers, Logan Stankoven (6) from Caedan Bankier and Ethan Brandwood, 13:13

Goaltending

Blazers, Dylan Ernst (W), 15 saves on 18 shots in 60 minutes

Royals, Connor Martin (L), 47 saves on 53 shots in 60 minutes.