Blazers fire 40 shots on net, fall 3-1 to Vancouver
KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers suffered their third loss of the 2021-22 Western Hockey League (WHL) season Friday night (Dec. 3) 3-1 to the Vancouver Giants.
The Giants scored late in the first period and early in the third to give themselves a 2-0 lead. Defenceman Ethan Brandwood scored a bizarre goal when his wrist shot from just inside the blue line deflected off Giants goaltender Jesper Vikman’s blocker, and went in the air and in the net, for the Blazers to come within one with five minutes remaining.
However, the Giants iced the game with an empty net goal. Vikman stopped 39 shots in the Giants win.
The Blazers fall to 17-3-0 on the season, still good for 34 points in 20 games and first in the B.C. Division and second in the WHL Western Conference. Kamloops hosts the Kelowna Rockets at the Sandman Centre Saturday (Dec. 4) at 7 p.m., the first time all season they’re allowed to welcome 100 per cent capacity.