Caedan Bankier scored the shootout winner for the Blazers (Image credit: Facebook/Kamloops Blazers).
By Aaron Schulze
Blazers 3 Thunderbirds 2 SO

Blazers pass test against west’s best, beat Thunderbirds 3-2 in shootout

Mar 8, 2023 | 6:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — It had been four months since the Kamloops Blazers last played the Seattle Thunderbirds, although it may as well have been four seasons with how both squads have loaded up for their respective Memorial Cup runs.

The Blazers’ 2-1 overtime loss to the top team in the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Western Conference on Nov. 9, 2022 was before the Blazers acquired Memorial Cup champion forward Jakub Demek from the Edmonton Oil Kings and made a franchise-altering move in acquiring defenceman Olen Zellweger and forward Ryan Hofer.

It was also before the Thunderbirds continued their expedition of acquiring top junior hockey talent; before forwards Colton Dach, Dylan Guenther and Brad Lambert, and defenceman Nolan Allan all wore the navy blue, green and white.

Tuesday (March 7) was a test against the west’s best, and the Blazers passed with a 3-2 shootout win.

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Connor Levis opened the scoring for the Blazers in the first period, holding on during a two-on-one rush and beat goaltender Thomas Milic with a wrist shot blocker side.

Logan Stankoven expanded the Blazers’ lead to 2-0 after deflecting Caedan Bankier’s shot into the net. But the Thunderbirds erased the deficit within 10 minutes thanks to two goals from Jared Davidson.

After a scoreless third period where the Blazers had a goal waived off and an overtime frame where the Thunderbirds had a goal waived off, both squads would go to a shootout.

Dylan Ernst – who made 34 saves during the regulation and overtime, including a penalty shot stop on Lambert – stopped Guenther’s and Kyle Crnkovic’s wrist shot attempts. In return, Bankier scored on a deke to the backhand and Matthew Seminoff wristed the puck post and in to secure the victory.

The Blazers improve their record to 41-11-4-2 on the 2022-23 WHL season, good for 88 points in 58 games. They’ve already clinched the B.C. Division, but trail the Thunderbirds for first in the Western Conference by 11 points. Although the Blazers have 10 games remaining while the Thunderbirds have eight.

The Blazers are right back at it Wednesday (March 8) in Everett when they take on the Silvertips.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Connor Levis (19) from Logan Bairos, 12:02

Second Period

2-0, Blazers, Logan Stankoven (31) from Caedan Bankier and Matthew Seminoff, 0:38

2-1, Thunderbirds, Jared Davidson (34) from Reid Schaefer, 8:08

2-2, Thunderbirds, Jared Davidson 2 (35) from Kevin Korchinski and Sawyer Mynio, 12:20

Third Period

No scoring.

Overtime

No scoring.

Shootout; Blazers

Caedan Bankier – Goal

Matthew Seminoff – Goal

Shootout; Thunderbirds

Dylan Guenther – No goal

Kyle Crnkovic – No goal

Goaltending

Dylan Ernst (W), Blazers, 34 saves on 36 shots in 65 minutes played.

Thomas Milic (SOL), Thunderbirds, 39 saves on 41 shots in 65 minutes played.

by Aaron Schulze

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