Image credit: Facebook/Kamloops Blazers
Broncos 6 Blazers 3

Blazers extend winless streak to seven, fall to Broncos 6-3

Oct 18, 2023 | 7:36 AM

KAMLOOPS — It was a happy homecoming for two Kamloops brothers at the expense of their hometown hockey team.

Mathew and Sam Ward and their Swift Current Broncos galloped into Sandman Centre Tuesday (Oct. 17) night and defeated the Kamloops Blazers 6-3.

In his second Western Hockey League (WHL) game in Kamloops, and first since October 2019, the 19-year-old Mathew scored early in the second period, with the puck deflecting off his skates and in, to give his Broncos a 2-0 lead.

The Blazers battled back with two goals 1:47 apart – Dylan Sydor banking in a rebound off the boards on the power play and Connor Levis finishing a cross-ice pass from Emmitt Finnie – to make it a 2-2 game after two.

But the Broncos were able to pull away with three unanswered goals in the third period – including a wicked wrist shot from Mathew for his second goal of the game – en route to the 6-3 win. Logan Bairos added a power play goal for the Blazers.

Matthew finished with two goals and two assists in his Kamloops homecoming, while his 18-year-old younger brother Sam finished the game with a plus one.

The Blazers have gone winless in seven straight games. They fall to 1-6-2-0, good for four points in nine games and last place in the WHL Western Conference.

The Blazers aim to bounce back Friday (Oct. 20) when they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers to Sandman Centre. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Broncos, Josh Filmon (4) from Caleb Wyrostok, 5:00

Second Period

2-0, Broncos, Mathew Ward (5) from Clarke Caswell and Tyson Laventure, 2:36

2-1, Blazers, Dylan Sydor (4) from Logan Bairos and Emmitt Finnie (power play), 13:05

2-2, Blazers, Connor Levis (4) from Emmitt Finnie and Logan Bairos, 14:52

Third Period

3-2, Broncos, Owen Pickering (1) from Josh Filmon and Mathew Ward (power play), 1:02

4-2, Broncos, Mathew Ward 2 (6) from Clarke Caswell and Owen Pickering (power play), 9:58

5-2, Broncos, Rylan Gould (4) from Brady Birnie and Van Eger, 11:39

5-3, Blazers, Logan Bairos (2) from Emmitt Finnie and Connor Levis (power play), 14:41

6-3, Broncos, Van Eger (2) from Mathew Ward (empty net), 19:46

Goaltending

Reid Dyck (W), Broncos, 40 saves on 43 shots in 60 minutes played.

Dylan Ernst (L), Blazers, 21 saves on 26 shots in 58 minutes played.