Image credit: Facebook/Kamloops Blazers

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 6 Royals 2

Blazers return serve with 6-2 win over Royals

Jan 22, 2024 | 5:30 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers left Vancouver Island with a split against the Victoria Royals over the weekend.

After getting blown out 7-2 the night prior, the Blazers responded with a 6-2 blowout win of their own Sunday (Jan. 21).

After surrendering the opening goal early in the first period, the Blazers responded 40 seconds later with a slapshot by Nathan Behm from the far circle.

Newly acquired 20-year-old forward Blake Swetlikoff pounced on a rebound to score his first goal as a Blazer and to give Kamloops a 2-1 lead in the first, although the Royals responded with a shorthanded goal to make it 2-2. On that same Blazers power play, though, Logan Bairos’ wrist shot from the point ended up giving the Blazers a 3-2 lead after an eventful first.

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After a scoreless second period, the Blazers coasted to a 6-3 win. Swetlikoff scored his second goal for Kamloops by pouncing on a puck in front of the net after a broken play and Emmitt Finnie added two shorthanded goals: one into an empty net and another on a breakaway.

The Blazers improve their record to 11-28-3-2 on the 2023-24 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for 27 points in 44 games. However, they remain at the bottom of the overall WHL standings and trail the Tri-City Americans by 10 points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Next up for the Blazers is a weekend home-and-home series with the Kelowna Rockets starting on the road Friday (Jan. 26) then coming back to Sandman Centre Saturday (Jan. 27). Puck drop for the home game is 6 p.m.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Royals, Tyson Laventure (17) from Dawson Pasternak (power play), 4:12

1-1, Blazers, Nathan Behm (8) from Blake Swetlikoff and Vojtech Vochvest, 4:52

2-1, Blazers, Blake Swetlikoff (3) from Josh Kelly and Kai Matthew, 16:21

2-2, Royals, Tanner Scott (17) from Reggie Newman and Ryan Spizawka (shorthanded), 18:19

3-2, Blazers, Logan Bairos (6) from Emmitt Finnie and Blake Swetlikoff (power play), 19:00

Second Period

No scoring.

Third Period

4-2, Blazers, Blake Swetlikoff 2 (4) from Josh Kelly, 11:55

5-2, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie (6) from Jesse Sanche (shorthanded; empty net), 16:53

6-2, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie 2 (7) unassisted (shorthanded), 18:11

Goaltending

Jesse Sanche (W), Blazers, 21 saves on 23 shots in 60 minutes played.

Braden Holton (L), Royals, 24 saves on 29 shots in 60 minutes played.