Image credit: Facebook/Kamloops Blazers

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 4 Thunderbirds 1

Blazers take down Thunderbirds 4-1

Feb 8, 2024 | 7:11 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers have now won six of their last eight games after taking down the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-1 Wednesday (Feb. 7) during their Indigenous Night game at Sandman Centre.

The Blazers opened the scoring in the first period with 20-year-old Ashton Ferster redirecting a pass from Ryan Michael over Thunderbirds goaltender Scott Ratzlaff.

It would take until later in the second period for the scoring to resume. Matteo Koci finished a cross-ice pass from Kai Matthew off the rush to give the Blazers a two-goal lead, but the Thunderbirds responded two minutes later to make it a 2-1 game after two.

But a one-goal game would be as much pressure as the Blazers would face Wednesday. Harrison Brunicke skated down the far boards, went around the net and picked the corner over Ratzlaff to make it 3-1 in the third period. Emmitt Finnie would then score on a shorthanded breakaway to keep the game out of reach.

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Blazers goaltender Dylan Ernst held the fort down with 19 saves en route to the 4-1 win.

The Blazers improve their record to 15-29-3-2 on the 2023-24 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for 35 points in 49 games. However, while they remain at the bottom of the WHL Western Conference standings.

They’re seven points behind the Spokane Chiefs for the eighth and final playoff spot but have played two more games.

Next up for the Blazers is a home game against the Kelowna Rockets on Friday (Feb. 9). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. from Sandman Centre.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Ashton Ferster (12) from Ryan Michael and Emmitt Finnie, 7:18

Second Period

2-0, Blazers, Matteo Koci (3) from Kai Matthew and Blake Swetlikoff (power play), 14:11

2-1, Thunderbirds, Kazden Mathies (7) from Jeremy Hanzel and Antonio Martorana, 16:25

Third Period

3-1, Blazers, Harrison Brunicke (9) from Blake Swetlikoff and Matteo Koci, 5:01

4-1, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie (10) unassisted (shorthanded), 14:04

Goaltending

Dylan Ernst (W), Blazers, 19 saves on 20 shots in 60 minutes played.

Scott Ratzlaff (L), Thunderbirds, 29 saves on 33 shots in 60 minutes played.