Image credit: Jay Wallace via Facebook/Kamloops Blazers

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 6 Royals 4

Blazers take both games from Vancouver Island, beat Royals 6-4

Nov 7, 2024 | 6:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers took both wins from their two-game road trip to Vancouver Island.

After squeaking out a 4-3 overtime win the night prior, the Blazers went back-to-back and defeated the Victoria Royals 6-4 Wednesday (Nov. 6) night.

Captain Emmitt Finnie opened the scoring halfway through the first period with a wrist shot from the left circle on the power play. But the Royals responded with two consecutive power play goals of their own. The Blazers would tie the game 2-2 before the end of the second period thanks to John Szabo finishing off a tic-tac-toe passing play with Jordan Keller and Nathan Behm.

Offence exploded in the third period. The Royals scored two minutes into the third to take a 3-2 lead, but Finnie responded with his second goal of the night on a sharp angle shot to tie the game again 3-3. However, the Royals took the lead again on a penalty shot.

Nearly halfway through the third, Kamloops local Keller finished off a backdoor pass to the game again at 4-4.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Kamloops-Thompson School District continues to face huge uphill battle

2h ago

The Creative Edge

PEARCE: What is prosperity and how do we truly define it?

Nov 06, 2024

Question of the Week

If the time change was eliminated in B.C., which time would you prefer?

Nov 04, 2024

After a burst of scoring, it would take 10 minutes for another puck to hit the twine again, but the wait was worth it for the Blazers. Defenceman Ryan Michael leaned into a one-timer and gave the Blazers the lead for good. Keller scored his second of the night into an empty net to secure the 6-4 win.

The Blazers improve to 8-8-1-0 on the 2024-25 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for 17 points in 17 games. They’re seventh in the WHL Western Conference and fourth in the B.C. Division.

The Blazers return home Friday (Nov. 8) when they welcome the Spokane Chiefs to Sandman Centre. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie (10) from Harrison Brunicke and Oren Shtrom (power play), 8:36

1-1, Royals, Cosmo Wilson (2) from Nate Misskey and Nolan Stewart (power play), 12:35

Second Period

2-1, Royals, Teydon Trembecky (7) from Cole Reschny and Justin Kipkie (power play), 6:18

2-2, Blazers, John Szabo (4) from Jordan Keller and Nathan Behm, 12:03

Third Period

3-2, Royals, Logan Pickford (4) from Matthew Keller and Hayden Moore, 2:06

3-3, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie 2 (11) from Nathan Behm and Jordan Keller, 3:08

4-3, Royals, Cole Reschny (7) unassisted (penalty shot), 4:02

4-4, Blazers, Jordan Keller (5) from Emmitt Finnie and Oren Shtrom (power play), 8:37

5-4, Blazers, Ryan Michael (1) from Tommy Lafreniere and Oren Shtrom, 17:54

6-4, Blazers, Jordan Keller 2 (6) from Nathan Behm and Emmitt Finnie (empty net), 19:33

Goaltending

Logan Edmonstone (W), Blazers, 23 saves on 27 shots in 60 minutes played.

Spencer Michnik (L), Royals, 33 saves on 38 shots in 59 minutes played.