Andrew Thomson scoring the teddy bear goal at Sandman Centre on Dec. 6, 2024. Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers

By Victor Kaisar

Thunderbirds 5 Blazers 2

Thomson scores teddy bear goal as Blazers drop 5-2 decision to Seattle

Dec 7, 2024 | 8:13 AM

KAMLOOPS — Andrew Thomson scored the teddy bear goal less than three minutes into the game, but the Kamloops Blazers were beaten 5-2 by the Seattle Thunderbirds Friday (Dec. 6) night.

The 17-year-old Thompson fired a shot past Seattle’s Scott Ratzlaff to bring down the bears in the Blazers final home game before the WHL holiday break.

“It felt really good,” Thomson said post-game. “[Ty Bonkowski] made a great seam pass to me and I was able to finish it, but I think we’d rather get the win tonight.”

“I kind of had a little bit of a shock there,” Thomson said, of his celebration. “I know lots of guys were talking about [who would score the teddy bear goal] in the room, but I really didn’t think too much about it.”

The bears as well as any toques and mitts that were thrown onto the ice will be donated to Royal Inland Hospital as well as other local charities and non-profit groups.

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The T-Birds struck twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead, before Tommy Lafreniere restored parity with a breakaway goal as his shot beat Ratzlaff glove side to make it a 2-2 game.

Kamloops native Sawyer Mynio – who is set to join Canada’s World Junior selection camp next week – then scored what turned out to be the game winner with less than four minutes to play in the second period.

Seattle then scored another pair in the third period to come away with the win, and a 10-15-2-1 record. The loss drops Kamloops to 12-15-1-0 this season.

Logan Edmonstone made 18 saves on 22 shots in a losing effort for the Blazers. Ratzlaff, who was named first star on the night, stopped 36 of 38 shots to earn the win for Seattle.

The Blazers are back in action Saturday night to take on the Cougars in Prince George on teddy bear night at the CN Centre.

Their next home game will be on Dec. 27, when the Vancouver Giants stop by Sandman Centre.