Image Credit: Calgary Hitmen

By Victor Kaisar

Hitman 5 Blazers 4

Hitmen sink Blazers in overtime

Dec 14, 2024 | 10:00 AM

CALGARY — Tommy Lafreniere forced overtime with a last-minute goal but the Kamloops Blazers couldn’t complete the comeback against the Calgary Hitmen Friday (Dec. 13) night.

Carter Yakemchuk scored the overtime winner to lead the Hitmen to a 5-4 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Kalem Parker struck first for the Hitmen, though the Blazers led 2-1 after the first period courtesy goals from Calgary natives Nathan Behm and Max Sullivan.

Connor Hvidston and Jordan Keller (on the power play) traded second period markers to make it a 3-2 game after 40 minutes. The Hitmen then struck twice in less than a minute – Axel Hurtig at 4:31 and Ben Kindel at 5:27 – to make it a 4-3 game for the home team.

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But with Blazers goaltender Logan Edmonstone on the bench for an extra attacker, Lafreniere put the puck past Anders Miller to tie the game at 4-4 with 51 seconds on the clock.

It wasn’t to be for the Blazers, as Yakemchuk’s goal at 2:09 of the extra period extended their losing streak to four games.

Edmonstone turned aside 35 of 40 shots in a losing effort Friday. Miller made 28 saves on 32 shots to pick up the win for the Hitmen, who improve to 15-9-3-1 and sit fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie added a pair of assists while Keller and Lafreniere added assists of their own as well.

The Blazers drop to 12-16-1-0 on the season and sit in ninth in the Western Conference, three points back of the Kelowna Rockets who are in the final playoff spot.

The Blazers will continue on their Alberta road trip with a game against the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday and the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday afternoon.

Their next home game will be on Friday, Dec. 27 against the Vancouver Giants.