The Blazers celebrate one of three goals against Kelowna on Dec. 28, 2024. (Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

By Victor Kaisar

Blazers 3 Rockets 1

Szabo scores twice as Blazers down Rockets in first meeting of the season

Dec 29, 2024 | 9:48 AM

KELOWNA — John Szabo scored twice to lead the Kamloops Blazers to a 3-1 come-from-behind win over the Kelowna Rockets Saturday (Dec. 28) night.

All three Blazers goals came in the third period at Prospera Place as Kamloops snapped a seven game losing streak with a win over their B.C. Division rivals.

Kalder Varga struck first for the Rockets after Kayden Longley stripped the puck from Blazers defenceman Kalan Anderlini and fed Varga, who beat Dylan Ernst six minutes into the opening period.

Trailing 1-0 after 40 minutes, the Blazers found a way back into the game with a pair of power play goals after the Rockets picked up a series of penalties midway through the third.

Nathan Behm struck first at 7:01 as the Blazers finally solved Rockets goaltender Jake Pilon, who was named first star on the night for his 45 save effort.

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Szabo’s first, which turned out to the game winner, came at 16:09 in third, as he beat Pilon low on his glove side from the beside the net.

Szabo then iced the game with an empty netter at 17:59, for his third goal of the weekend, and seventh as a Blazer.

Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie picked up a pair of assists to extend his point streak to six games. Dylan Ernst earned the win in net with a 25 save effort for Kamloops.

The Blazers improved to 13-18-3-0, with has them ninth in the Western Conference with 29 points from 34 games. The Rockets dropped to 13-15-2-1, good for 29 points from 31 games.

Next up for the Blazers is a rematch against the Rockets on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at Sandman Centre. It’ll be the second of eight meetings between these two teams this season.