Jordan Keller (22) slides the puck past Vancouver Giants goaltender Burke Hood on Jan. 10, 2025. (Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers)
Blazers 5 Giants 4 OT

Keller ‘backs’ hometown Blazers to comeback win over Giants

Jan 10, 2025 | 11:18 PM

KAMLOOPS — Jordan Keller scored a no-look backhander while on his back to lead the Kamloops Blazers to a 5-4 overtime win over the Vancouver Giants Friday (Jan. 10) night.

The Kamloops native’s goal at 2:01 of overtime capped off a wild game at Sandman Centre that saw four of nine goals scored in the final 3:47 of action.

“It was a loose puck in front of the net and [Emmitt Finnie] tried to shoot it, and I think we both fell, and I just tried to get the puck to the net, and was lucky enough it went in,” Keller said post-game.

“I kind of blacked out obviously, it was a big goal. I’m glad we got the win.”

Keller and Tommy Lafreniere – who forced overtime with less than ten seconds to play – finished with two goals each as the Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak with their first win of 2025.

“That was probably the craziest debut game I’ve ever been a part of,” new defenceman Rhett Ravndahl, who finished with two assists, said. “That’s the most exciting game I’ve been a part of, I think.”

Tied 1-1 after 20 minutes following goals from Ty Halaburda and Lafreniere, the Giants pulled away late in the second after goals from Connor Levis and Maxim Muranov made it a 3-1 game.

Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie then took matters into his own hands when he drove to the net and slid the puck past Giants goaltender Burke Hood, who faced 49 shots on the night, to make it a 3-2 game with 5:46 left to play.

Keller tied things up at 3-3 exactly four minutes later with a shot from the face-off circle to the right of Hood’s net at 18:14. With overtime looming, Giants’ rookie defenceman Ryan Lin restored Vancouver’s lead just 26 seconds later at 18:40.

Lafrienere, the 17-year-old rookie forward, ensured there would be bonus hockey when he pounced on the rebound after a long-range shot from Matteo Koci, who was back in the Blazers lineup after his exploits at the World Juniors.

Keller then scored his 20th of the season in overtime to give the Blazers their first win at Sandman Centre since Nov. 30, 2024.

Blazers goaltender Dylan Ernst turned aside 26 of 30 shots to pick up the win, while Hood ended up with 44 saves in a losing effort.

Finnie also added an assist to extend his point streak to 10 games. Ryan Michael and Nathan Behm also finished with two point nights Friday.

The Blazers improve to 14-21-3-0, and sit in 10th place in the Western Conference with 31 points from 38 games. Vancouver drops to 19-16-5-0, to sit in seventh place with 43 points from 40 games.

Next up for the Blazers is a meeting against the BC Division Prince George Cougars Saturday (Jan. 11) night at Sandman Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.