Image credit: Anthony Corea/CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

PLAYOFF CHASE

Finnie returns to lineup in time for Blazers’ stretch drive; Edmonstone to start against Winterhawks

Feb 26, 2025 | 2:55 PM

KAMLOOPS — Captain Emmitt Finnie will return to the Kamloops Blazers’ lineup on Wednesday (Feb. 26), his club five points out of a playoff spot with 12 games remaining on its regular season Western Hockey League schedule.

“It’s been a frustrating couple of weeks,” said Finnie, who leads the team in points (68), goals (29) and assists (39). “It sucks being injured, but I’m feeling good right now. Hopefully, we can get some wins and get into the playoffs.”

The Blazers (20-31-4-1) are scheduled to host the Portland Winterhawks on Wednesday, a 7:00 p.m. start at Sandman Centre.

Kamloops posted two wins in nine games while Finnie was recovering from the upper-body injury he suffered in a game against the Vancouver Giants on Feb. 1 in Langley.

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“Emmitt can log a lot of minutes,” Blazers’ head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said. “He’s a driver of offence, gives us an extra gear with his speed, some extra energy, and he’s a great leader. The players read off him and his energy and they get a little bit more confident, as well.”

Finnie’s return comes just in time for the stretch drive.

Kamloops is 10th in Western Conference standings, three points behind ninth-place Wenatchee (20-29-7-1) and five points back of eighth-place Seattle (23-29-3-1). The top eight teams will advance to the post-season.

“Playoffs start now,” said Clouston, whose club has one game remaining this season against both Wenatchee and Seattle. “We’ve got to start winning two out of three and two out of three and do it again and again to the end of the season.”

Injuries to key players have plagued the Blazers this season and they had another scare on Monday (Feb. 24), when forward Nathan Behm crashed into the post during a battle drill and broke his nose.

“I’m good to go,” said Behm, who is second in team scoring, with 62 points in 52 games. “I’ll just be wearing a bubble.”

Defenceman Sam Borschowa is recovering after taking a shot to the mouth against the Spokane Chiefs on Family Day (Feb. 17) and will not be available to play on Wednesday,

Clouston said Logan Edmonstone — the 17-year-old netminder who has a .909 save percentage in his last 12 games — will start between the pipes for the Blazers.

Portland (31-22-2-1) has four wins in its last 10 games and sits fifth in Western Conference standings.

“We’ve had a lot of adversity this year,” Finnie said. “We’ve had some of our top guys injured pretty much the whole year. If we’re able to get into the playoffs, a lot can happen then.”