Image credit: Facebook/Kamloops Blazers

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 4 Winterhawks 2

Captain Finnie scores in his return to the lineup as Blazers ground Winterhawks 4-2

Feb 27, 2025 | 6:28 AM

KAMLOOPS — Captain Emmitt Finnie scored twice in his return to the lineup as his Kamloops Blazers hung on and beat the Portland Winterhawks 4-2 Wednesday (Feb. 26) from Sandman Centre.

The Blazers and Winterhawks traded a pair of goals in the first period. Beau Courtney fell after cutting through the middle, then got up from his knees and lifted a backhand shot high to give the Blazers a lead early in the first period. But the Winterhawks would respond in under two minutes.

Late in the first, Tommy Lafreniere stole the puck in the neutral zone and his centering pass went off a Winterhawk skate and in to retake the lead for the Blazers. However, the Winterhawks responded with another goal in the final minute to tie it.

Lafreniere would help the Blazers retake the lead again. He set up his captain Finnie with a tap-in goal on the power play to give the Blazers the 3-2 lead.

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The Blazers would try to hold the fort for nearly 35 minutes, and they succeeded. Finnie iced the empty net goal with 14 seconds remaining to secure the 4-2 win. Blazers goaltender Logan Edmonstone made 34 saves for the win.

The Blazers improve to 21-31-4-1 on the 2024-25 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for 47 points in 57 games. They’re 10th in the WHL Western Conference and trail the Seattle Thunderbirds for the eighth and final playoff spot by three points.

However, the Thunderbirds have a game in hand. The Blazers have 11 games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season.

The Blazers travel to Prince George to take on the Cougars on Friday, Feb. 28. They’ll return home Saturday, March 1, to welcome the Cougars to Sandman Centre for a 6:00 p.m. start.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Blazers, Beau Courtney (8) from Ty Bonkowski, 7:01

1-1, Winterhawks, Kyle Chyzowski (38) from Diego Buttazzoni and Jordan Duguay, 8:47

2-1, Blazers, Tommy Lafreniere (22) unassisted, 16:39

2-2, Winterhawks, Diego Buttazzoni (29) from Tyson Jugnauth and Kyle Chyzowski, 19:00

Second Period

3-2, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie (30) from Tommy Lafreniere and Jordan Keller (power play), 5:11

Third Period

4-2, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie (31) unassisted (empty net), 19:46

Goaltending

Logan Edmonstone (W), Blazers, 34 saves on 36 shots in 60 minutes played.

Ondrej Stebetak (L), Winterhawks, 30 saves on 33 shots in 58 minutes played.