Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Victor Kaisar

Blazers 5 Rockets 2

Blazers keep playoff hopes alive with win over lowly Rockets

Mar 15, 2025 | 9:58 AM

KELOWNA — The Kamloops Blazers got goals from five different players as they piled more misery on the Kelowna Rockets, while keeping their own playoff hopes alive.

Emmitt Finnie led the way with a goal and two assists as the Blazers beat the Rockets 5-2 Friday (March 14) night at Prospera Place. Harrison Brunicke, Rhett Ravndahl, Jordan Keller, and Nathan Behm also found the back of the net for the visitors.

The Blazers remain six points behind the Seattle Thunderbirds for the final playoff spot with four games to go to Seattle’s five. Kamloops has 51 points to Seattle’s 57. The Thunderbirds, however, can clinch a playoff spot as early as Saturday.

Will Sharpe got the Rockets on the board late in the first period as Kelowna led 1-0 after 20 minutes. The Blazers responded through Brunicke at 5:31 and Ravndahl at 17:09 of the second to lead 2-1 after two periods.

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Finnie got on the scoresheet with his team-leading 36th goal of the season after he fired a shot past Rhett Stoesser to make it a 3-1 hockey game.

While Hiroki Gojsic pulled one back for the Rockets midway through the third, the Blazers iced the game with a pair of empty netters from Keller and Behm in the final 64 seconds. Both players also hit the 30 goal mark on the season.

Veteran Blazers netminder Dylan Ernst made 31 saves on 33 shots to pick up the win. Stoesser allowed three goals on 32 shots in a losing effort, as the Rockets have lost eight in a row and 23 of their last 24 games.

The Blazers will be rebranding as the Thompson River Fighting Trout for tonight’s rematch against the Rockets at Sandman Centre. They’ll be wearing limited-edition Kami The Fish jersey, which will be auctioned off to benefit the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.

Puck drop on Saturday night is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.