Image Credit: Brian Johnson/Kamloops Blazers

By Victor Kaisar

Winterhawks 7 Blazers 4

Gustafson hat trick powers Winterhawks to 7-4 win over Blazers

Nov 22, 2025 | 9:13 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers began a five game home stand with a 7-4 defeat as Jake Gustafson’s hat trick powered the Portland Winterhawks to victory Friday (Nov. 21) night at Sandman Centre.

Josh Evaschesen struck twice, while Tommy Lafreniere and Nathan Behm also scored for the Blazers, who saw their two-game win streak come to an end in an game in which they trailed for all by the first 26 seconds.

Carter Sotheran, Gustafson, and Ryan Miller had the Winterhawks – who are now winners of four in a row – up 3-0 before Evaschesen got the Blazers on the board in the final minute of the opening period.

Nathan Free and Tyson Yaremko extended the Winterhawks lead to 5-1 in the second before Evaschesen struck again for his 10th of the season.

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Gustafson potted his second of the night about 90 seconds later to restore Portland’s four goal lead. He went on to complete his hat trick with a power play goal in the third period.

The Blazers came out firing in the third period as they tallied 20 of their 43 shots in that period. They got two goals for their efforts – as Lafreniere and Behm beat Ondrej Štěbeták in the Winterhawks net. Štěbeták finished with 39 saves on the night.

Blazers goaltender Logan Edmonstone turned aside 33 of 40 shots in a losing effort, as Portland swept the three-game season series with Kamloops.

The Winterhawks were three of seven on the power play while the Blazers were held scoreless on their three attempts.

The Blazers will attempt to right the ship when they host the Wenatchee Wild in a 6:00 p.m. game this evening (Nov. 22) at Sandman Centre.