Tommy Lafreniere celebrates his goal against the Victoria Royals on Feb. 16, 2026. (Image Credit: Brian Johnson/Kamloops Blazers)

By Victor Kaisar

Royals 4 Blazers 2

Kamloopsian Newman scores shorthanded winner as Royals beat Blazers on Family Day

Feb 16, 2026 | 6:53 PM

KAMLOOPS — Reggie Newman gave his family lots to cheer about on Sandman Centre on Family Day Monday (Feb. 16).

The 20-year-old Kamloopsian scored a shorthanded game winner to lift the Victoria Royals to a 4-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers. Newman’s goal at 13:11 of the third period put the Royals ahead for good after the Blazers clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit.

pic.twitter.com/ZEDfH2XB9T

— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) February 17, 2026

Victoria began Monday’s matinee on the front foot, and they were rewarded for their efforts when Henry Peterson opened the scoring at 4:57. Timofei Runtso doubled the lead at 7:13 and the Royals went into the first intermission up 2-0.

The Blazers responded on the power play at 4:35 of the second period when Nathan Behm buried his 31st goal of the season. Harrison Brunicke fired a shot wide of the net, which Jordan Keller then redirected to Behm, who made no mistake from close range.

Question of the Week

Are you going to try one of the new e-scooter or e-bike rentals around Kamloops?

Mar 09, 2026

1000 WAYS TO HEAL

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: Two Spirit People

Mar 09, 2026

LOOPED IN

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: March 9, 2026

Mar 09, 2026

Nathan Behm knows exactly where to be 📍 pic.twitter.com/BVO1okNE6p

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 16, 2026

Tommy Lafreniere evened things up at 2-2 with his 32nd goal of the season, scored on the power play at 7:51 of the third period. He fired home a shot from the face-off circle to the left of Royals’ netminder Ethan Eskit after a pass from Brunicke, who finished with two points.

Laffy just made that look way too sweet! 🍬 pic.twitter.com/ncCORkUuPl

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) February 17, 2026

After Newman put Victoria back in front, Hayden Moore sealed the win with an empty netter that went bar down at 18:14. Moore also picked up an assist on Newman’s goal and he was named the game’s second star.

Eskit was named first star after he stopped 39 of 41 shots to earn the win. Blazers netminder Logan Edmonstone was the game’s third star after he stopped 25 saves on 28 shots in the loss.

Kamloops (25-19-6-5) picked up one of a possible six points this weekend after a pair of losses to the Prince George Cougars. They remain fifth in the Western Conference with 61 points from 55 games. Victoria (23-22-5-3) is ninth with 54 points from 53 games, one point back of sixth place Spokane.

Next up for the Blazers is a weekend home-and-home against the Kelowna Rockets (29-18-5-2), who sit fourth in the Western Conference with 65 points from 54 games.

Friday’s (Feb. 20) game is a 7:00 p.m. puck drop at Sandman Centre with Saturday’s game at Prospera Place scheduled for 6:05 p.m.