Josh Evaschesen celebrates his goal against the Kelowna Rockets on March 13, 2026. (Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

By Victor Kaisar

Rockets 4 Blazers 1

Blazers lose in Kelowna to begin weekend home-and-home against Rockets

Mar 14, 2026 | 8:15 AM

KELOWNA — The Kamloops Blazers’ bid to clinch a playoff berth will have to wait a little longer.

The Blazers dropped a 4-1 decision in Kelowna Friday (March 13) night, while the Victoria Royals beat the Vancouver Giants 5-2. With four games to go, the fifth-place Blazers (29-23-7-5) have 70 points, while ninth-place Victoria (27-28-6-3) have 63 points.

Josh Evaschesen scored the Blazers’ only goal, as four different Rockets found a way to beat Logan Edmonstone to give Kelowna its third win in a row against Kamloops. The Blazers netminder finished with 36 saves on 40 shots.

Tij Iginla put the Rockets ahead with the only goal of the first period at Prospera Place. Goals from Shane Smith and Keith McInnis 65 seconds apart had the Rockets up 3-0 less than two minutes into the second period.

Evaschesen pulled one back for Kamloops at 19:32 of the period. The Medicine Hat native fired a sharp-angle shot which rolled off Harrison Boettiger’s back and into the net. It was the only blemish on an otherwise stellar night for Boettiger, who made 30 saves and picked up an assist.

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Need a goal? Josh has it covered 🫡 pic.twitter.com/hm6tJOwmth

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 14, 2026

No comeback was on the cards as the Kelowna’s Mazden Leslie scored the only goal of the final frame to make it a 4-1 final. The result means the Rockets (37-19-6-3) remain in third place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the fourth-place Prince George Cougars (40-22-2-0).

The Blazers could still clinch a playoff spot this weekend when they rematch against the Rockets at Sandman Centre in the second game of the weekend home-and-home. They’ll need a point against the Rockets or for Victoria to lose to Vancouver when the Royals and Giants meet in Langley.

Puck drop from the Sandman Centre for the final Blazers-Rockets regulars season meeting is 6:00 p.m. It was supposed to be Fighting Trout night, but the Blazers won’t be wearing their special jerseys because of shipping delays.

“Fighting Trout merchandise will still be available in the Blazers team store, and the Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce will be set up on the concourse with Kami the Fish merchandise,” the Blazers said in a statement.