Ty Coupland (left), Tij Iginla (Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

By Marty Hastings

WHL PLAYOFFS

With Rockets’ duo doing damage, Blazers aim to clamp down defensively in Game 3

Mar 31, 2026 | 2:36 PM

KAMLOOPS — Tij Iginla and Vojtěch Čihař are roasting the Kamloops Blazers. 

The Kelowna forwards have combined for nine points in two post-season games, with the Rockets up 2-0 on the Blazers in the best-of-seven WHL Western Conference quarter-final series. 

“Those guys, I think they’ve got six of the eight goals, so that’s obviously a major concern,” Blazers’ head coach Shaun Clouston said. 

The plan is to take away time and space from the Rockets’ dynamic duo, but the playmakers are prevailing through two games. 

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“[Iginla is] quick and he’s got a great shot,” said Blazers’ defenceman Harrison Brunicke, who is minus-6 in the series. “That’s kind of what separates him from others. Our job is to limit his space and not let him shoot. But good players find a way sometimes.” 

Brunicke teased a more physical approach to slowing down the Rockets’ top forwards. 

“They’re good players, skilled and hard to play against,” Brunicke said. “We’ve got to play them hard, maybe a bit more of the emotional game, push them out of the series.” 

Blazers’ D-man Isa Guram was asked about strategy for Game 3. 

“We have to know when they’re on the ice, for sure,” he said. “We can’t give them any rush looks. We know Iginla likes to make plays off the rush. If we have a good F-3, contain him and keep him outside, we can stop him from scoring.” 

Added Clouston: “A play that worked in the regular season that’s a bit more high-risk, it just can’t happen.” 

The first WHL playoff game in Kamloops since 2023 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday (March 31) at Sandman Centre, with the Blazers aiming to avoid a perilous 3-0 hole. 

“You don’t want to think must-win in our minds, but it kind of is,” Brunicke said. “We’ve got to come out here in our barn and take it to them.” 

Added Guram: “It’s not over until one team wins four games. We’ve been right with them. We’ve just got to bear down, defend hard inside the house and bury some chances.”