Kayd Ruedig celebrates his teddy bear goal at Sandman Centre on Dec. 5, 2025. (Image Credit: Brian Johnson/Kamloops Blazers)

By Victor Kaisar

Vees 7 Blazers 2

Ruedig scores teddy bear goal as Blazers blown out by Vees

Dec 6, 2025 | 8:26 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kayd Ruedig brought the teddy bears to the Sandman Centre ice, but the Penticton Vees brought the goals as they beat the Kamloops Blazers 7-2 Friday (Dec. 5) night.

Ruedig, an 18-year-old defenceman, picked up the loose puck and deked around Louis Wehmann before he roofed a shot past Andrew Reyelts to score the latest teddy bear goal in Blazers’ history.

Jiri Kamas struck first for the Vees with the only goal of the opening period, scored at 2:31. The Blazers had their chances as both JP Hurlbert and Josh Evaschesen couldn’t capitalize on first period breakaways.

Ruedig then brought the bears down just past the two minute mark of the second period. His unassisted goal made it a 1-1 game, but the Vees were back on top 3-1 about 10 minutes later courtesy Diego Johnson and Callum Stone.

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Hurlbert, the WHL’s reigning rookie of the month, made it 3-2 as he extended his league-leading nine-game point streak with his 21st goal of the season. The Texas Tornado snapped home a shot after both he and Nathan Behm found themselves on a two-on-one.

The third period belonged to the Vees as shots from Tristan Petersen, Jacob Kvasnicka (shorthanded) and a pair from Ryden Evers found their way past Logan Edmonstone in the Blazers’ net.

Kvasnicka, the New York Islanders prospect, turned Hurlbert inside out and slid the puck in five-hole as his highlight reel goal made it 5-2 on the night.

Edmonstone took the loss as he finished with 24 saves on 31 shots, while Reyelts stopped 31 of 33 shots he faced.

The 13-11-2-2 Blazers, 12-8-3-3 Vees, and 13-9-3-1 Kelowna Rockets are all at 30 points currently, though the Blazers have played 28 games while the other two have played 26 each.

The Blazers head to Penticton for a rematch this evening (Dec. 6) as the two B.C. rivals play their third game in a row. It’s the Blazers first trip to the South Okanagan Events Centre since Penticton joined the WHL.