Dryden Deobald scored his second goal of the season to make it 4-2 Blazers. (Image Credit: @brian.johnson.photography Facebook/Kamloops Blazers)

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 5 Rebels 2

Blazers beat Rebels to pick up two crucial points

Jan 29, 2026 | 6:36 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers picked up another crucial two points in the second half of the 2025-26 Western Hockey League (WHL) season as they beat the Red Deer Rebels 5-2 at Sandman Centre Wednesday (Jan. 28) night.

Josh Evaschesen scored twice for the Blazers, while Harrison Brunicke added three assists. Czech forward Vit Zahejsky also made it points in three straight games since he returned from injury last weekend.

Red Deer native Cooper Moore got things started for the Blazers by finishing a passing play off the rush with defenceman Harrison Brunicke and former Rebels forward Ty Coupland to make it 1-0 early in the first period. 

The Blazers struck early in the second period as well when Ty Bonkowski fired home a wrist shot from above the right circle to make it 2-0 Kamloops. 

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The Rebels answered back a few minutes later to cut the deficit to one, but Evaschesen responded just over a minute later with a wrist from above the slot to restore the Blazers’ two goal lead. However, the Rebels would add one more goal halfway through the second period to make it 3-2 going into the third. 

Dryden Deobald gave the Blazers their insurance halfway through the third. Rookie forward Jacob Dumansky set up the rookie defenceman in front of the net for his second goal of the season to make it 4-2 Kamloops. Evaschesen added an empty net goal to secure the 5-2 win. 

The Blazers improve to 22-15-5-4 in the 2025-26 WHL season, good for 53 points in 46 games. They sit third in the B.C. Division, fourth in the Western Conference and are ahead of ninth-place Spokane by eight points. 

The Blazers visit the Penticton Vees on Friday (Jan. 30) before returning to Sandman Centre Saturday (Jan. 31) to host the Prince George Cougars at 6:00 p.m. 

Scoring Summary 

First Period 

1-0, Blazers, Cooper Moore (8) from Harrison Brunicke and Ty Coupland, 3:29 

Second Period 

2-0, Blazers, Ty Bonkowski (10) from Logan Edmonstone, 4:30 

2-1, Rebels, Owen DeWitt (1) from Kohen Lodge and Matus Lisy, 7:42 

3-1, Blazers, Josh Evaschesen (23) from Nathan Behm and Harrison Brunicke, 8:45 

3-2, Rebels, Patrick Sopiarz (5) unassisted, 10:35 

Third Period 

4-2, Blazers, Dryden Deobald (2) from Jacob Dumansky and Vit Zahejsky, 11:37 

5-2, Blazers, Josh Evaschesen 2 (24) from Harrison Brunicke and Jordan Keller (empty net), 18:13 

Goaltending 

Logan Edmonstone (W), Blazers, 18 saves on 20 shots in 60 minutes played. 

Matthew Kondro (L), Rebels, 34 saves on 38 shots in 58 minutes played.