(Image Credit: Brian Johnson Photography via Facebook/Kamloops Blazers)

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 6 Americans 1

Blazers inch closer to playoff spot, blow out Americans 6-1

Mar 12, 2026 | 6:48 AM

KAMLOOPS — A balanced scoring effort gave the Kamloops Blazers a crucial win as a Western Hockey League (WHL) playoff spot is within reach. 

The Blazers blew out the Tri-City Americans at home Wednesday (March 11) night 6-1. Kamloops scored four goals in the opening frame, including a backbreaker by Vit Zahejsky – who skated through the neutral zone and fired home a wrist shot from the slot – with 26 seconds remaining in the first to make it 4-0. 

The Blazers added two more goals to make it 6-0 after two periods. The Americans would break Logan Edmonstone’s shutout bid early in the third. 

The Blazers improve to 29-22-7-5 in the 2025-26 WHL season, good for 70 points in 63 games. They’re fourth in the B.C. Division and fifth in the Western Conference. 

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With five games remaining in the regular season, the Blazers are nine points ahead of the ninth-place Victoria Royals. The Blazers can advance to the WHL playoffs for the first time since 2023 with a win or Royals regulation loss. 

The Blazers begin a weekend home-and-home series with the Rockets in Kelowna Friday (March 13) before hosting the rematch at Sandman Centre Saturday (March) at 6:00 p.m. 

Scoring Summary 

First Period 

1-0, Blazers, JP Hurlbert (39) from Cooper Moore, 7:32 

2-0, Blazers, Tommy Lafreniere (38) from Josh Evaschesen and Carson Olsen, 9:07 

3-0, Blazers, Jordan Keller (27) from Ryan Michael and Josh Evaschesen, 17:54 

4-0, Blazers, Vit Zahejsky (6) from Joaquin Geras and Ty Bonkowski, 19:34 

Second Period 

5-0, Blazers, Ty Bonkowski (13) unassisted, 7:53 

6-0, Blazers, Ty Coupland (16) from Ty Bonkowski and Vit Zahejsky, 16:45 

Third Period 

6-1, Americans, Cruz Pavao (19) from Jakub Vanacek and Jake Gudelj, 4:19 

Goaltending 

Logan Edmonstone (W), Blazers, 21 saves on 22 shots in 60 minutes played. 

Xavier Wendt (L), Americans, eight saves on 12 shots in 20 minutes played. 

Ryan Grout, Americans, 21 saves on 23 shots in 40 minutes played.