THOMPSON BLAZERS. (Image Credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea)

By Marty Hastings

U18 AAA HOCKEY

Thompson Blazers aiming to knock off Okanagan Rockets in league final

Mar 19, 2026 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Colton Sitter tallied with 35 seconds remaining in the third period, lifting his underdog Thompson Blazers to a 6-5 comeback victory and series sweep of the Vancouver North East Chiefs last weekend in Burnaby. 

The win over the Chiefs – who finished first in regular-season standings with a record of 26-6-0-2 – assured the Blazers passage to the Under-18 AAA B.C. Elite Hockey League championship final, a best-of-three series against the Kelowna-based Okanagan Rockets. 

“The pressure we put the boys under all year in practice, I think it really helped them in that kind of moment,” said Blazers’ head coach Ed Patterson, whose club placed fourth in regular season standings. “We took an early 4-1 lead. They stormed back to make it 5-4. We scored two late ones to win the series 2-0 and knock them off. It’s all credit to the fellas and all the work they put in.” 

The Blazers have come a long way since the 2024-2025 campaign, when they finished last in league standings with a record of 5-31. 

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Patterson, former head coach of the Junior B Kamloops Storm and assistant coach of the major junior Kamloops Blazers, took the Thompson Blazers’ reins this season, with help from assistant coaches Darryl Sydor and Kaden Moore. 

“They hadn’t really played to a true system and as a team and they were so used to losing,” Patterson said. “Learning how to compete and winning the 2-1 and 3-2 games is a new thing for the guys.” 

Thompson finished the 2025-2026 regular season with a record of 17-16-0-1. 

“We like to play a rough, old-style type of hockey with some flash in there when needed, but we like to get under the opponent’s skin and really rough them around,” Blazers’ forward Tayo Jackson said. 

Added Blazers’ forward Linden Delleman: “It’s a brotherhood. Every single player on this team would do anything for each other. There’s no weak spot. It’s a family and everyone’s putting up whatever they have every single game to move forward.” 

The majority of the Blazers are from Kamloops, some aiming to make the jump to Junior A or the WHL next season. 

“They’re hungry to learn,” Patterson said. “They know they’re missing one or two things and they have a small window to work on them before their career is over. To help them try to achieve that goal is a lot of fun for me. It gives me a lot of fulfillment.” 

For now, focus is on the Rockets, who placed second in regular season standings with a record of 26-7-1-0. They will host the series this weekend in Kelowna. 

Game times are 5:00 p.m. on Friday, 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and, if necessary, 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at MNP Place in Kelowna.