Empty net goal serves as game winner as Blazers take down Rockets 2-1 in pre-season play

KAMLOOPS — An empty net goal ended up as the game winner as the Kamloops Blazers hung on to defeat the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 in Western Hockey League (WHL) pre-season play from Sandman Centre Friday (Sept. 4) night. 

Brady Ondrus, the 16-year-old forward and second round draft pick in 2025, scored his second goal in as many pre-season games with 11 seconds left in the first period to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead. 

The 1-0 lead would hold for nearly 40 minutes until River Arnason scored into the empty net to make it 2-0 Kamloops with 1:04 to go. 

The game was far from iced though as the Rockets responded with their first goal with 37 seconds remaining. However, the Blazers hung on for the 2-1 win.