Zary bags a teddy bear goal, Blazers beat Portland

Nov 30, 2019 | 10:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — One night after losing in a shootout to Portland, the Kamloops Blazers exacted a measure of revenge, beating the Winterhawks 4-1 at Sandman Centre. Cute, cuddly, fluffy revenge.

It was Teddy Bear Toss night in Kamloops, a tradition that dates back to 1993 and is now copied in rinks across Canada and the United States. On Saturday, the fateful goal came thanks to Connor Zary, as he potted his 18th of the season on a two-man advantage midway through the opening frame.

After a relatively short (as Teddy Bear clean-ups go) delay, Kamloops kept coming. They peppered Joel Hofer with 15 shots in the first, and added a second goal, as Orrin Centazzo got his 14th of the year with less than three minutes left in the period.

The Blazers would add another halfway through the second frame, as Ryan Hughes scored his 10th of the year (another power-play marker).

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Kamloops would round out their scoring in the third when 16-year old Daylan Keufler sped down the left-wing and fired it past Hofer for his first WHL goal. The only assist on Keufler’s goal went to Ethan Brandwood for his first WHL point.

Portland would spoil Garand’s shutout bid in the third, as Reece Newkirk scored on the power play with just 2:14 left to play.

Garand stopped 30 shots to earn his 15th win of the season. Hofer made 42 saves in a losing effort for the Winterhawks.

Kamloops now heads out on an Eastern swing, where they’ll play their next seven games before heading into the Christmas break.

Their next home game comes on Saturday, December 28th, when they take on the Everett Silvertips.

by Adam Donnelly

Zary bags a teddy bear goal, Blazers beat Portland

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