Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers/Allen Douglas

By Adam Donnelly

WHL PLAYOFFS

Kamloops Blazers in the driver’s seat as they hit the highway to Portland for Games 3 and 4

Apr 17, 2023 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — After a brief four-game sweep of the Vancouver Giants, the Kamloops Blazers knew they’d get more pushback from a Portland Winterhawks team that finished in third place in the WHL’s Western Conference.

However, after two games of the best-of-seven series, Kamloops finds itself in a similar position to the opening round — heading into the opposition’s building with a pair of wins and an eye to close out the series in four games.

CFJC Today stopped in for a quick chat before the boys boarded the bus bound for the border and beyond.

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Jakub Demek on scoring his first two playoff goals with the Blazers:

“It was a little bit frustrating that I had so many shots and nothing went in. I don’t think it’s important now who scores the goals. What’s important is wins.”

Matthew Seminoff on netting his first of the post-season:

“When you’re not scoring you try to do other things to help the team. I feel like I’ve been playing physically and trying to bring other elements of my game out, but obviously it’s nice to score a goal and helps the boys out.”

Head Coach Shaun Clouston on the importance of momentum in a seven-game series:

“When your goalie plays well and he makes a big save on a two-on-one or a point-blank shot, you kind of forget. You’re not picking the puck out of the net, so Ernie’s been a really big part of our success. They’re really good in transition. They’re a fast team, they’re a skilled team, and there have been stretches where they’ve been extremely dangerous. We’ve managed to get some big saves, and because they weren’t able to gain momentum off those chances, we’ve been able to get it back.”

Caedan Bankier on the democracy of offence this Blazers’ team is displaying:

“We have a ton of confidence right now, obviously coming off one of our best games of the playoffs. We’re really happy with what we’ve been showing, and it’s been a collective effort throughout the lineup, so we’re really pleased with that.”

Daylan Keufler on heading to Portland for games three and four:

“The big part of every series is going into the other [team’s] barn and trying to find a win there. It’s never easy winning on the road, so that’s going to be the first challenge.”