Image credit: Facebook/Kamloops Blazers

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 3 Royals 1

Blazers take down Royals 3-1 in Family Day matinee

Feb 20, 2024 | 7:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers won a Family Day matinee at Sandman Centre Monday (Feb. 20) afternoon by taking down the Victoria Royals 3-1.

The Royals opened the scoring on the power play, but the Blazers responded late in the first period with Matteo Koci sending it to Kai Matthew to finish a two-on-one to make it 1-1.

Nearly halfway through the second, it was Koci’s turn to score the goal. The Czech defenceman skated to the far circle on the power play and rifled the puck home to make it 2-1.

In the third period it was Matthew again, this time pouncing on Josh Kelly’s rebound to make it 3-1. Dylan Ernst made 33 saves to ensure the 5,000 plus fans went home happy.

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The Blazers improve to 18-31-3-2 on the 2023-24 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for 41 points in 54 games. They jumped to 11^th in the WHL Western Conference standings but trail the Spokane Chiefs by eight points for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Next up for the Blazers is a home game against the Prince George Cougars on Friday (Feb. 23). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. from Sandman Centre.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Royals, Tyson Laventure (24) from Justin Kipkie and Casper Evensen Haugen (power play), 8:31

1-1, Blazers, Kai Matthew (8) from Matteo Koci and Josh Kelly, 14:35

Second Period

2-1, Blazers, Matteo Koci (4) from Nathan Behm and Kai Matthew (power play), 7:35

Third Period

3-1, Kai Matthew 2 (9) from Josh Kelly and Logan Bairos, 12:20

Goaltending

Dylan Ernst (W), Blazers, 33 saves on 34 shots in 60 minutes played.

Braden Holt (L), Royals, 22 saves on 25 shots in 59 minutes played.