Image credit: Kevin Light Photography via Facebook/Kamloops Blazers

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers 4 Royals 3 OT

Keller scores overtime winner as Blazers take first game from Royals 4-3

Nov 6, 2024 | 6:39 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers took the first of two straight games on Vancouver Island Tuesday (Nov. 5) with a 4-3 overtime win over the Victoria Royals.

The Blazers surrendered the first two goals of the game before defenceman Harrison Brunicke got them into the game with a bit of luck. His rebound bounced off a Royals skater and in to make it a 2-1 game.

Captain Emmitt Finnie tied the game at 2-2 nine seconds into the second period as he finished a back-and-forth passing play with Jordan Keller. The Blazers took the lead a few minutes later thanks to Josh Kelly scoring his first goal of the season by chipping it over the goaltender.

However, the Royals would answer back and tie the game 3-3 halfway through the second period. The third would remain scoreless and both teams would pick up at least one point heading to overtime.

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A Kamloops local would play overtime hero. Keller cut into the slot and scored and roofed a shot glove side to give the Blazers the 4-3 win.

The Blazers improve to 7-8-1-0 on the 2024-25 Western Hockey League (WHL) season, good for 15 points in 16 games. They’re eighth in the WHL Western Conference and fourth in the B.C. Division.

The Blazers play the Royals in Victoria again Wednesday (Nov. 6) at 7:05 p.m. Their next home game is Friday (Nov. 8) at 7:00 p.m. when they welcome the Spokane Chiefs to Sandman Centre.

Scoring Summary

First Period

1-0, Royals, Reggie Newman (6) from Justin Kipkie and Teydon Trembecky (power play), 6:25

2-0, Royals, Teydon Trembecky (6) from Seth Fryer and Cosmo Wilson, 13:45

2-1, Blazers, Harrison Brunicke (3) from Ryan Michael, 14:25

Second Period

2-2, Blazers, Emmitt Finnie (9) from Jordan Keller, 0:09

3-2, Blazers, Josh Kelly (1) from Andrew Thomson and Bryce Minten, 7:42

3-3, Royals, Nolan Stewart (4) from Hayden Moore and Vaughn Watterodt, 9:59

Third Period

No scoring.

Overtime

4-3, Blazers, Jordan Keller (3) from Layton Feist, 1:33

Goaltending

Dylan Ernst (W), Blazers, 33 saves on 36 shots in 61 minutes played.

Jayden Kraus (OTL), Royals, 26 saves on 30 shots in 61 minutes played.