For the second time in five nights the Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants took to the ice against each other. After what we’ll call a 1 – 0 loss in Vancouver on Monday night, (Tyler Be
nson scored and empty net goal with less than a second left) Kamloops was looking to exact some revenge, wearing Don Cherry inspired jerseys for WHL Suits Up With Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation.
The Blazers would come out with some great determination in the first period. They would control the play for the majority of the first frame, out shooting the Giants 16 – 8. Ryley Appelt would notch his second goal in as many games. Import Justin Sigrist would start the tic-tac-toe play that saw Travis Walton feed Appelt, who beat Giants goaltender David Tendeck at 7:08. Tendeck made 24 saves in shutting out the Blazers on Monday night.
In the second period with James Malm in the penalty box for hooking, Connor Zary would tip in a Nolan Kneen point shot to give Kamloops the 2 – 0 lead. Zary would join Appelt with his second goal in as many games. Luc Smith would take a hooking penalty midway through the period. However, Vancouver would be unable to capitalize on the power play.
Early in the third period defenseman Brady Reagan would pinch down low, then deke past the Giants defender before passing the puck out front to Smith. 40 seconds into the final period and the Blazers would take a 3 – 0 lead. The Giants would get themselves on the board about seven minutes later. Following the bouncing puck knocked out of the air by a Blazer, then batted out of the air by Malm right out front to Ty Ronning. Ronning would make a move and find the back of the net, scoring his Western Conference leading 55th of the year. Less than six minutes later Devan Harrison would make a beautiful break out pass to Orrin Centazzo. Centazzo would break in on a two on one and make an equally beautiful saucer pass to Smith for his second of the game. Late in the game Jermaine Loewen would strip the puck from a Giant in the offensive zone. Carson Denomie would pass the puck in front and pinching defenseman Reagan would score the fifth Kamloops goal. In house the goal would be originally announced as Smith’s third of the game, but the correction would be announced shortly after. Smith said post game on Radio NL that he didn’t have a chance to touch that puck, that he was tied up by the defender. Kamloops would win their second straight game with a 5 – 1 score.
These two teams will face off against each other again Saturday night in Langley for the third time in six nights.
Three Stars:
- Luc Smith 2G 1A +3
- Dylan Ferguson 30SAV/31Shots
- Brady Reagan 1G 1A +2
