For many reasons, Brady Reagan had tonight’s game circled on the calendar for months now.
Playing his final game in the Scotiabank Saddledome, Reagan and the Kamloops Blazers edged the Calgary Hitmen 2-1 in front of 6,196 fans.
“I especially wanted this one after they beat us pretty bad back in Kamloops. I wanted to take it to them this time,” said Reagan.
It was clear early that there was no love lost between Reagan and the Hitmen. Just a couple shifts into the game, Reagan helped set the tone by two-handing Tristen Nielsen into the corner after the whistle.
“There was definitely a little extra motivation tonight. We all wanted to win it for Brady. He’s been great for our team since coming over and we were glad to pull it out for him tonight,” said Blazers captain Nick Chyzowski.
Reagan found himself in a difficult situation place this fall. He was the fourth over ager in a group that contained Calgary Flames prospect Nick Schneider, former Winnipeg Jets prospect Matteo Gennaro and Vancouver Canucks prospect Jakob Stukel.
Needing to make a move before the over-ager deadline, Reagan was released on waivers and picked up by the Blazers.
In 37 games with Kamloops this season, he has one goal, five assists, 50 penalty minutes and a minus-5 rating.
Reagan enjoyed 50 games with the Hitmen last season, scoring six goals and adding 16 assists. This year, he suited up for one game with the Hitmen, as he dealt with an injury towards the end of training camp.
The Hitmen acquired Reagan Nov. 30, 2016 from the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a fourth-round selection in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, which turned out to be defenceman Owen Forfellow.
It wasn’t just the revenge game for Reagan or the fact that he was playing for the last time in his hometown, but the Blazers as a unit wanted to atone for the 4-2 loss they suffered Oct. 11 when the Hitmen (14-26-5-1) set a franchise record for shots in a road game with 56.
The rematch contained nowhere near the same amount of action as the earlier tilt did, as the Hitmen didn’t register a shot until seven and a half minutes into the first and only managed one noteworthy scoring chance at the end of the frame.
In the closing minutes of the first period, Dom Schmiemann — who doesn’t shy away from any contact — got into a slashing fight with Tylor Ludwar. As they were sword fighting, Ryley Appelt crosschecked Schmiemann in the back. After the ref sorted out the mess, all three parties were handed penalties, sending the Hitmen to a rare four-on-three advantage to close out the period.
In the dying seconds, Carson Focht intercepted a breakout attempt in the corner. His pass to the centre of the ice was tipped up into the air and was belted by Mark Kastelic. Adjusting to the aerial shot was Vegas Golden Knights reassigned netminder Dylan Ferguson.
Trying to solve Ferguson in the second was Riley Stotts, who put on a display of moves that brought the crowd of 6,196 to their feet. All that was missing was the finish.
There are moves that can be pulled off in video games and then there was what Stotts did to Montana Onyebuchi in the second period.
He poked the puck up to his future self and spun, rolling around Onyebuchi, catching up to the puck in enough time to fire a wrister at Ferguson, but was foiled.
Onyebuchi was one of the WHL-ready players the Blazers received during the trade deadline when they cashed in on the seller’s market by sending Onrej Vala and Garret Pilon to the Everett Silvertips for Orrin Centazzo, Onyebuchi and a pile of assets.
“Coming in, we thought the two teams were built fairly similarly. We came it and wanted to grind out a win and that’s what we were able to do,” said Chyzowski.
The Blazers (19-23-1-2) rallied in the closing minutes of the second stanza to put a couple pucks past the other inked netminder sharing the ice.
After a Kastelic power play expired, Nolan Kneen’s point shot glanced off the midsection of Luc Smith, redirecting it enough to dart past Schneider.
With 1:06 remaining in the second period, Chyzowski lined up another blast from the point. Schneider stopped the initial shot for one of his 34 on the evening, but Quinn Benjafield scooped up the rebound and wrapped in his 13th of the season.
Needing a strong third period, the Hitmen came out buzzing led by their newly constructed first line.
Coming into the game, rookie Hunter Campbell recorded points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. His recent production earned him a promotion to the top line alongside Luke Coleman and Kastelic, who was returning from his one-game absence.
Kastelic was on a rush with the 16-year-old Campbell. Kastelic zipped a pass over to the Everett, Wash. product, who one-touched a backhand feed on net, but was kicked away by Ferguson’s left toe.
“I just tried to get the puck on net. What I should have done was stop and pull it back to my forehand,” said Campbell. “It’s great playing with Mark. He knows the game, where to be, he plays his position well and loves to get the puck out of his zone and go to work in the offensive zone.”
Stukel was flying in third. From the corner, he dished a pass to defenceman Andrew Viggars who was creeping in from the point. Playing in his second game in two months, Viggars struggled with a quick release. If he had gotten the shot off sooner, it would have been in the back of the net. Instead, his hesitation allowed Ferguson to slide over enough to get in position for the save.
“It’s pretty cool knowing that he got some time in the NHL this year, but at the end of the day, a goalie is a goalie, and we just need to find ways to put pucks past him,” said Campbell.
Later in the third, Stukel came crashing down the left wing again, this time, guarded by Reagan, who knew exactly what Stukel was trying to do.
“I saw that Ferguson was hugging the one post and I knew Stukel was going to try and cut across. When he does that move, he’s great at it and he usually scores. I tried to stop him, but ended up taking a penalty,” said Reagan.
Kneen, who picked up a boarding penalty while on the Reagan kill, gave the Hitmen a two-man advantage for 20 seconds with 4:13 remaining in regulation.
Reagan’s minor was killed successfully, but Vladislav Yeryomenko spoiled the shutout with a wrister from the halfwall that handcuffed Ferguson for his 11th on the season.
The win might not have been of the season-saving variety, but that did not take away from any of its impact within the visitor’s dressing room. It was especially significant for Reagan, who got to share it with friends and family that have followed his career throughout the years one final time.
As for the Hitmen, they have one more game remaining on the home stand before they take off for their longest road trip of the season.
The Hitmen will host Luke Coleman’s old Prince Albert Raiders (17-20-6-2) Jan. 21 at the ‘Dome. Puck drop is slated for 4 p.m., which will be followed by the Hitmen hitting the road for six games.
