On an evening that saw multiple shifts in momentum between two high-octane offences, it was only appropriate that the 4,833 spectators inside the Sandman Centre broke out in a spontaneous wave with minutes remaining in the third period.
Saturday night’s affair brought in the second-largest crowd of the Blazers’ nine home games this season, and the home team wasted little time engaging its audience. 19-year-old Ryley Appelt applied the forecheck early, separating his man from the puck and forcing a loose puck into the middle of the ice where Kyrell Sopotyk was waiting to cash in his third goal of the season.
“He missed most of camp with a real sore ankle, and I think we’re starting to finally see where he’s at 100 percent. He’s feeling good, he’s playing with confidence, and he’s a big guy,” Blazers coach Shaun Clouston noted of Appelt’s play.
With Logan Stankoven representing Team Red at the World U17 Hockey Challenge, Appelt has been on the receiving end of more ice time and, according to Clouston, filled in admirably. “That’s what you need. You need guys filling in, stepping up…”
After scoring a combined 20 goals in their last three games, it appears that the Blazers are having little issue “stepping up” at the moment. Sopotyk’s marker 83 seconds into the game was followed by goals from Connor Zary and Ryan Hughes, and after eight minutes and 44 seconds of game time, Mads Sogaard’s night in the Tigers’ crease was done.
Medicine Hat’s Jonathan Brinkman dissolved any far-fetched ideas of a shutout with his first-period tally, only to have Ryan Hughes respond 16 seconds later with his second goal of the period and seventh of the season. The quick succession of goals summed up an odd night for the Tigers who were playing their fifth game in eight nights and eighth consecutive game away from home.
The Tigers responded with a much better start to the second period, peppering Blazers goaltender Dylan Garand. Finally, James Hamblin’s goal brought the game within two. Kamloops had difficulty sustaining any kind of pressure in the second frame until Orrin Centazzo beat out an icing and found Zary waiting in front of the net for his second of the game.
“I just wanted to get back into the scoring category. Obviously, in my first 12 games, I only had five goals and that’s not really me, so coming into the month of November, I wanted to focus on bearing down and putting the puck in the back of the net,” Zary added postgame.
Mission accomplished. The 2020 draft-eligible forward has now scored seven goals in four November games, including three consecutive two-goal games.
Blazers captain Zane Franklin sealed the 7-3 victory with two goals in the final frame, ending the night with a total of four points.
Game Notes:
Saturday night’s matchup was the first meeting between the two clubs since Blazers coach Shaun Clouston and the Tigers parted ways. Clouston spent 15 years in Medicine Hat, serving a number of roles with the organization.
Logan Stankoven wrapped up his tenure with Canada’s Team Red on Saturday with a 6-2 win over Team Sweden. The Blazers rookie finished the tournament with four goals in five games.
Kamloops remains atop the B.C. Division with 24 points after 18 games, but only five points separate the top four teams.
3 stars in the building:
3: Ryan Hughes
2: Connor Zary
1: Zane Franklin
Bremner’s 3 stars:
3: Ryley Appelt — Great game from start to finish, he adds a much-needed element to the forward group.
2: Zane Franklin — Pretty passing, better finishing.
1: Connor Zary — Scored twice and could have added more, a constant threat on the ice.
