Coming into this game there was a new feeling on the ice for the Kamloops Blazers (10-11-1-1). Not only were there two newly acquired players in the lineup in defenceman Jackson Caller and forward Jeff Faith but starting goaltender Dylan Ferguson found himself scratched due to injury.
The first period was very good for the Blazers. They controlled the majority of the play and newcomer Jeff Faith hit ex-Blazer Nolan Kneen with a clean hard check, triggering a fight between Faith and Brandon Schuldhaus. The period ended scoreless with Blazers backup goaltender Dylan Garand facing six shots and Blades’ Nolan Maier saving ten.
Coach Serge Lajoie was asked about the energy the team brought in the first period. “The style of hockey I envision this team playing is not an easy style. I felt the goal was a result of us re-setting and not passing up the opportunities to put pucks on net. I’m very proud of how our guys competed today.”
The second period saw some emotion early. 20-year-old Jermaine Loewen responded to a late hit by dropping the mitts with third year player Riley McKay. That seemed to spark the Blades as they jumped out to a two-goal lead with goals by import Emil Malysjev (first of his WHL career) and Max Gerlach’s 17th of the season. The Kamloops Blazers grabbed one back late in the period when Loewen tipped a Luke Zazula shot into the back of the net and that’s how the frame would end.
When the players returned to the ice there was an anxious energy amongst the Sandman Centre faithful. They had seen this script before, the home team was playing well, the visiting team slightly better, and it looked as if the Blazers weren’t going to beat Maier twice or even once more. That is, until the Dugald MB native Montana Onyebuchi found teammate Connor Zary up the middle for a breakaway which he buried to tie the game with 9:15 to play.
“You earn your confidence through playing the game the right way. You could tell at times he was fighting the puck a bit. If I had a chance to choose a guy to get that breakaway, it would be Connor Zary, he has the ability to put the puck in the net,” said Lajoie.
The remainder of the period saw little action as it was clear both teams really wanted the single point.
It didn’t take long in the extra frame for Zary to find Quinn Schmiemann on a 2-on-1 rush. The young defenceman took his time and picked his spot beating Maier top shelf, short side. “The play was developing in our own zone, Centazzo got the puck in our own zone and passed it over to me at the blue line. I was open on the right-hand side, I called for it and he moved it over.” Said Schmiemann
Lajoie raved about Schmiemann after the game. “Quinn has come off as being the most valuable defenseman in the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League, and he was an MVP at the Telus Cup. It was nice to see Quinn step up and score that winning goal for us.”
Kamloops will need to move on quickly from this one as they play host to the Seattle Thunderbird tomorrow night in the annual Teddy Bear Toss game.
