Logan Stankoven scored the game’s first goal for the second night in a row and the Blazers knocked off the Victoria Royals 5-1.
Victoria was playing their sixth game in nine nights and were winners of their last four. By Saturday night, the tank looked near empty and parts needed repairing.
The Blazers — hosting a crowd packed with participants of the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament (KIBIHT) — smelled blood.
Stankoven opened the game’s scoring for the ninth time this season after pouncing on a juicy rebound. The trio of Stankoven, Ryley Appelt and Matthew Seminoff combined for five points on the night.
Sean Gulka — a 19-year old forward from Langley, BC — was stopped point-blank by Dylan Garand in the latter half of the first period. On the next shift, Gulka took advantage of miscommunication off the faceoff and beat Garand five-hole for his ninth of the season.
With minutes remaining in the second period and Gary Haden serving a two minute minor for slashing, Blazers’ captain Zane Franklin directed a shot off the skate of a charging Orrin Centazzo. The goal was briefly reviewed to determine if there was a kicking motion, but the call would stand and the home team entered the break with a 2-1 lead.
The Blazers received goals from their usual suspects on Saturday, but depth players offered their own contributions including Inaki Baragano’s fourth of the season, providing a welcome sight for head coach Shaun Clouston.
“I think he’s steadily gotten better. He moved over to the left side, he’s a right-handed shot but playing the left side he seems to kind of relish that and he ripped the puck tonight, it was a nice goal.”
Franklin and the Blazers’ powerplay then took advantage of another Victoria penalty when the captain received a cross-ice pass from Connor Zary and scored his 22nd of the season.
Without their captain Phillip Schultz in the lineup for the second consecutive game, the Royals couldn’t afford to play any more shorthanded against Kamloops, and the two powerplay goals proved costly.
The Blazers carried their momentum into the third period and Stankoven’s line connected for a second goal. After a pretty passing play between the two 16-year olds, Appelt drove the net and tapped home his fourth of the season then proceeded to get mugged by his own team.
While Appelt has made hay on the forecheck and creating space for his linemates, the 19-year old has also been relishing his role as the veteran on his line.
“They’re both great young players. They both have great hockey sense and if I can just go to the net, they’re gonna shoot it off me so I’m happy to be playing with them.”
Clouston acknowledged the apparent spike in energy after Appelt’s goal.
“That’s a sign of a team that cares about each other, they know how hard Ryley works, they know that he’s there for them and he’ll do anything he can. To see a guy that doesn’t score a ton score get one, it’s awesome.”
The Blazers return to action on Friday, January 10th when they play the first game of a home-and-home series with the Kelowna Rockets.
