Coming into this game the most important thing for the Kamloops Blazers was to get the two points but with the Victoria Royals in town, it probably wasn’t going to be easy.
The Blazers were 2-5-0-0 against the Royals this season winning the last matchup 3-2 in a shootout. Both of their wins have been with Royal backup goaltender Brock Gould starting so when Kamloops saw that was the case, they knew the team from Vancouver Island was ripe for this picking.
Kamloops started strong, had a little lull in the second period but finished strong once again beating Victoria 6-1 including two shorthanded markers.
Kamloops’ netminder Dylan Ferguson took the win allowing one goal on 37 shots. In recent weeks, Ferguson has been one of the Blazers best players.
“He’s been one of our most valuable players. Dylan has been tremendous for us. He made some big saves.” said Head Coach Serge Lajoie
Just a shade under four minutes into the first period and after being featured in a DUBNetwork article last weekend, Connor Zary scored his 14th goal of the season on a shorthanded breakaway giving the home team an early 1-0 lead.
Continuing his hot play, Zary ripped home his 2nd of the game later in the period after a good rush by Jerzy Orchard to get the puck out to slot giving the Blazers a 2-0 lead.
Royals head coach Dan Price had seen enough and ended Gould’s night in favour of their usual starting netminder, Griffen Outhouse.
Kamloops scored twice more to close out the period. Franklin with his 25th and Stuart with his 15th of the season.
“We definitely capitalized on our chances in the first period… Our mandate and objective was to get to the net and the last two goals in the first were a direct result of battling for pucks in front of the net.” Said Lajoie.
The only action of the second period came early when Royals forward Phillips Schultz found the back of the net on the power play.
It is obvious the Blazers needed Onyebuchi back in the lineup. The 18-year-old defenceman plays in all situations and is a real throwback type player.
“In the last two games, we arguably lost our best defenceman… He’s grown not only on the ice but as a leader as well. He allows us to play tough, he allows us to play big.”
In the third, Kamloops kept coming, scoring twice including Connor Zary’s hat-trick goal on a marvellous individual effort.
“In the last six weeks, Connor [Zary] has brought and energy to practice and when you practice the right way you get rewarded. On any given night you notice him, he wants the puck.” Lajoie Continued “He’s now developed an approach that’s infectious. He brings positive energy and a want to get better attitude. It’s something that can honestly be a foundation and cornerstone for this program for three or four years. I’m fortunate to be able to coach an athlete like him.”
In what was Darryl Sydor’s first game behind the bench the Blazers cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Royals. After the game, Serge spoke about having Sydor on the bench.
“We speak the same language…It’s about habits, it’s about details and it’s about getting these players to the next level with a common language. As much as I don’t know Darryl overly well, seeing him operate on the ice we want the same things and the players are familiar with what we are talking about.”
Sydor sees himself as a complimentary piece to the existing Blazer coaching staff.
“The game of hockey happens quick, I think with three sets of eyes on the game, and to be able to control different things on the bench whether it’s emotions or the d-pairings, it helps out. ” Sydor continued “I’m the type of guy who is trying to create positive and instructional feedback. The players these days want to know what’s going on right away. With another pair of eyes on the ice it’s important we talk to the players. With two guys on the bench, it’s tough cause you gotta know what’s going on next”
Moving players along to the NHL is the WHL’s mandate and Sydor is excited to help the Blazers in that aspect as well
“I love working with kids, there is a dream they want to achieve and it’s fun. They are all eyes and all ears and to give them a little bit of hope and hopefully develop them into good young hockey players and good young human beings.”
Blazing Along
With this win, Kamloops’ record moves to 21-26-4-1 with 47 points and 9th in the Western Conference. Kamloops heads to Kenniwick, Washington to take on the Tri-City Americans on Friday before heading back to the Sandmand Centre to take on the same Americans team on Monday.
Playoff Race
With both Kelowna and Seattle not in action tonight the Blazers used one of their games in hand to move to within one point of Seattle and four points of Kelowna.
Attendance – 3943 announced attendance
With a guess of 3689 @MikeGT79 is our winner!
3689
— ᎷᎥᏦᏋ (@MikeGT79) February 14, 2019
