Kamloops celebrates after the first goal as a Blazer by Olen Zellweger in a 6-3 victory over Vancouver on Wednesday/via WHL
The first game following the WHL trade deadline did not disappoint for the Kamloops Blazers.
Entertaining the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday night at the Sandman Center, Kamloops would start strong — allow the Giants a bit of breath in the 3rd — but eventually take home a 6-3 victory.
Kamloops started out strong, getting an early goal from Caedan Bankier, his 21st of the season, three minutes into the first to open up the game with a 1-0 lead.
Logan Stankoven and Daylan Kuefler would add markers later in the period to take a 3-0 lead into the dressing room after the 1st.
The Blazers onslaught would continue in the 2nd, with Kuefler’s 2nd of the night, and a goal from Aapo Sarell to give Kamloops the 5-0 lead heading into the 3rd period.
KUEFLER X 2 🚨 pic.twitter.com/F2aLefq0TT
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) January 12, 2023
But while the Blazers may have thought the game was a given, Vancouver had other ideas.
The Giants would score a pair of goals in the first 5-minutes of the 3rd to make it a 5-2 game.
Vancouver would add another from Ty Thorpe, his 2nd of the game, to make it 5-3 with about 10-minutes to go.
However, the Blazers would rally, with new addition Olen Zellweger getting his first as a Blazer into an empty net to salt away the 6-3 victory.
Logan Stankoven would end with a 5-point night, including a goal and 4 assists.
Dylan Ernst would earn the win in net.
Kamloops now hits the road for a Friday night match-up against the Everett Silvertips, marking the return of Olen Zellweger and Ryan Hofer to the team which traded them to the Blazers on Sunday.
This will be Hofer’s first game as a Blazer, as he was serving a one-game suspension on Wednesday night.
