Bryce Minten celebrates his first WHL goal against the Victoria Royals on Oct. 6, 2023. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Bryce Minten scored his first WHL goal but it wasn’t enough for the Kamloops Blazers as they were beaten 4-1 by the Victoria Royals Friday night.
“Obviously wasn’t the outcome we were looking for tonight, but I’m still excited to get a goal in the net,” the younger Minten said post-game.
“I feel like I contributed in some way tonight even though it wasn’t what we were looking for.”
The Royals scored four unanswered goals – one in the first, two in the second, and one in the third – to pick up their first win of the 2023-24 WHL.
Casper Evensen Haugen opened the scoring for the Royals late in the first period. It was the 18-year-old Norwegian forward’s first WHL goal.
Tanner Scott doubled Victoria’s lead with the eventual game winner at 7:46 of the second before Robin Sapousek’s marker at 16:57 put the visitors well into the driver’s seat.
Matthew Hodson made it 4-0 Victoria inside three minutes of the third period, before Minten’s goal at 4:09 gave the Sandman Centre fans something to be thankful about.
Minten’s goal ended a 120:40 streak where the Blazers were unable to find the back of the net.
Everything coming up Minten this week.
Bryce gets his 1st in @TheWHL https://t.co/0NdPtjuwwJ— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) October 7, 2023
It’s been a good week for the Minten family as older brother Fraser continues to impress the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 19-year-old Fraser, who is expected to play in Toronto’s final preseason game Saturday, has a goal and three assists in five NHL preseason games.
“He’s doing super well,” 17-year-old Bryce said of his older brother. “We’ll see what happens, but either way I’m always proud of him. Super happy for what he’s done.”
The Blazers outshot the Royals in each of the three periods – including a season high 21 shots in the third – but they couldn’t solve Braden Holt, who was named the first star on the night.
Holt turned aside 37 of the 38 shots he faced, including several during a four minute penalty kill midway through the final frame.
The Blazers’ Dylan Ernst made 18 saves on 22 shots in a losing effort, his third loss of the season.
Both teams were scoreless on the power play. Kamloops had five chances to Victoria’s four.
The Blazers are back home Sunday as the host the Wenatchee Wild for the first time this season. Puck drop is at 4:00 p.m.
