The Kamloops Blazers raised their fourth consecutive BC Division banner before their game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo via John Hill)
The Kamloops Blazers were shutout for the second time this season as the Medicine Hat Tigers came away with a 4-0 win Friday night.
It was the eighth consecutive loss for the Blazers who remain in the basement of the WHL.
Both teams played a scoreless first period of hockey, before a pair of goals from the Tigers – Oasiz Wiesblatt at 7:14 and Brett Calhoon at 11:01 – in the second period broke the deadlock at Sandman Centre.
Brayden Boehm at 2:07 and Cayden Lindstrom at 9:33 doubled the Tigers lead, helping them improve to 3-1 on their B.C. Division road trip.
Birthday boy Vojtech Vochvest thought he put the Blazers on the board late in the third period, but video review showed the puck never entered the net, much to the dismay of the Sandman Centre crowd.
Kamloops-born Jesse Sanche stopped 29 of 33 shots in a losing effort in his home debut for the Blazers. His counterpart, Evan May was perfect on 25 shots to earn the win for the Tigers.
Next up for the Blazers is a road game against the B.C. Division leading Prince George Cougars Saturday night. They’ll also make their first trip to Wenatchee Tuesday night before hosting the Tri-City Americans for a pair of games Friday and Saturday.
Ahead of the game, the Blazers raised their fourth consecutive B.C. Division banner to the Sandman Centre rafters.
Raising the banner ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/nuT5ataMfe
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) October 21, 2023
Nine players from the 2022-23 roster – defencemen Harrison Brunicke, Ryan Michael, Logan Bairos; forwards Emmitt Finnie, Shea Van Olm, Dylan Sydor, Connor Levis, Ashton Ferster, and goaltender Dylan Ernst – are back in Kamloops this season.
Goaltender Mathew Kieper and forward Nathan MacPherson-Ridgewell were released earlier this month, while forward Fraser Minten cracked the opening night lineup of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
