Dylan Ernst in action against the Victoria Royals on Dec. 6, 2022. (Photo via Kevin Light)
Dylan Ernst allowed no goals in his second straight start as the Kamloops Blazers took the first of back-to-back games against the Victoria Royals 3-0 Tuesday night.
Logan Stankoven opened the scoring with a short-handed goal midway through the first period before Caedan Bankier doubled the visitor’s lead with a power-play goal in the second.
Logan Bairos rounded out the scoring in the third period on a one-timer set up by Bankier to extend the Blazers winning streak over the Royals to 24 games.
Ernst turned aside all 17 shots he faced – and assisted on Bairos’ goal – for his 13th win and second shutout of the season. The Weyburn, Sask. native’s shutout streak is up to 128 minutes and 21 seconds, dating back to Nov. 30, when Connor Bedard scored Regina’s third in a 9-3 loss at Sandman Centre.
Victoria goalie Nicholas Cristiano made 29 saves on 32 shots in a losing effort, as the Royals drop to 3-21-3-0 on the season.
The Blazers improve to 14-5-3-2 on the season, extending their lead atop the B.C. Division standings to five points.
The two teams will rematch at Save-On Foods Memorial Arena Wednesday, with Stankoven and Bankier playing their last game before heading to Hockey Canada’s World Junior selection camp.
The Blazers will then host the Vancouver Giants this Friday, Dec. 9, and the Victoria Royals on Saturday at Sandman Centre.
