These aren’t the Kamloops Blazers of old, who went 30-8 against the Victoria Royals the past five Western Hockey League seasons. But even starting a major rebuild, they didn’t look bad in beating the Royals 3-2 before 2,980 fans Wednesday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
Victoria (14-11-2) was lacklustre and flat on the night but leads the season series 2-1, which still has a novelty sheen, considering Kamloops’ recent-years dominance. But the Blazers (7-14-5), with 13 newcomers, showed promise for the future after hosting the Memorial Cup last season and being hit hard by graduation.
Import-forward Robin Sapousek recorded his Royals-leading 13th goal to show why the 2023 world junior championship silver medallist will feature again in 2024 as the Czechs look for back-to-back visits to the world junior podium. Ashton Ferster of Kamloops tied it 1-1 late in the first period.
Cole Reschny, who the night before had a natural hat trick in a 6-1 victory over Kamloops, made it 2-1 for Victoria at 9:34 of the third period to push his WHL rookie third-best season points total to 26 in 22 games. Included are 11 goals to show why he is ranked by the Elite Prospects website for the second round of the 2025 NHL draft. Conner Radke tied it 2-2 in what would be recorded as an own goal in soccer off the skate of Victoria rearguard Hudson Bjornson. Then another deflection off a Royals player won it for Kamloops on a floater credited to Ryan Michael at 16:28 of the third.
Blazers rookie goaltender Jesse Sanche made 29 saves for his first WHL victory while the Royals’ 20-year-old veteran Braden Holt made 24 stops.
The Royals and Blazers are facing each other four consecutive times, concluding Friday and Sunday in Kamloops. The Royals, with five consecutive road games including one in Seattle and two in Prince George, don’t return to the Memorial Centre until Dec. 15 against the Tri-City Americans.
