Blazers Fall Short In 4-3 Loss To Warriors
February 21, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
The Kamloops Blazers comeback fell short in a 4-3 loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night.
The Blazers started the game strong, but a penalty ended the momentum.
With Collin Shirley in the penalty box, the Warriors opened the scoring as Brayden Point got a puck off the end boards and put it over goaltender Connor Ingram's pad to make it 1-0 for the Warriors.
Point, who won a Gold Medal with Canada's World Junior team in January, made it 2-0 on an individual effort. He rushed the puck up ice and put a quick and deceptive shot over the pad of Ingram.
The Blazers did not have a lot going for them as the period carried on and trailed 2-0.
The momentum continued to be on the Warriors side through the first nine minutes of the period as the Blazers took four straight penalties and spent a ton of time on the penalty kill.
The Warriors made the Blazers pay nine minutes into the period as Brett Howden set up Jack Rodewald for an open net and a 3-0 Warriors lead.
Following the goal, the Blazers showed some desperation in their game. Cole Ully scored 14 seconds after the Warriors made it 3-0 as he put a puck at the net and it ended up behind goaltender Zach Sawchenko to make it 3-1.
The Blazers followed Ully's goal up with another one only 22 seconds later. Joel Hamilton, who was arguably the Blazers hardest working player, took a puck to the net and scored on his own rebound to make it 3-2 9:36 into the second period.
Point showed why he is one of the best players in the WHL with a terrific individual effort for his third goal of the night to make it 4-2. He made a skilled move and dodged a Blazers defender before faking a shot and sliding it into an open net.
The Warriors took a 4-2 lead into the final frame.
The Blazers did not have much of a push until late in the game. Matt Needham had an open net with five minutes left on a rebound, but fired the puck over the net.
On the power play late in the game, Cole Ully got a shot to the net and Joel Hamilton tipped it home for his second goal of the game to make it a 4-3 game with 23 seconds to play.
The Blazers pushed and had two chances that slid by the net wide in the final few seconds as they lost 4-3 to the Warriors.
The Warriors were 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Blazers finished 1-for-4.
Zach Sawchenko was terrific for the Warriors as he made 31 saves. Connor Ingram stopped 25 of 29 shots.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2015
- Hitmen Overwhelm Americans 7-2 - Tri-City Americans
- Chiefs Iced by Kootenay, 5-0 - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen win over Americans - Calgary Hitmen
- Lee Blanks Blazers - Vancouver Giants
- Rebels Lose 4-1 in Regina - Red Deer Rebels
- Winterhawks Down Hurricanes 5-2 Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Frost Tips 7-0 - Seattle Thunderbirds
- On the Road to Vancouver - Kamloops Blazers
- Preview: Regina Pats vs. Red Deer Rebels - Regina Pats
- Rockets Edge Victoria 3-2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Clipped by Rockets - Victoria Royals
- Blazers Fall Short In 4-3 Loss To Warriors - Kamloops Blazers
- Broncos Defeat Rebels 4-2 - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Clinch Playoff Spot Despite Shootout Loss - Everett Silvertips
- Chiefs Give up Lead, Lose 4-3 on Friday - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Defeat Silvertips in Shootout - Tri-City Americans
- T-Birds Rock Hurricanes in OT - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hitmen get past Chiefs - Calgary Hitmen
- Winterhawks Beat Giants 5-2 - Vancouver Giants
- Big Third Period Lifts Winterhawks to 5-2 Win over Vancouver - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Stumble in Kootenay - Edmonton Oil Kings
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