Giants Dispatch Blazers, Aided by Schmidt Hat-Trick
Published on December 29, 2025 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Cameron Schmidt of the Vancouver Giants scores against the Kamloops Blazers
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)
LANGLEY, B.C. - Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt registered his fifth career hat-trick on Sunday to help the Giants to a convincing 7-3 win over the visiting Kamloops Blazers at Langley Events Centre.
Vancouver took control of the game in the second period, where they stretched a 2-1 lead to 5-1, before adding two third period goals.
The Giants improve to 16-19-1-1 following the win, while the Blazers fall to 15-13-3-4. Vancouver is now a perfect 5-0-0 in Sunday home games.
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Colton Gerrior, Aaron Obobaifo, Jakob Oreskovic and Tyus Sparks each found the back of the net for the Giants in addition to Schmidt. Ty Halaburda registered three assists and was a career-high +5 in the game. Halaburda now has 218 career points in a Giants uniform, which is tied with Ty Ronning for fourth all-time.
Kamloops got goals from JP Hurlbert, Owen Cooper and Asher Gingras.
GAME SUMMARY
Schmidt opened the scoring 95 seconds in off a rebound from a Halaburda shot.
Hurlbert tied the game midway through the first period on a power play when he scored from the left circle.
Gerrior got the Giants the lead back late in the first when he shovelled a rebound past Logan Edmonstone over the glove.
Schmidt made it a 3-1 game early in the second period when he sniped on the blocker side from the high slot off the rush.
He completed the hat-trick five minutes later on a breakaway after Halaburda blocked a shot and sprung him free and clear.
Obobaifo scored on a wrap-around before the second period was done to make it 5-1 after 40 minutes.
Cooper cut into the Giants lead early in the third to make it 5-2, but Oreskovic responded 28 seconds later to restore the four-goal advantage.
Sparks blasted home a one-timer on the power play for the Giants seventh goal of the game at the 6:11 mark of the third period.
With 1:14 left in the game, Gingras scored his first career goal for Kamloops, making the final score 7-3.
STATISTICS
SOG: VAN - 12/17/7 = 36 | KAM - 18/12/9 = 39
PP: VAN- 1/4 | KAM - 1/2
Face-Offs: VAN - 35 | KAM - 26
3 STARS
1st: VAN - Cameron Schmidt - 3G, 1A, 3 SOG, +4
2nd: VAN - Ty Halaburda - 3A, 2 SOG, +5
3rd: VAN - Tyus Sparks - 1G, 7 SOG
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Vancouver: WIN - Burke Hood (36 saves / 39 shots)
Kamloops: LOSS - Logan Edmonstone (29 saves / 36 shots)
THEY SAID IT
"Hopefully for our group it's a statement win. We decided as a group that we wanted to play winning hockey..the players don't get to pick [and] the coaches don't get to pick what winning hockey is. There's a recipe for it. You have to go through it. You have to learn it. It takes selflessness, discipline, consistency and tonight, I thought our first period we were a little bit loose. We were playing hope to win hockey, which we've done too many times in the first half, where if it goes our way with trading chances and power plays and things like that, then we'll be on the right side of it. But too many times, whether it's making loose plays throughout the neutral zone or being undisciplined, you've got to find a way to learn how to play winning hockey." - Giants Head Coach Parker Burgess
UPCOMING
The Giants host Calgary on Tuesday night.
Date Opponent Time Location
Tuesday, December 30 Calgary Langley Events Centre 7:00 PM
Stream all Giants games for free on Victory+.
The Giants next home game is on Sunday, December 28 against the Kamloops Blazers! Grab your seats at VancouverGiants.com/tickets.
Images from this story
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