BLAZERS FALL 4-3 IN OVERTIME

By Dave Dormer:

It was a weekend of firsts for the Kamloops Blazers. Two 16-year-olds, Teagen Bouchard and Brady Ondrus, scored their first WHL goals in a home-and-home series against the Kelowna Rockets.

Ondrus tallied in Kelowna on Friday and Bouchard in the return game in Kamloops on Saturday. Keeping the streak going, Ondrus also scored his second of the season on Saturday.

“It was a good forecheck by me, Bouch and Coop,” Ondrus said of his first goal. “It was good to get the first one out of the way.”

Four players in their 16-year-old seasons have now scored for the Blazers this year, Ondrus, Bouchard, Mateo Ferreira and Collin Kim. Both Ferreira and Kim have later birthdays, so they are both still 15 years old.

The Blazers opened the weekend with a 5-2 victory in Kelowna, then dropped Game 2, losing 4-3 in overtime. Scoring for the Blazers on Friday was Cooper Moore, Vit Zahesky, Andrew Thomson, Ondrus, and Ty Bonkowski.

Another 16–year-old, Kaeden Tate was strong in net for the Blazers on Friday, stopping 39 of 41 shots. Scoring on Saturday was Bouchard, Ondrus and Cooper Moore.

The Blazers were strong defensively on Saturday, being outshot 49-25. Logan Edmonstone was in net, stopping 45 shots. The Blazers next game goes Wednesday, Oct. 7 at home against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Game time is 7 p.m. and tickets are on sale now.