Originally Posted by
pontcanna
Blazers too hot for Royals
CLEVE DHEENSAW
KAMLOOPS — The “Blazers Legends” banner hanging here from the rafters of Interior Savings Centre lists names you’ve definitely heard of — Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan, Scott Niedermayer and Crofton’s Doug Bodger — and then some others who have largely been forgotten outside of this city.
As the second seed in the Western Conference, the Blazers believe they may have a roster this season that has the potential to add some new heroes to that banner.
Just to emphasize the point, each fan entering the arena Friday evening was given a white T-shirt with the Blazers logo above the single word: “Believe.”
And these Kamloops players indeed proved true believers in a 4-1 victory over the Victoria Royals to open their best-of-seven first-round Western Hockey League playoff series.
“I thought we played all right but they [Blazers] had a push in the second period [to break open a 1-1 game] and we didn’t react,” said Royals assistant captain Tim Traber.
“But it’s a seven-game series for a reason. We’ll push tomorrow to get a win.”
Blazers assistant captain Dylan Willick opened scoring in the series at 9:29 of the first period. Then 20year-old Czech import Robin Soudek welcomed himself back to the Royals lineup after injury with a laser shot that pinged in off the post at 11:36 on the power play.
A wicked assist from behind the net by Colin Smith allowed Swiss sensation Tim Bozon — the 39th ranked North Americanbased skater for the 2012 NHL draft and the Western Conference nominee for WHL rookie of the year — to find the short side to make it 2-1 for Kamloops at 4:13 of the second period.
Rookie Royals’ defenceman Keegan Kanzig, who put his team under a lot of pressure by drawing his third consecutive minor penalty, was punished when Blazers captain Chase Schaber scored to make it 3-1 after Kanzig had just stepped back onto the ice at 17:03 of the second. The wheels started coming off the Victoria bus when defenceman Austin Madaisky counted 47 seconds later.
“We played OK but they had that second-period push and we didn’t respond,” said Victoria’s lone scorer Soudek.
“We have to be more physical than we were today. We have to play our game. We let them play their game tonight.”
Keith Hamilton made 30 saves in goal for Victoria while Western Conference second-team all-star Cole Cheveldave stopped 26 shots for Kamloops, including the save of the night off Victoria forward Ben Walker in the third period.
“The second period lapse took the wind out of our sails,” said Royals head coach Marc Habscheid.
“I thought we were just OK tonight. Our best players have to be our best players. There is more there. We’re not going away.”
Game 2 is here tonight at 7 p.m. (live on Shaw TV) before the series shifts to the Island for Games 3-4 on Tuesday and Wednesday at Save-on-foods Memorial Centre.