Canes douse the Blazers in a shootout

By Lethbridge Herald on February 21, 2025.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes Trae Johnson attempts to reach in and grab the puck from the Kamloops Blazers Matteo Koci during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes came back to beat the Kamloops Blazers 5-4 in a shootout on Friday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

Canes associate head coach Matt Anholt was asked about the character in the comeback.

“I think the group did a  pretty good job of staying relatively even keel when we were getting some pretty good looks and not scoring on them,” said Anholt to Dustin Forbes of 106.7 Rock.

“Especially in the second we had a couple and then in the third when we  still had another couple and we did score and we were trailing and we were trailing.  And then sticking with it and finding away to just keep getting shots on net.”

Shane Smith scored the shootout winner as the Canes last shooter while all the Blazer players all missed.

The Blazers scored two goals 35 seconds apart to kickstart the offence in the game.

Nathan Behm walked in an snapped the puck passed Jackson Unger for his 28th goal of the season at 7:45 of the first period to give Kamloops a 1-0 lead.

Jordan Keller and Harrison Brunicke assisted on the goal.

Oren Shtrom notched his 14th of the season at 8:20 of the opening frame to give the Blazers a 2-0 lead.

Ty Bonkowski and Matteo Koci collected the assists on Shtrom’s goal.

The Canes Tristen Doyle walked in and scored top shelf on Blazers goalie Logan Edmonstone 18:39 into the opening frame to cut the Blazers lead to 2-1.

Brayden Yager and Carsen Adair assisted on Doyle’s fourth goal of the year.

Josh Kelly gave the Blazers a 3-1 lead 16:24 into the second period with his fifth goal of the year from Keller and Ryan Michael.

Kooper Gizowski capitalized on a rebound off a Luke Cozens shot to get the Hurricanes to within a goal of the Blazers 2:41 into the third period.

Vojtech Port got the other assist on Gizowski’s 13th goal of the season.

Behm doubled the Blazers lead to 4-2 at 10:46 of the third period.

Brayden Edwards got the Canes to within a goal with a minute to go in the hockey game.

Noah Chadwick and Logan McCutcheon got the assists.

Edwards then tied the game with 31 seconds to go in regulation.

Yager and McCutcheon assisted on the game tying goal.

The Canes start a four-game road trip when they visit the Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday. night.