Matthew Kieper making one of his 28 saves against the Everett Silvertips on March 8, 2023. (Photo via Kristin Ostrowski)
Matthew Kieper celebrated his 19th birthday in style as he backstopped the Kamloops Blazers to a 7-1 win in Everett Wednesday night.
The Winnipeg native allowed one goal on 29 shots to pick up his sixth win in Blazers colours, as the Memorial Cup hosts made it four points out of four during their mid-week trip to Washington state.
“Pretty cool to be able to play on your birthday and especially get the win too,” Kieper said postgame. “I’m just thankful the guys came out ready to play. It was a good win.”
Former Silvertip Olen Zellweger opened the scoring just 21 seconds into the first period as the Blazers raced to a 4-0 lead, with Fraser Minten also finding the back of the net in the first period to go with second period goals from Jakuk Demek and Connor Levis.
He’s done this time and time again in this arena
@AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/bl1JciUGfS
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 9, 2023
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Minten. The Freshmaker.@blazerhockey | @MapleLeafs | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/R6FgTwknxB
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 9, 2023
Eric Jamieson scored the lone Everett goal to send the two teams into the dressing room at 4-1 after 40 minutes of hockey.
Matthew Seminoff, Ashton Ferster, and Harrison Brunicke added to the scoresheet in the third period for the Blazers, who were without captain Logan Stankoven, out day-to-day with an upper body injury.
That’s a Rocket from Ferster
pic.twitter.com/8h7pwRzLoR
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 9, 2023
Both Zellweger and Demek added two assists each giving them three point nights, while Aapo Sarell and Caedan Bankier added a pair of assists each. Zellweger was named first star on the night in what was possibly his final game at the Angel of the Winds Arena.
“Played a lot of hockey in this rink so to possibly end it like that would be really special,” Zellweger said.
Tyler Palmer made 28 saves on 33 Blazers shots to take the loss. He was replaced midway through the third by Tim Metzger – who stopped nine of 11 shots in 10:45 of relief work.
The 42-11-4-2 Blazers sit nine points back of the 48-9-1-2 Seattle Thunderbirds for top spot in the WHL’s Western Conference, with nine games left to play to Seattle’s eight.
The two teams will do it again at Sandman Centre Friday before Logan Stankoven bobblehead night on Saturday when the Vancouver Giants come to Kamloops.
Puck drop both nights is 7 p.m.
