Blazers forward Tommy Lafreniere in action against the Victoria Royals on Sept. 15, 2024. (Photo via Allen Douglas)

On a night where only four veterans dressed, the Kamloops Blazers failed to score in the final pre-season home game ahead of the 2023-24 WHL season.

Victoria Royals goaltender Jayden Kraus made 29 saves in a 2-0 win shutout over the Blazers in front 1,333 fans at the Sandman Centre.

Nathan Behm, the Blazers 16-year-old forward led the way with three or four good scoring chances but he failed to capitalize on the night.

“I think we need to play a bit more aggressive, a bit more assertive and create more chances,” Behm said postgame.

Treydon Trembecky opened the scoring for the Royals on a powerplay call with 16:44 played. Tanner Scott doubled Victoria’s lead at 12:34 in the second period.

The Blazers failed to score on three powerplay attempts on the night. The Royals converted once on three attempts.

Goaltenders Jesse Sanche and Matthew Kieper split the duties in the Blazers net, each allowing one goal. Sanche turned aside 15 of 16 shots in his first action of the pre-season.

“I felt great out there. It was nice to be back stopping pucks and in front of the home crowd,” the 17-year-old Sanche, who is looking to stick with the team this season, said.

Kieper turned aside nine of 10 shots he faced in relief.

The Blazers for the most part stuck with and even outplayed the Royals at times despite featuring 16 first-year players in the lineup. The Royals dressed nine veterans.

Fraser Minten, Connor Levis, Emmitt Finnie, and Ryan Michael are attending NHL rookie camps while other veterans like defenceman Harrison Brunicke and forward Dylan Sydor sat out Friday’s contest.

Next up, it’s the pre-season finale Saturday night in Maple Ridge against the Vancouver Giants.

The Blazers will then prepare for the season opener next Friday, September 22nd at the Sandman Centre against the Spokane Chiefs.