The Kamloops Blazers earned a single point to start out the season against a tough Spokane Chiefs team, going down 5-4 in overtime in front of over 4,200 at the Sandman Center on Friday night.

Spokane would jump out the lead in the first period on a Chase Bertholet goal, which included a helper from Berkly Catton, one of four points on the night for Catton – arguably the top prospect in the WHL this season.

The Chiefs would hold the 1-0 lead heading into the second period before Andrew Thomson would equalize with his first WHL goal.

Kamloops would then jump out to a 2-1 lead on a goal from Shea Van Olm on the power-play less than two minutes later, 4:30 into the middle frame.

However, the Chiefs would equalize less than a minute later on a goal by Berkly Catton, then take the lead in the dying seconds of the period, giving the visitors the 3-2 advantage going into the final period.

Kamloops would come out hard in the third, tying things up at three with a goal by Logan Bairos less than a minute into the period.

But that wouldn’t hold, as Spokane’s Conner Roulette put the Chiefs up 4-3 a couple of minutes later.

It seemed as though the Chiefs might be able to ride that advantage through the rest of the period.

However, a tripping call on Chase Berholet would put the Blazers on the power-play, with Dylan Sydor getting his first of the campaign to lock it up at 4 with 5-minutes to go in the 3rd.

The two teams would end regulation tied at 4-4.

But with the Blazers’ Josh Kelly in the box for a boarding call in the dying seconds of the third, Spokane capitalized as Roulette’s second of the game in overtime gave them Chiefs the 5-4 victory.

Blazers goaltender Dylan Ernst turned aside 27 of 32 shots in the loss.

The Blazers now get a week off before they entertain the Vancouver Giants at the Sandman Center Friday, September 29.