Kalan Anderlini (32) and Ryan Michael in action for the Kamloops Blazers against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Dec. 9, 2023. (Photo via Brandon Wheat Kings)
The Kamloops Blazers scored first but they still fell short in Brandon, dropping a 6-2 decision to the Wheat Kings on Saturday.
Shea Van Olm gave the Blazers – who were playing the second game of their five-game eastern swing – the lead three minutes into the opening period, but the Wheat Kings responded with three unanswered goals.
Goals from Caleb Hadland, Luke Shipley, and Joby Baumuller gave the WHL’s only Manitoba team a 3-1 lead midway through the second period at the Westoba Place.
Dylan Sydor gave the Blazers a glimmer of hope late in the period with his team-leading 15th goal of the season to make it a 3-2 game.
Teamwork makes the dream work 🙏 pic.twitter.com/v7EpKvrHmQ
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 10, 2023
But any hopes for a comeback was quickly extinguished as a failed clearing attempt gave Hadland his second of the night, as the Wheat Kings scored another three unanswered goals to run away with the game.
Jesse Sanche made 23 saves on 29 shots in a losing effort, while Ethan Eskit stopped 31 of 33 shots to take the win.
The Blazers remain in the bottom of the Western Conference with a a 7-18-3-2 record, giving them 19 points in 30 games. The Wheat Kings are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 15-11-4-1 record.
The Blazers head to Prince Albert for their next game on Tuesday, before stops in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw to close out their road trip ahead of the WHL Christmas break.
Their next home game isn’t until Wednesday, Dec. 27 when they welcome the Kelowna Rockets to Sandman Centre.
