
Ashton Ferster in action against the Portland Winterhawks on Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo via Keith Dwiggins/Kyle Smutzki/Portland Winterhawks)
A third-period goal from Ashton Ferster was all the Kamloops Blazers could manage in a 7-1 defeat to the Portland Winterhawks on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
Ferster’s goal ended a shutout bid for Portland’s Nick Avakyan, who made 23 saves on 24 shots in the Monday afternoon matinee.
Josh Davies, Gabe Klassen, James Stefan, and Josh Zakreski scored in the a 10 minute span in the first period to put Portland up 4-0.
A second period goal from Stefan and a third period marker from Ryan Miller had the Winterhawks up 6-0 before Ferster tapped in a lose puck for his eighth goal of the season.
Keller with the shot, Ferster with the goal!
pic.twitter.com/9eWTIKljeg
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) January 16, 2024
Diego Buttazzoni rounded out the scoring to restore Portland’s six goal lead, giving them 13 of a possible 14 points in their last seven games. The Winterhawks improve to 26-10-2-1 and sit third in the Western Conference.
The Blazers, who have lost seven in a row, are in last place in the WHL with a 9-27-3-2 record.
Jesse Sanche was credited with the loss allowing four goals on 20 shots in 20 minutes of action. Dylan Ernst made 28 saves on 31 shots in 40 minutes of relief work for the Blazers.
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) January 16, 2024
Former Blazers’ prospect Tyson Jugnauth – whose rights were traded to Portland in December – picked up a point on the night, his first against the team that drafted him in the WHL.
The Blazers head to Wenatchee for a Tuesday afternoon game to conclude a three-game U.S. Division road trip.
They’ll play two more games in Victoria this weekend and another in Kelowna next weekend before returning home to face the Rockets at Sandman Centre on Saturday, Jan. 27.