Ashton Ferster scored the final two goals of his WHL career, in a 5-2 Kamloops Blazers loss to the Prince George Cougars.
Ferster, the 20-year-old Shellbrook, Sask., native finished the 2023/24 season with a career best 19 goals and 22 assists, giving him 41 points in 68 games.
He was one of a few Blazers veterans who dressed for the final regular season game, as Kamloops was without six regulars – goaltender Dylan Ernst, defencemen Matteo Koci, Harrison Brunicke, and Ryan Michael, and forwards Kai Matthew, and Cole Wadsworth.
Ferster opened the scoring at the CN Centre 6:31 into the second period, but it was the Cougars who came away with the 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of hockey, thanks to a pair from Riley Heidt.
The sweet dish from Laffy to Fersty 🤌 pic.twitter.com/8ZFe7XvRcm
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 24, 2024
Unlike Friday’s 9-2 rout, the Blazers held their own Saturday night as Ferster’s second of the night pulled the visitors back even early in the third.
Deja vu 🧠 pic.twitter.com/ecpI70eA1s
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 24, 2024
Any hopes of an upset though were quashed a few minutes later as the Cougars pulled away with a trio of goals from Ondrej Becher, Heidt – who signed an NHL contract earlier in the day – and Borya Valis.
Tommy Lafreniere, the Blazers’ 16-year-old forward, recorded his first multi-point game of his WHL career with primary assists on both of Ferster’s goals.
Jesse Sanche turned aside 34 of 39 shots in a losing effort for the Blazers. PG’s Joshua Ravensbergen was credited with the win with a 27 save effort.
While the Cougars went 17-0-1-1 to clinch a Western Conference Championship for the first time ever, the Blazers wrapped up a tough season with an eight game losing streak. They finished in the WHL basement with a 20-42-3-3 record.
Saturday’s game also marked the end of the road for Blake Swetlikoff – who lined up on defence because of injuries – and captain Logan Bairos, as well as long-time Blazers trainer, Colin “Toledo” Robinson.