Caedan Bankier celebrates his goal against Seattle on Nov. 9, 2022. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
Reid Schaefer scored the overtime winner to give the Seattle Thunderbirds a 2-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers, the teams’ first meeting since Game 7 of the 2022 WHL Western Conference Final.
Caedan Bankier opened the scoring for the home team late in the first period – his tenth goal of the season – going to the backhand with a Peter Forsberg-style deke to beat Thomas Milic.
Sam Popowich tied things up early in the second period with the only other goal scored in regulation Wednesday night at Sandman Centre.
Schafer’s overtime winner came just 19 seconds after Blazers’ forward Logan Stankoven was unable to convert on a penalty shot.
Dylan Ernst who stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced in net was named second star on the night, while Milic, made 38 saves for his seventh win of the season.
Next up for the Blazers is a home game against the Kelowna Rockets this Saturday, Nov. 12.
