First round playoff series tied 2-2 after Blazers edge the Royals tonight

Both the Royals and Blazers entertained the masses this evening with a hard-fought and fast-paced bout that had everyone on the edge of their seats before they recorded 6-3 on the scoresheet, the Kamloops Blazers taking the win.

It’s safe to say that if this first round playoff matchup between the Victoria Royals and Kamloops Blazers has been anything – it’s been exciting. Within these first four games between the two clubs, we’ve seen plenty of hard hits, the consequent roughing and fighting major penalties, and an awful lot of heated on-ice conversation; and that’s just the beginning!

Though the first period between the two clubs started off a little slow tonight, the Royals and Blazers packed so much into the latter 15 minutes it left heads spinning! Although it was Kamloops’ Sopotyk that drew first blood, it was a smokin’ short-handed goal by Victoria’s Dino Kambeitz that would make the highlight reel – banking it in an empty net after the Blazers’ netminder Ferguson rushed out to play the puck.

It was 1-1 in the first period before Kambeitz for the Royals struck once more, this time on a powerplay after some rough stuff in the end-zone by both teams. After some more mix-ups and fisticuffs, the Blazers’ Zary tied it up once more in the last minute, finishing up the first 20 with a score of 2-2.

See also:

• Royals best Blazers in physical 3-2 win in Kamloops
• Victoria Royals forward wins spot in WHL’s top 10 goals of the year (VIDEO)
• Royals to face Kamloops Blazers in first-round playoff match-up after tie-breaker game

The second saw plenty more passionate playoff action, with Franklin getting his Blazers up 3-2 around midway, and Victoria’s McDonald throwing an absolutely crushing hit on Kamloops’s Zary, garnering boos from a filled-to-the-brim Sandman Centre in Kamloops. Martynov from the Royals evened the playing field once more with after some fancy footwork and a calculated shot, seeing the third wrap-up at 3-3.

Victoria’s Kody McDonald found himself very busy in the third period, first garnering an embellishment penalty despite the fact that he was visibly bloodied, then moving on to getting himself tossed from the game after he and Kamloops’ Franklin got into a less-than-cordial chirping match from their respective benches.

The Kamloops Blazers saw 3 more goals that period, the first from Zary during a 4-on-4, and the second and third coming from Zazula and Lang respectively to create a final score of 6-3 for the home team.

The Kamloops Blazers’ win tonight forces a game 6 in the series, which will see the team returning back to the Sandman Centre following the next game in Victoria.

The Victoria Royals will return home for what will be another epic showcase of sportsmanship in game 5 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday, March 30th – puck drop for this bout will be at 7:05 p.m., and tickets are still available!

You can check out the rest of the series schedule below!

Victoria Royals

• When:
  • Saturday, March 30th at 7:05 p.m. – Victoria Royals vs. Kamloops Blazers – next home game, and game 5 of first round series
•  Where: Save On Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
• Tickets: Playoff tickets can be purchased in-person or online