LANGLEY, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants caught everyone’s attention when they upset the top-seeded Everett Silvertips in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs in six games.
The Kamloops Blazers, who finished one point behind the Silvertips and swept the Spokane Chiefs in their best-of-seven, first-round series, took notice and treated the underdog Giants with much more respect despite finishing 46 points ahead of them in the regular season.
After pushing the Blazers to a Game 6 on Sunday, the Giants ran out of gas and post-season heroics, dropping a 6-0 decision at the Langley Events Centre and losing the best-of-seven series 4-2.
Luke Toporowski had two goals for the Blazers with singles added by Fraser Minten, Daylan Kuefler, Logan Stankovern and Caedan Bankier. Dylan Garand recorded the shutout as his squad outshot the Giants 36-23.
The Blazers now face the winner of the Portland Winterhawks-Seattle Thunderbirds series in the Western Conference Final. Portland leads that series 3-2 with Game 6 Monday night in Seattle.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2022
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