Another big night for Toporowski as Blazers beat up on Royals

Photo: James Doyle/Prince George Cougars

Luke Toporowski, shown here celebrating a goal last week in Prince George, scored twice on Friday as the Kamloops Blazers beat the Vancouver Giants 6-1.

Luke Toporowski extended his goal-scoring streak to four games Friday, notching a pair as the Kamloops Blazers cruised to a 6-1 victory at Sandman Centre over the Victoria Royals.

Toporowski bookended the offensive outburst, opening the scoring less than a minute into the first period and closing it at 7:37 of the third. Daylan Kuefler, Fraser Minten, Logan Stankoven and Reese Belton were the other goal scorers for the Blazers. Stankoven and Mats Lindgren each had two assists.

Keanu Derungs scored the lone goal for Victoria, beating Dylan Garand early in the second period.

Garand wasn’t very busy on Friday, making 10 saves on just 11 Victoria shots. Tyler Palmer and Campbell Arnold split goaltending duties for the Royals.

The Blazers are now winners of four straight — perfect since acquiring Toporowski, among others, at the WHL trade deadline last week. Toporowski has tallied six goals and one assist in that time.

The win moves the Blazers to 26-11-1-0 on the season, still in first place in the WHL’s B.C. Division — nine points up on the second-place Kelowna Rockets (20-10-1-3).

The Blazers and the Royals (12-22-4-1) will meet again on Saturday at Sandman Centre. The Blue and Orange will then head to Langley for a game against the Vancouver Giants (16-18-2-0) on Sunday.