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Hofer's hat trick leads Blazers in 6-4 comeback win over Raiders

Blazers come back to win

Ryan Hofer had a hat trick and added an assist Friday at Sandman Centre to pace the Kamloops Blazers in a 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Prince Albert Raiders.

Connor Levis, Hofer (3), Daylan Kuefler and Caedan Bankier were the goal scorers for the Blazers. Eric Johnston, Carter Anderson, Landon Cosier and Brayden Dube scored for Prince Albert.

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period, the Blazers trailed 3-2 and 4-3. They weren't in front again until 8:47 of the third, when Hofer’s game-winner sent hats flying. Bankier added an insurance marker five minutes later to make it a 6-4 final.

Logan Stankoven assisted on Bankier’s goal late in the third to extend his point streak to 31 games, which is now the longest in the WHL. Regina’s Connor Bedard failed to find the score sheet on Friday, bringing his 35-game streak to an end.

Dylan Ernst made 22 saves on 26 Prince Albert shots to earn the win in net, his league-leading 26th of the season. Tikhon Chaika stopped 33 of 39 Kamloops shots in a losing effort.

The Blazers scored once on three power-play opportunities. The Raiders had two goals on five chances.

Announced attendance at Sandman Centre was 5,160.

With the win, the Blazers improve to 29-10-4-2 on the season, good for top spot in the WHL’s B.C. Division and second in the Western Conference, nine points back of the first-place Portland Winterhawks (34-10-2-1), who lost Friday to the surging Tri-City Americans (25-16-4-1).

The Blazers will be back in action on Saturday, headed to Langley for a date with the Vancouver Giants (18-23-4-2). They will return home to Sandman Centre on Sunday, hosting the Victoria Royals (14-30-4-1) in a 5 p.m. start.



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