KAMLOOPS, BC — What’s the difference between a day and a loss at the Memorial Cup.

Saddened and filled with doubt following their opening 8-3 loss to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions Quebec Remparts on Friday night, the Kamloops Blazers hosts regrouped and vowed to do business Sunday against the Peterborough Petes.

Mission accomplished.

The Blazers jumped to the champion Ontario Hockey League Petes early and often on their way to a 10-2 win that included four power-play goals, improving their record to 1-1 in the four-team, 10-day championship tournament at Sandman. Middle.

The Petes slipped to 0-2 and must now beat the Remparts on Tuesday or they will be a playoff spectator.

Petes, who lost 6-3 to Western Hockey League champions Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday, said they needed to be more physical and aggressive against the Blazers, but they trailed three goals before half-time 14 minutes old. Kamloops’ fourth goal was disallowed due to goalkeeper interference.

Kamloops increased their lead to 7-0 before the nine-minute mark from the second frame, and even the visitors knew all the lyrics to the Bachman-Turner Overdrive Blazers goal anthem.

Logan Stankoven had one goal and four assists for the Blazers, while Connor Levis had one goal and two assists. Ryan Michael, Fraser Minten, Ashton Ferster, Matthew Seminoff, Dylan Sydor, Jakub Demek, Matthew Seminoff and Ryan Hofer scored the only goals.

Caedan Bankier and Olen Zellweger also contributed two assists each for the Blazers.

Avery Hayes scored a power play goal for Petes, and Quinton Page scored with 20 seconds left in the game. Petes lost 49-30.

Kamloops led 3-0 after the first half and led 7-1 in the third. The Blazers went 4-of-7 on the power play, while the Petes were 1-of-4.

Stankoven was thrilled that the “real Blazer” appeared Sunday after a disappointing start against Quebec.

“I know I still have a lot to give of myself,” said Stankoven. “We are a very focused group today and hungry to play in the right way. It’s great to come out with such a big win.”

Blazer bench boss Shaun Clouston agreed, adding: “I think the guys are really focused. They’re not playing games. From the opening, we wanted to do some early checks… and I think the guys did a great job. “

POKE CHECKS: The only concern for Kamloops on Sunday was the health of defenseman Kyle Masters who was batted and fell backwards into the corner board with less than seven minutes left in the game and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. … The Seattle Thunderbirds and Quebec Remparts will play Monday (9 p.m. ET) in an undefeated team battle. Remparts play again Tuesday (9pm ET) against Petes. The Blazers’ final game of the round-robin is Wednesday when they face the Thunderbirds in all-WHL contention. The T-Birds defeated the Blazers in a six-game Western Conference finals series earlier this month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 28, 2023.