Your friendly neighbourhood Victoria Blazers were cooking with gas early against the talent laden Saanich Express, getting off to an early 4-3 lead thanks in part to a hot 2-goal first period from Blazers veteran sniper Quinton Hamilton, who made his season debut Tuesday. Hamilton also added 2 assists on the night. Star goaltender Rob Wood helped the Blazers widen the gap in the second, stopping three times as many shots as his counterpart at the other end of the floor. Veteran two-way sensation Jeremy Bell added 2 big goals for the good guys, and scrappy team spark plug Robbie Baldwin also sniped a big goal. When the second period was said and done, the Blazers were holding a 7-4 lead.
 

That's when fatigue, injuries, father time, and the talent of the Saanich Express took hold. Despite the heroics of Rob Wood in the crease, the bodies on the Blazers bench were dropping like flies, and the composed and skilled Express charged all the way back to a 7-7 tie, then an 8-7 lead. Blazer Nation got a big goal late from rookie sensation Nick Miller, who potted his second goal of the evening, bringing the game back to a tie with minutes left. Admirable effort from the Blazers squad. But with minutes left, Saanich potted one last goal and didn't look back. When the final horn sounded, the Express left Archie Browning with the 9-8 win.

While the Blazers bench was once again depleted, that didn't stop their fans from coming out in droves. Last estimate was somewhere below 300 bodies in the building. Spotted among the ocean of fans was famed academic and environmental activist David Suzuki. When asked to comment on what proved to be an excellent lacrosse game, Suzuki said, “Both teams really impressed me tonight. The Blazers had a much better start than anyone expected – I'd bet even they were pleasantly surprised. The Express should be proud of themselves for how they finished. Both teams can take a lot of positives from the game tonight. The secret for the Blazers is to come up with a sustainable effort. They can't 'Blaze Out' in the first half. Get it? 'Blaze' out? Anyway, they need to find the pieces to be able to keep up a pace like that. The whole world needs to find a sustainable balance though. Not just them. And it's not just about them getting more bodies out. It's about their players figuring out how to be a piece of a winning puzzle. How they can best contribute to a winning effort. We all have a role to play. Just as we do in saving our planet. It's the nature of things. The earth is beautiful. Lacrosse is beautiful. Oh, and did you know you can recycle soft plastics and styrofoam? They don't do curbside pickup for it, but do some googling and you'll find a nearby drop-off location. Pretty cool.”
 

The Blazers return to action tonight (Thursday) at 9:00 pm @ Archie Browning, where they finally get a chance to match up against the league leaders and long time Blazers rivals the Victoria Jokers. Don't miss it – admission is free!

-

Special thanks to Bin 4 Burger Lounge, the official burger joint of Blazer Nation! Serving up gourmet burgers, Bin 4 plates feature international flavours and local ingredients. From their Greek isles-inspired burger to the red-hot spiciness of The Angry Bull, there’s a burger for your palate, and your wallet. Top it off with housemade aioli, side it with artisan salad or house-spiced potato chips, and wash it down with a local libation, from craft beer to cab merlot. Bin 4 burgers are about what goes in, on, beside, and down with them. You can find multiple Bin 4 locations in the Greater Victoria Area, and also check out their spots in Vancouver and Kelowna! Yum. bin4burgerlounge.com

-

Huge thanks to HUB International, official insurance provider of the Victoria Blazers! The Blazers love to score goals. HUB advises businesses and individuals on how to reach their goals. When you partner with HUB, you’re at the center of a vast network of risk, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management specialists that bring clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy. So you’re ready for tomorrow. Visit HUB's local insurance offices in Victoria, or one of their 8 offices throughout Vancouver Island. You can also find HUB online at hubinternational.com

-

Much love to Master Care Janitorial & Facility Services, the official Janitorial & Facility Services provider of the Blazers! Master Care partners offer a combined 60 years of proven experience in the janitorial, office cleaning and building maintenance industries. To request a free quote with no obligations, call Master Care at 250-590-5970, email info@adaxmanagement.com, or check out their website at janitorialservicesvictoria.com.

-

Primo Lacrosse is the official lacrosse equipment provider of the Victoria Blazers! Primo utilizes high quality materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and a direct to consumer business model to bring you the highest quality at the lowest possible price. Today, Primo continues to innovate and raise the bar to bring the best highest tech & quality lacrosse shafts to the market, and they offer the best warranty in the biz! Find them on Instagram at @primolaxcanada for Canadian team sales! Their 'Obsidian' shafts rock. primolacrosse.com

-

Family owned and operated, Northern Star Plumbing / Gas / Service is your plumbing and gas specialist serving the Greater Victoria Area! Since 2001, home and business owners across southern Vancouver Island and area have counted on Northern Star for tried-and-true plumbing and gas work at fair prices. Contact Northern Star Plumbing / Gas / Service today! Victoria: 250-883-4347 / Sooke: 250-642-4499 / Email: northernstarplumbing@outlook.com / Web: northernstarplumbing.ca

-

Locally owned and operated, Tudor House Liquor Store is the perfect stop for beer, wine, spirits, coolers + ciders in Esquimalt and the official liquor store of the Victoria Blazers. Price match guaranteed, and local delivery available! Find Tudor House Liquor Store right down the street from our home at Archie Browning Arena, at 533 Admirals Road. Drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive.

-

Esquimalt Roasting Company is the official coffee provider of the Victoria Blazers! Nestled in the heart of Esquimalt, Esquimalt Roasting Company provides customers with locally roasted coffee excellence. ERC is a small batch, "specialty coffee" roastery that endeavours to provide the freshest coffee available to its valued customers. Find the ERC team on site and hard at work in their new neighbourhood micro roastery. Visit in person for your supply of beans and a taste of what’s in store when their cafe begins operations in Esquimalt’s new Town Square. Free local delivery! esquimaltroasting.com

-

Big thanks to The Graphite Group Chartered Professional Accountants for your support! The Graphite Group offers taxation, accounting and business advisory services to meet your needs. The Graphite Group | CPAs graphitegroupcpa.com (250) 472-3211

-

Compass Electric specializes in commercial, industrial, multi-unit, and single-family residential electrical systems, and is a one-stop electrical contractor with access to the best suppliers and manufacturers in the industry, and electricians who are up-to-date and in the know of all the latest innovations. compasselectric.net (250) 800-2169

-

As an Edward Jones financial advisor, there isn’t a better time than now to guide you with a structured, clear portfolio with a time-focused, attainable, achievable goal. Colt Borthwick invests his time to understand your goals before you invest your money, leveraging the strength of Edward Jones tools to reach your long-term goals. Colt Borthwick, Financial Advisor | Edward Jones (250) 391-1308

-

Thank you Kelly Green Lawn & Garden Ltd! Reach out to Kelly Green today for all your lawn and garden needs, whether you're dealing with your residential space, or you need help with commercial or strata properties. They've got you covered! Kelly Green Lawn & Garden Ltd (250) 893-6605

-

Moon Under Water Brewery & Pub is inspired by centuries of European brewing tradition and propelled by Canadian passion and creativity. Moon Brewery's beautiful German brewhaus allows them to implement challenging brew methods into their processes from step-mashes to decoctions. Visit the Moon Under Water pub & patio on Wing Wednesday, or for brunch! moonunderwater.ca

-

TJS Drywall is the official drywaller of the Victoria Blazers! Reach out to TJS Drywall today for your drywall needs, whether it's a small residential project or large commercial one. TJS serves markets all over South Vancouver Island. TJS Drywall (250) 507-1580