Kamloops Blazers Training Camp 2022. (Photo via Jon Keen)
After one of the longest off-seasons in recent memory, the Kamloops Blazers get back on the ice next week for training camp.
The annual camp will begin with medicals and check-ins for both returning and newly signed players on Wednesday, Aug. 28, with camp set to continue through the Labour Day Long Weekend.
“Every time you hit this time of year there’s a lot of anticipation. There’s question marks and optimism,” Blazers Head Coach and GM Shaun Clouston told NL Sports.
“You hope the players had a good off-season and they’re ready to go. It’s always exciting.”
The Blazers are coming off a 20-win season in which they traded several older players – Fraser Minten, Dylan Sydor, Connor Levis, and Shea Van Olm – to recoup assets used to ice the best team possible for the 2023 Memorial Cup and other B.C. Division winning teams going back to the 2019-20 season.
Most of the intrigue appears to be up front as the Blazers feature several 2007-born players – Nathan Behm, Andrew Thomson, Zack Pantelakis, and Tommy Lafreniere – who will be pushing for bigger roles during their 17-year-old seasons.
Ty Bonkowski, a 2008-born forward who will be going into his 16-year-old season, also impressed during his short two-game stint to end the season. The Blazers are hoping another forward from that draft class will prove themselves in camp and pre-season.
Clouston and his assistants will also be looking for more from the 2006-born forwards – Ashton Tait, Max Sullivan, Connor Radke, Josh Kelly, Cole Wadsworth, and Bryce Minten. They’ll all be looking to solidify a roster spot as 18-year-olds ahead of some of the younger players.
“The 06 age group, the 18-year-olds, we have a good number of players who feel they still have some things to prove,” Clouston said.
The Blazers also bolstered their forward core by adding 17 year-old Czech forward Vit Zahejsky with the second overall pick at the 2024 CHL Import Draft.
Zahejsky won a silver medal and was standout for Czechia with three goals and seven points in five games at the U-18 Hlinka Gretzky tournament in Edmonton earlier this month. A native of Plzen, Zahejsky has been in Kamloops for over a week.
The Blazers will also be leaning on their veteran 19-and 20-year-old forwards – Emmitt Finnie, Jordan Keller, Kai Matthew, and off-season acquisition Oren Shtrom, to provide leadership.
“I think we are in a strong position this year with depth especially up front,” Clouston said. “It creates competition within the lineup. We have more experience and depth this year.”
Shtrom, the lone 20 year-old forward going into camp, played a checking role with Prince George last season, but recorded 13 goals and 27 points in 66 games. He also had three goals and eight points in 15 playoff games as the Cougars were beaten in the Western Conference Final.
The Blazers will also have more experience on the blue line after the acquisition of 20 year-old Layton Feist from Spokane and 19 year-old Niko Tsakumis from Everett.
Matteo Koci, the 19-year-old Czech defenceman, is also back for another season, while 18-year-old Harrison Brunicke will take on a leading role after he was drafted and signed to an NHL contract by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rounding out the blue line is 19 year-old Sam Borschowa and 17 year-old Isa Guram, while 16 year-old Dryden Deobald is also hoping to make an impression in camp and carry it into the regular season.
The Blazers will be without veteran 19 year-old Ryan Michael, who is recovering from hip surgery late last season. He is not expected to see any game action until late October.
“With Mikey [Ryan Michael] being out as he recovers from significant surgery, we need a young guy to step up and embrace the challenge,” Clouston added.
There’s also an interesting scenario in goal after the Blazers traded goaltender Jesse Sanche to Everett, a move that anointed Logan Edmonstone as the team’s goalie of the future. The Saskatoon native played well in a late-season call-up, and posted an .890 save percentage in five games.
“It’s important that Edmonstone gets an opportunity. In a very short time frame he’s proven that he has the ability,” Clouston said of his rookie goaltender.
Edmonstone will be going into his 17-year-old WHL season alongside overage goaltender Dylan Ernst. The Weyburn, Sask. native is going into his fifth season with Kamloops, coming off a year where he went 13-21-1-1 with a 3.69 GAA and a .877 save percentage.
“Ernst adds a lot of valuable experience. I think by our standards and his standards he’s had a bit of an up-and-down career,” added Clouston. “But we believe there’s a ton of ability there. We are cheering for Dylan and he’s been a part of this for a long time. We’re really excited for the future of our young goaltending.”
All of the players at Blazers training camp will be divided into four teams, with rosters and a full schedule expected to be made available next week here.
On-ice sessions will be held between Aug. 30 and Sept. 2 at Sandman Centre, and it will be open to the public. If you can’t make it to the arena, Radio NL will be covering training camp, with the latest updates available here.
