Nathan Behm (L) and Tommy Lafreniere (R) taken in NHL Draft Saturday/via Kamloops Blazers

A pair Kamloops Blazers have been taken in this year’s NHL Entry Draft — both in the 3rd round out of Los Angeles.

Forward Nathan Behm went first out of the gate on Saturday morning, landing in the arms of the Blackhawks.

“It was cool for sure…something you’ve been looking forward to for a while now,” Behm told Radio NL on Saturday from Los Angeles.  “LA’s a great city to have it [the Draft].”

Behm was taken number 66 overall by Chicago as the 2nd selection in the 3rd round on Saturday morning and says he wasn’t overly surprised when the Blackhawks came calling.

“They were pretty high on my list.  I’d say they were in the top three, or top five [of teams who may have selected him],” said Behm, who noted the Blackhawks were one of a few teams who had approached him during the NHL Combine earlier this month in Buffalo.

“Kind of had a decent indicator, but obviously you never know.”

Behm will head immediately to Chicago on Sunday where the Blackhawks will begin their pre-season development camp.

The 18-year-old Behm says he’s excited about being selected by a Chicago team that he feels he could eventually fit well with.

“I think it’s a good opportunity,” said Behm.  “Obviously there’s lot of young players that are really good.  [Connor] Bedard is obviously one of the best young guys in the league right now.”

“I think it’s cool to be part of a team that’s up-and-coming and has a real shot at contending” added Behm.

Behm’s selection makes it 14 years in a row that a Kamloops Blazer has been selected in the National Hockey League Draft — the current and all-time WHL record for a franchise.

Behm put up 66 points for the Blazers last year, including 31 goals and 35 assists, which was good for 2nd in team scoring, tied with Jordan Keller.

The Calgary native had gone into this year’s Draft ranked 44th by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters.

Then about 20 minutes later, it was Tommy Lafreniere’s turn.

Lafreniere was selected at number 83 in this year’s Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

“It was a super cool moment,” Lafreniere told Radio NL on Saturday.  “My agent called me, I think, about 15 seconds before the pick was announced.  I think our TV was a bit delayed.  It was super special.”

Lafreniere, who did not travel to Los Angeles for the Draft, will be flying out Sunday to Edmonton to meet with team officials, admitting he was having a difficult time processing the idea of rubbing shoulders with Oilers’ stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

“I can’t even believe you’re saying those names compared to mine,” said Lafreniere.

The 18-year-old came into the NHL Draft ranked 57th among North American skaters, after turning a lot of heads this past season with his impressive outing for the Blazers, where he put up 56 points — including 24 goals through all 68 games for the Blazers this year.

Lafreniere — originally from Montreal but now considers Whistler home — wasn’t taken until the 8th round, 174th overall by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2022 Bantam Draft.

“I think it just clicked with me that I need to work harder than anybody,” said Lafreniere when asked about how he’s managed to progress from a late round WHL pick to a 3rd round NHL selection in the course of three years.

“You know, a lot of people say that, but I took that to heart,” added Lafreniere.  “The biggest thing is to work hard and put in the extra work.. and have fun while you’re doing it.”

“If you have fun, then it’s just going to come along.”

Blazers listed get nods while Czech import passed by

Wedged in between the two ‘active’ Blazers on Saturday was Sean Barnhill’s name.

He’s a Kamloops-listed American who currently plays with Dubuque in the US Hockey League.

The 6-foot-6 defenseman went 70th overall to the New York Rangers.

Another American listed player for the Blazers, Ashton Schultz, also went in the 6th round on Saturday — number 167 — to the Buffalo Sabres.

He’s been playing for the Chicago Steel in the USHL.

Neither Schultz nor Barnhill have suited up for Kamloops.

Unfortunately for Blazers Czech import Vit Zahejsky, his name did not get called this year.

Zahejsky didn’t put up a lot of numbers for the Blazers this past season — 2 goals and 13 assists — after he broke his ankle in pre-season and was forced to miss the start of the campaign.

However, the second-overall pick in last year’s CHL Import Draft by the Blazers was a standout for Czechia at the U-18 World Championships in Texas earlier this year.

His four goals and an assist in five games for his home country had left some expectation the 18-year-old may have found a spot somewhere on the board in Los Angeles.

–With files from Jon Keen