With the WHL’s Conference semi-finals set to get underway on Friday, and the Kamloops Blazers on the outside looking in, the majority owner of the team suggests his approach to the off-season is a simple one for the organization.
“The hockey staff has work to do to in recruiting and thinking about next year’s roster,” Tom Gaglardi said as part of a post-season discussion with Radio NL this week.
Gaglardi’s call to focus on the roster and recruitment comes amid an increasingly changing landscape for Canadian junior hockey — a door which does swing both ways to allow players to move both in and out of the WHL and the US college hockey system more easily.
The Blazers’ top four scorers from this season all have NCAA commitments for next season.
They include Chicago Blackhawks-drafted Nathan Behm (Arizona State), Josh Evaschesen (RPI), the Edmonton Oilers’ first selection in last summer’s NHL Entry Draft, Tommy Lafreniere (Western Michigan), as well as a likely first round pick in this summer’s Draft, American JP Hurlbert.
Those four players represent 154 goals from this past season that would be eligible to come back — a return which is facing its own set of challenges.
Those include the lure of US college hockey where younger, more talented players coming out of the Canadian system can test themselves against older, more mature players.
This is on top of the financial considerations the NCAA can provide through what’s known as NIL, or the Name, Image and Likeness policy adopted by the US college sports system in 2021.
NIL allows student athletes to monetize their brand through their social media, autograph signings and anything else which their personal name or likeness can earn them money as a student athlete.
Kamloops Blazers and Dallas Stars majority owner Tom Gaglardi/via Dallas Stars
“It’s some big challenges obviously,” admitted Gaglardi, who also concedes to being a bit disappointed with the way the season came to an end for the Blazers — swept in the first round in four-straight by this year’s Memorial Cup hosts, the Kelowna Rockets.
As for the season on the whole, Gaglardi suggests it was a step in the right direction.
“To finish where we finished (5th of out 12 teams in the Western Conference) is a successful year but playoffs leave a bad taste in your mouth,” said Gaglardi. “All the things we needed to happen to go in our favor went the opposite way.”
The Blazers fought all season in the middle of the Conference with a younger roster to secure a playoff spot.
That led to a 1st round match-up with an older Memorial Cup hosting squad put together by the Kelowna Rockets.
“We all thought we would give Kelowna a much bigger test than we did,” Gaglardi conceded in conversation with NL Sports. “So I think we’re all a bit stunned and still reeling from it.”
Asked about any changes on the operational side of the ice for the hockey club, Gaglardi suggests a wait-and-see approach into next season is the likely course.
“I don’t think we will [see changes]… I think we had a pretty successful year,” he said. “The staff is all under contract for next season.”
But he is also keeping the door open for change down the road.
“Is this a group we want to keep together past next year? I’m sure those conversations are going to happen but they’re not imminent,” he added. “If you look around the league I think we have a great situation and a great staff.”
Upper Deck hockey card featuring Kamloops Blazers forward JP Hurlbert as part of its series of NHL Draft-eligible players for 2026/via Kamloops Blazers
When it comes to success stories, Gaglardi is quick to point to the season of 17-year old American JP Hurlbert, whom the Blazers capitalized on as part of the WHL/NCAA door swinging in the opposite direction.
Hurlbert — selected 20th overall by the Blazers in the 2023 US Priority Draft — would most likely have stuck with the USA Hockey National Development Team Program had the NCAA not amended its policies to allow those who play on CHL teams to make a later transition to college hockey.
Instead, Gaglardi notes the young hockey talent from Allen, Texas and his family decided it would be a good opportunity to test his abilities against some of the best that Canada has to offer.
“Look at the season he had,” exclaimed Gaglardi. “He led the league [WHL and CHL] in scoring for most of the year.”
“He loves Kamloops and considers it his second home,” added Gaglardi, “He couldn’t have had a better experience. Full credit to him.”
Gaglardi suggests one of the priorities for Blazers management is to ensure that players like Hurlbert consider their time in Kamloops more than a one-and-done option.
“He’s going to get drafted,” noted Gaglardi, as Hurlbert has been flagged by NHL Central Scouting as a probable first round selection in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. “We have to convince him this is the spot that’s best for his development.”
While the Blazers would turn in 18 victories for the fan base at the Sandman Centre this season, one ‘gut punch’ for the home town crowd was the “seven” in the 18-8-7-1 record on home ice.
Despite not being able to put together those victories in overtime in front of the fan base at the Sandman Centre, Gaglardi says the overall program is headed in the right direction.
“Kamloops is considered a great destination for development,” offered Gaglardi. “I think the community, and our fans can be proud of that.”
Gaglardi says that bodes well for the the future of the organization and for Blazers fans as well.
“We’re considered a top tier place to send talent,” added Gaglardi. “We’ve got our place into a good spot.”
“Now we want to have deeper playoff runs,” he added.
Click here to listen to Radio NL’s Jon Keen’s conversation with Kamloops Blazers majority owner Tom Gaglardi.
