The Kamloops Blazers have begun making moves ahead of next season, just one week after their 2021-22 season came to an end.

Wednesday afternoon, the team announced it had traded 20-year-old forward Reese Belton to the Tri-City Americans in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

A fifth round draft pick of the Blazers in 2017, Belton played 115 games in Kamloops over three seasons where he put up 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points. The Winnipeg native also had five points in 17 playoff games this past season.

Belton would have been one of seven Blazers on the 2021-22 team going into their overage season as the Blazers prepare to host the 2023 Memorial Cup.

Still on the roster as potential overage players are forwards Daylan Kuefler, Ethan Rowland, Drew Englot, defencemen Marko Stacha, and Ethan Brandwood, and goaltender Dylan Garand, with teams only allowed three 20-year-old players on the roster.

Garand, a draft pick of the New York Rangers, though told NL Sports last week he is hoping to play professional hockey next season.