The Kamloops Blazers look to head into their first playoff weekend since the 2022-23 season.
Heading into their final weekend of regular play, the Blazers faced the Vancouver Giants once at home and once on the road. Both games, the team pulled out wins, 7-3 at home on Friday and then a 4-3 win in overtime on Saturday in the Giant’s barn.
The Blazers finished off the season in fifth place. However, who they were set to face depended on the outcome of a Sunday game between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Spokane Chiefs. The Tbirds took the win over the Chiefs, which ensured the Blazers fifth place finish and cemented their rivals, the Kelowna Rockets, as their opponents in the first round of the playoffs.
Also heading into the final WHL regular season weekend, it was a close race for the last two spots in the Western Conference. One point separated seventh place (the Seattle Thunderbirds, 66 points) from eighth place (tied at 65 points between the Portland Winterhawks and the Victoria Royals). However, the Victoria Royals were eliminated after a 2-1 loss to the Prince George Cougars.
The Blazers qualified for the playoffs on a quiet Sunday when they didn’t have a game and despite losing the night before. Once again showing how much the out-of-town scoreboard matters. The Everett Silvertips defeated the Portland Winterhawks 8-5, clinching the playoffs for the Blazers.
The Blazers have had a two-season hiatus from the playoffs. They last made the playoffs in 2023 when they went all the way to round four; however, they lost the series 4-2 to the Seattle Thunderbirds, who went on to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup. The Blazers, who were also hosting the Memorial Cup that year, eventually faced Seattle again in that tournament on home ice. Unfortunately, for fans, the outcome of the game felt like déjà vu, as the Thunderbirds once more defeated the Blazers 6-1, quashing the home team’s chances at the Memorial Cup.
Throughout the season, the Blazers have made a series of moves that strengthened the roster. In the off-season, 2008-born Allen, Texas native J.P. Hurlbert took advantage of the CHL/NCAA eligibility rule change and moved from the U.S. National Development Program to the CHL and the Blazers. Hurlbert has been a star with the Blazers, racking up 39 goals and 96 points in 68 games, and has even led the CHL in points multiple times this season.
At the beginning of the season, Blazers also let go of veterans Josh Kelly, Jager Gugyelka and Connor Radke, while trading the other 19-year-old veteran, Max Sullivan, to the Medicine Hat Tigers. They then made trades for Owen Cooper from the Everett Silvertips and signed free agent Josh Evaschesen, who has been a major asset for the team with 33 goals and 74 points in 67 games.
Before the deadline, the team didn’t make too many roster changes, as they felt the squad was set. Kayd Ruedig was sent to the Portland Winterhawks, and Ty Coupland was acquired from the Red Deer Rebels.
On the squad, Nathan Behm and Tommy Lafreniere, who were both selected in the NHL entry draft in the offseason, made serious contributions throughout the season. Harrison Brunicke was returned to the teams after spending the first half of the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he only dressed in nine games.
Three 20-year-old players round out the bench, including team captain Ryan Micheal, who has spent his full five years with the team and was a part of the last playoff push, Jordan Keller, who joined the team in the 2023-2024 season via trade and Rhett Ravandal, who came to the Blazers last season in a trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
With their position in the playoffs now secure, the real battles can begin. The first two games of the series will be at Prospera Place on March 27 and 28. Games three and four will be at the Sandman Centre on March 31 and April 1. If needed, games five and seven will be on Friday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 7, in Kelowna, and game six will be held on Saturday, April 4, in Kamloops.