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Kamloops Blazers
Kamloops Blazers logo.svg
City Kamloops, British Columbia
League Western Hockey League
Conference Western
Division B.C.
Founded 1966
Home arena Sandman Centre
Colours Blue, white, orange
              
Owner(s) Tom Gaglardi (majority)
Shane Doan
Jarome Iginla
Mark Recchi
Darryl Sydor
General manager Shaun Clouston
Head coach Shaun Clouston
Championships Ed Chynoweth Cup
6 (1984, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995)
Memorial Cup
3 (1992, 1994, 1995)
Franchise history
1966–1971 Estevan Bruins
1971–1981 New Westminster Bruins
1981–1984 Kamloops Junior Oilers
1984–present Kamloops Blazers

The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team plays in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference, is based in Kamloops, British Columbia, and play home games at Sandman Centre.

The Blazers originated as the Estevan Bruins in 1966, became the New Westminster Bruins in 1971, and relocated to Kamloops in 1981 as the Kamloops Junior Oilers. The Blazers have won the Memorial Cup three times; in 1992, 1994, and 1995, and the Ed Chynoweth Cup six times.

History

The franchise was granted in 1966 as the Estevan Bruins in Estevan, Saskatchewan. In 1971, it moved to New Westminster, British Columbia, and was known as the New Westminster Bruins. It then moved to Kamloops in 1981 and was known as the Junior Oilers until 1984, when it was given its present name, the Kamloops Blazers. The team moved from the Kamloops Memorial Arena to the Riverside Coliseum, then renamed the "Interior Savings Centre", in 1992, and finally changed to the Sandman Centre in 2015, due to co-owner Tom Gaglardi also owning the Sandman hotels brand.

The team has won the most Memorial Cups of any team in the WHL with five, two as New Westminster (1977 and 1978) and three as Kamloops (1992, 1994 and 1995). The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) record is seven, held by the Ontario Hockey League's Toronto Marlboros, now known as the Guelph Storm.

The franchise began in 1946 as the Humboldt Indians of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and moved to Estevan to become the Bruins in 1957. The franchise has won the President's Cup a record 11 times, once in Estevan, four times in a row in New Westminster and six times since relocating to Kamloops. The Blazers hosted the 1995 Memorial Cup, also winning the WHL championship that year.

The team was featured as a plot element in a book called Blazer Drive by Sigmund Brouwer.

WHL finals appearances

  • 1983–84: Win, 4–3 vs. Regina
  • 1984–85: Loss, 0–4 vs. Prince Albert
  • 1985–86: Win, 4–1 vs. Medicine Hat
  • 1987–88: Loss, 2–4 vs. Medicine Hat
  • 1989–90: Win, 4–1 vs. Lethbridge
  • 1991–92: Win, 4–3 vs. Saskatoon
  • 1993–94: Win, 4–3 vs. Saskatoon
  • 1994–95: Win, 4–2 vs. Brandon
  • 1998–99: Loss, 1–4 vs. Calgary

Memorial Cup appearances

  • 1984 Memorial Cup – Loss, 2–7 vs. Ottawa in semifinal (as Kamloops Junior Oilers)
  • 1986 Memorial Cup – Loss, 3–9 vs. Hull in semifinal
  • 1990 Memorial Cup – Loss, 0–3 in round-robin (vs. Kitchener (7–8 OT), Oshawa (6–7 OT) & Laval (2–4))
  • 1992 Memorial Cup – Win, 5–4 vs. Sault Ste. Marie
  • 1994 Memorial Cup – Win, 5–3 vs. Laval
  • 1995 Memorial Cup – Win, 8–2 vs. Detroit
  • 2023 Memorial Cup - Loss, 4–5 OT in tiebreaker vs. Peterborough

Coaches

Main s: and

Notable head coaches in the history of the Kamloops Blazers include Ken Hitchcock, Tom Renney, Don Hay, Marc Habscheid and Dean Evason.

Players

Current roster

Updated March 5, 2024.

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Drafted
32 Canada Anderlini, KalanKalan Anderlini D L 18 2023 Langley, British Columbia Eligible 2024
2 Canada Bairos, LoganLogan Bairos (C) D R 21 2018 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Undrafted
14 Canada Behm, NathanNathan Behm C R 17 2022 Calgary, Alberta Eligible 2025
27 Canada Borschowa, SamuelSamuel Borschowa D R 19 2023 McTaggart, Saskatchewan Undrafted
18 Canada Brunicke, HarrisonHarrison Brunicke D R 17 2021 Johannesburg, South Africa Eligible 2024
33 Canada Closson, HudsonHudson Closson LW L 16 2023 Duncan, British Columbia Eligible 2025
31 Canada Edmonstone, LoganLogan Edmonstone G L 16 2022 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Eligible 2026
35 Canada Ernst, DylanDylan Ernst G L 20 2019 Weyburn, Saskatchewan Undrafted
34 Canada Ferster, AshtonAshton Ferster RW R 20 2022 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Undrafted
9 Canada Finnie, EmmittEmmitt Finnie (A) C L 18 2020 Lethbridge, Alberta 2023, 201st Overall, DET
5 Canada Guram, IsaIsa Guram D R 16 2022 Burnaby, British Columbia Eligible 2025
22 Canada Keller, JordanJordan Keller LW L 19 2023 Kamloops, British Columbia Undrafted
21 Canada Kelly, JoshJosh Kelly LW L 17 2023 Port Moody, British Columbia Eligible 2024
6 Czech Republic Koci, MatteoMatteo Koci D L 18 2023 Karlovy Vary, Czech Repbulic Undrafted
16 Canada Lafrenière, TommyTommy Lafrenière RW R 17 2022 Saint-Sauveur, Quebec Eligible 2025
17 Canada Matthew, KaiKai Matthew RW R 18 2020 Edmonton, Alberta Undrafted
12 Canada Michael, RyanRyan Michael (A) D L 19 2020 Langley, British Columbia Undrafted
13 Canada Minten, BryceBryce Minten C R 18 2021 Vancouver, British Columbia Eligible 2024
29 Canada Pantelakis, ZachZach Pantelakis LW L 16 2022 North Vancouver, British Columbia Eligible 2026
10 Canada Radke, ConnerConner Radke RW R 18 2021 Langdon, Alberta Eligible 2024
1 Canada Sanche, JesseJesse Sanche G L 18 2021 Kamloops, British Columbia Eligible 2024
7 Canada Sullivan, MaxMax Sullivan LW L 17 2021 Toronto, Ontario Eligible 2024
24 Canada Swetlikoff, BlakeBlake Swetlikoff C R 20 2024 Regina, Saskatchewan Undrafted
25 Canada Tait, AshtonAshton Tait C R 17 2021 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Eligible 2024
19 Canada Thomson, AndrewAndrew Thomson LW L 17 2022 Sherwood Park, Alberta Eligible 2025
3 Czech Republic Vochvest, VojtechVojtech Vochvest D L 18 2023 Czech Republic Eligible 2024
23 Canada Wadsworth, ColeCole Wadsworth LW L 18 2024 Penticton, British Columbia Eligible 2024

NHL alumni

Totals include those who played for the franchise as the Kamloops Junior Oilers
  • Jared Aulin
  • Warren Babe
  • Rudolfs Balcers
  • Len Barrie
  • Victor Bartley
  • Nolan Baumgartner
  • Robin Bawa
  • Brian Benning
  • Craig Berube
  • Doug Bodger
  • Zac Boyer
  • Mike Brown
  • Rob Brown
  • Garth Butcher
  • Kyle Calder
  • Jim Camazzola
  • Erik Christensen
  • Dave Chyzowski
  • Dean Clark
  • Ken Daneyko
  • Scott Daniels
  • Eric DeMarco
  • Jarrett Deuling
  • Rob DiMaio
  • Shane Doan
  • Hnat Domenichelli
  • Devan Dubnyk
  • Micki DuPont
  • Joel Edmundson
  • Keaton Ellerby
  • Todd Ewen
  • Dean Evason
  • Dylan Ferguson
  • Scott Ferguson
  • Mark Ferner
  • Steve Gainey
  • Marc Habscheid
  • Richard Hajdu
  • Bruce Holloway
  • Greg Hawgood
  • Corey Hirsch
  • Jason Holland
  • Tony Horacek
  • Ryan Huska
  • Jarome Iginla
  • Connor Ingram
  • Jonas Johansson
  • Ty Jones
  • Mark Kachowski
  • Matt Kassian
  • Doug Kostynski
  • Paul Kruse
  • Bryce Lampman
  • JC Lipon
  • Jan Ludvig
  • Brad Lukowich
  • Ray Macias
  • David Mackey
  • Pat MacLeod
  • Mike MacWilliam
  • Dean Malkoc
  • Dave Marcinyshyn
  • Gord Mark
  • Fraser Minten
  • Shaone Morrisonn
  • Glenn Mulvenna
  • Chris Murray
  • Tyson Nash
  • Mike Needham
  • Scott Niedermayer
  • Colton Orr
  • Steve Passmore
  • Ed Patterson
  • Garrett Pilon
  • Rudy Poeschek
  • Gage Quinney
  • Brendan Ranford
  • Daryl Reaugh
  • Mark Recchi
  • Robyn Regehr
  • Cam Severson
  • Ron Shudra
  • Trevor Sim
  • Rob Skrlac
  • Tyler Sloan
  • Jiri Smejkal
  • Colin Smith
  • Geoff Smith
  • Logan Stankoven
  • Ryan Stewart
  • Jason Strudwick
  • Darryl Sydor
  • Darcy Tucker
  • Scottie Upshall
  • Kris Versteeg
  • Gordie Walker
  • David Wilkie
  • Connor Zary
  • Olen Zellweger

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
1981–82 72 18 53 1 – 320 464 37 4th West Lost West Division semi-final
1982–83 72 46 26 0 – 461 356 92 3rd West Lost West Division semi-final
1983–84 72 50 22 0 – 467 332 100 1st West Won championship
1984–85 72 52 17 2 – 423 293 106 1st West Lost final
1985–86 72 49 19 4 – 449 299 102 1st West Won championship
1986–87 72 55 14 3 – 496 292 113 1st West Lost West Division final
1987–88 72 45 26 1 – 399 307 91 1st West Lost final
1988–89 72 34 33 5 – 326 309 73 3rd West Lost West Division final
1989–90 72 56 16 0 – 484 278 112 1st West Won championship
1990–91 72 50 20 2 – 385 247 102 1st West Lost West Division final
1991–92 72 51 17 4 – 351 226 106 1st West Won championship and Memorial Cup
1992–93 72 42 28 2 – 302 253 86 3rd West Lost West Division final
1993–94 72 50 16 6 – 381 225 106 1st West Won championship and Memorial Cup
1994–95 72 52 14 6 – 375 202 110 1st West Won championship and Memorial Cup
1995–96 72 48 22 2 – 343 257 98 2nd West Lost West Division final
1996–97 72 28 37 7 – 256 285 63 5th West Lost West Division quarter-final
1997–98 72 37 32 3 – 234 253 77 4th West Lost West Division quarter-final
1998–99 72 48 11 13 – 298 195 109 1st West Lost final
1999–00 72 36 30 5 1 244 228 78 4th West Lost West Division quarter-final
2000–01 72 35 28 7 2 289 274 79 3rd West Lost West Division quarter-final
2001–02 72 38 25 5 4 263 230 85 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2002–03 72 39 27 5 1 261 222 84 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2003–04 72 34 28 8 2 192 182 78 3rd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2004–05 72 26 37 7 2 161 211 61 4th B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
Season GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
2005–06 72 34 33 2 3 179 196 73 5th B.C. Out of playoffs
2006–07 72 40 26 4 2 245 222 86 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2007–08 72 27 41 2 2 197 253 58 4th B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2008–09 72 33 33 2 4 242 277 72 3rd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2009–10 72 32 33 2 5 237 284 71 3rd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2010–11 72 29 37 3 3 219 285 64 5th B.C. Out of playoffs
2011–12 72 47 20 2 3 290 211 99 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference semi-final
2012–13 72 47 20 2 3 261 180 99 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference final
2013–14 72 14 53 2 3 175 305 33 5th B.C. Out of playoffs
2014–15 72 28 37 4 3 214 258 63 4th B.C. Out of playoffs
2015–16 72 38 25 5 4 237 218 85 3rd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2016–17 72 42 24 2 4 243 198 90 3rd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2017–18 72 30 37 1 4 212 237 65 4th B.C. Out of playoffs
2018–19 68 28 32 6 2 196 212 64 3rd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2019–20 63 41 18 3 1 271 166 86 1st B.C. Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 22 18 4 0 0 87 51 36 1st B.C. No playoffs were held
2021–22 68 48 17 3 0 287 176 99 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference final
2022–23 68 48 13 4 3 313 198 103 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference final, 4th place at Memorial Cup
2023–24 68 20 42 3 3 180 295 46 5th B.C. out of playoffs

See also

  • List of ice hockey teams in British Columbia
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