New Blazers looking to make impact

Jan 9, 2018 | 2:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers newest acquisitions skated with teammates for the first time this morning ahead of tonights games against the Spokane Chiefs. 

17 year old forward Orrin Centazzo and defenseman Montana Onyebuchi joined teammates for a pre game skate. 

Head coach Don Hay was on the bench for the skate getting his first look at his newest players.

Being traded from the top team in the WHL’s U.S. division to a team on the outside of the playoffs looking in could be frustrating for most players but the Blazers newest forward Orrin Centazzo is viewing it as a opportunity to make a team better. 

The Marwayne, Alberta prospect is currently in his second year in the WHL where he has six goals and eleven points in 40 games this season. 

Centazzo says his new teammates have made him feel welcome upon his arrival and he is looking to make an impact. 

“I bring lots of speed, on the front end offensive side of the puck and then do whatever I can to block shots, hit on the defensive side,” said Centazzo.

Joining Centazzo is 6’3″ 210 lb defenseman Montana Onyebuchi who is also in his second season in the Western Hockey League. 

Onyebuchi is expected to be a big physical presence with a great shot from the point in the Blazers young and developing group of defensemen. 

The Blazers tough start this season currently has Kamloops sitting eight points out of a playoff spot which led to General Manager Stu MacGregor trading away two veteran players. 

Macgregor says Centazzo and Onyebuchi come from a winning team and were the key part in the trade. 

“The picks and everything else they’re a long ways away and the young players are a couple of years away rom even being here,” said MacGregor.  “They got a lot of development time but the key guys are the two that will play on our team now.”

With the trade deadline looming at 2pm tomorrow, MacGregor says phones are ringing across the league and you never know if something will fall together. 

Tonight the Blazers look to get back in the win column after a pair of losses at home this past weekend. 

Orrin Centazzo will get his first action as a member of the Kamloops Blazers and Montana Onyebuchi will be a game time decision tonight after leaving the morning skate with an illness.

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