Alec Zawatsky, acquired off waivers by the Blazers, is competing for one of three overage roster spots (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

OVERAGE BATTLE

Zawatsky competing for 20-year-old spot against returning Blazers

Sep 6, 2019 | 5:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Blazers are in Langley this weekend for a mini four-team tournament with Prince George, Vancouver and Victoria, as the players on the bubble compete for a spot on the opening-night roster.

The team has four 20 year olds, and new bench boss Shaun Clouston will have a decision to make at the end of the preseason as to who he wants to keep.

Returning 20 year olds are Zane Franklin, Kobe Mohr, and Jackson Caller. The team brought in free agent Alec Zawatsky this offseason to bring some competition to that group.

Zawatsky faces an uphill battle. As one of the newest Blazers, he is fighting for a spot against the three returning overage players that have roots in Kamloops.

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“Everyone wants to play in the league and it’s obviously not the easiest thing to play in the league as a 20 year old,” said Zawatsky. “Whatever happens happens, and I believe that we do have four great 20 year olds here and I think they’re all deserving of playing in the league, whether it’s here or anywhere. I wish them the best of luck, but I’m going to try and make the team.”

The 20 year old from Winfield, B.C. was picked off waivers by the Blazers this offseason. He split last season between Swift Current and Moose Jaw.

Blazers GM Matt Bardsley has been following Zawatsky since he was in bantam. He was impressed by his performance last October when he scored a goal for Swift Current at the Sandman Centre. So far this preseason, he has two goals, both coming in the 9-1 win over Victoria.

“I think I’m a very offensive player, hard-skilled forward,” said Zawatsky. “In Moose Jaw, I also learned how to play a 200-foot game, so I think the fans will hopefully see me put the puck in the net.”

Clouston noted, “He’s obviously a very skilled player. He’s got nice hands, he’s been working hard. He’s been competing.”

Clouston has more than a week to decide who stays and who goes. It’s between Zawatsky, Franklin, the team’s leading scorer last year, Mohr, who stepped up his game during the run last season, and Caller, who’s from Kamloops.

Clouston says there will be many factors playing into his final decision.

“There will be last year’s performance, there will be some chemistry, there will be the preseason,” he said. “I think a lot of it, because these players have been in the league for a long time, will be based on their entire body of work in the league leading up to this year.”

Zawatsky hopes he can do enough to be one of the three 20 year olds when the puck drops on the season in two weeks.