The Blazers won another B.C. Division title and hope to make it three straight in 2021-22 (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

BRIGHT FUTURE

Despite key departures, Blazers feel young players will step into new leadership roles

May 21, 2021 | 5:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — If the Blazers hope to make it three straight B.C. Division titles next year, it’ll have to be on the backs of its young guys, who fittingly played a huge role during this year’s division win in a shortened season.

Up front, the Blazers lose some key players, namely Orrin Centazzo, who was a 44-goal man last season and had seven in the B.C. hub, and Connor Zary, who just wrapped up his 19-year-old season but is likely to go pro with the Calgary Flames organization.

However, they’ll have Logan Stankoven back for a full season — likely as the captain next year — although Kamloops probably won’t have him around Christmas time with the world juniors in the cards for the Kamloops kid.

Eighteen-year-old forward Josh Pillar will be another leader, coming off a breakout season that saw him lead the team in points with 11 goals and 18 assists in the 22 games.

In addition, the likes of Caeden Bankier and Matthew Seminoff have proven their worth, tying for the team lead in goals with 11.

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Don’t forget about Connor Levis, who was tremendous in the B.C. Division hub. The 16-year-old from Vancouver was eighth in team scoring with nine goals and five assists in 22 games.

“I’m confident. This year, I think in the 22-game schedule we were able to see that, watch some of the players get some opportunities that they embraced,” said Blazers GM Matt Bardsley. “Some of that was with Orrin Centazzo injured for a bit and so was Connor Zary, so with those injuries it created some opportunities for other players and I thought they embraced those opportunities and ran with it. It was really good for us to be able to see where they’re at and gives us even more confidence.”

On the backend, the Blazers lose Montana Onyebuchi and may also be without Quinn Schmiemann, property of the Tampa Bay Lightning who could go pro. There is also uncertainty about the return of Swiss import defenseman Inaki Baragano, who would be a 20 year old next year.

“Depends on what happens with Quinn Schmiemann and Inaki Baragano, but I think we’re confident with Mats [Lindgren] and Ethan [Brandwood] and Caeden and Logan [Bairos], what they can do next year,” said Bardsley. “But we’re always going to be looking at it and evaluating and see where we need to add, whether it’s position or age.”