Matthew Seminoff has signed a contract with the Dallas Star (Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

MATTHEW SEMINOFF

Seminoff NHL signing just part of Blazers’ winning culture

Mar 29, 2023 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — After years of mediocrity when only one or two players every few years — if that — would be drafted into the NHL, the Kamloops Blazers have become a blueprint across the country for how to develop players.

It all started at tail end of the old regime, former GM Stu MacGregor and Director of Player Personnel Matt Recchi ,who drafted the likes of Logan Stankoven, Caedan Bankier and Matthew Seminoff.

Then Matt Bardsley came in and built on that foundation with more great picks like Connor Levis and Fraser Minten.

On Tuesday evening, Seminoff became the seven Blazer to sign an NHL contract.

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“It’s a bit surreal. It all kind of came pretty quick last night. I got a call from my agent, giving me the deal. They wanted to get me signed before playoffs, so that was cool just to hear,” said Seminoff.

Seminoff has more than earned the contract. He’s third in Blazers scoring this season with career highs in goals with 31 and 51 assists. His 82 points marked a 25-point improvement over last year.

“I had a good summer and just one year older. You just learn lots of different things, play with more confidence,” said Seminoff.

His head coach Shaun Clouston, who didn’t think Seminoff would make the team at 16 years old and did, points to his work ethic that’s elevated his game.

“He’s always had tremendous work ethic. That’s what set him apart at 16 and he’s hung onto that, which is incredibly important,” noted Clouston. “It lends itself to all the improvement he’s shown over his time here.”

Seminoff joins Stankoven as signed prospects in the Dallas Stars organization. Both were at prospects camp and the team’s main training camp last year and will be there together again with Stankoven either playing with the big club or with the Texas Stars down in the American Hockey League.

“Just excited for him, a guy that I’ve grown up with,” said Stankoven, who was taken in the second, 47th overall, in the 2021, while Seminoff was selected by Dallas in the six round of the 2022 NHL Draft. “He’s worked so hard these past couple years. He’s really developed as a player, so it’s cool to see the growth he’s went through these last couple years — and now he’s having eight-point games — so it’s crazy.”

The Blazers have a wealth of talent that have come into a culture of winning — started with Bardsley and has carried on with Shaun Clouston. Seven players now have NHL contracts and it won’t be too long until Daylan Kuefler, property of the New York Islanders, signs one as well.

“From the time we got here, that’s what we wanted. We wanted to be able to send guys to pro and sign contracts,” noted Bankier, who himself signed an entry-level deal with the Minnesota Wild earlier this year. “I think everyone has bought in. Everyone knows they want to win here and they want to be part of this culture. Even when the guys come in like Zell [Olen Zellweger] and Hof [Ryan Hofer], they’ve come in and bought in right away. I think it just makes us more successful, just how tight this team is.”

Newcomer Olen Zellweger, who was acquired from Everett at the trade deadline, added: “I noticed [the culture] when I first got here, the first couple weeks. It’s a really good group. It comes from the coaching staff and what they instill in our group. I’ve never been a part of a team with such success in terms of the NHL and the NHL Draft. It’s pretty special to see.”

As the postseason is set to begin on Friday night, this group of talented players advanced to the conference final last year and could very well compete for a WHL championship this spring on their way to hosting the Memorial Cup.