Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS

Blazers are back at it as the start of the Memorial Cup tournament looms

May 16, 2023 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — After six days away from the ice in the wake of a devastating 4-2 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 6 of the WHL’s Western Conference Championship, the Blazers are back on the ice in Kamloops, as the clock ticks down to the start of the Memorial Cup.

“We met [Monday] morning and laid out the game plan,” Head Coach Shaun Clouston tells CFJC Today. “We had 11 days, today we have 10 days, tomorrow is nine days, so we’re really going to try to take advantage of each day, make sure there’s something we’ve identified in our game that we want to get better at and go after it.”

It’s been a week since the Blazers’ run at a seventh WHL Championship came to an end. However, the sting is still there, driving the players forward.

“I wouldn’t say we moved on from it, “ Matthew Seminoff says. “I think there’s still stuff we’re looking at, trying to improve upon. But going into the Memorial Cup, you can’t have a negative mindset, you kind of look at it as a fresh start.”

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With the finishing touches being put on the Sandman Centre, the Blazers have been skating at McArthur Island. Coach Clouston is making sure the boys compete hard against one another, so once the puck drops in the tournament, they’ll be ready to go.

“I think it’s good that he’s getting on us, getting intense and preparing us for the tough competition that lies ahead of us,” said Caedan Bankier. “We’ve just got to keep it up every day leading up to the tournament and if we do that we’ll be very successful.”

Now that the Blazers have had time to digest what happened in that Seattle series, they’ve been able to shift focus and start to look forward to May 26, when they kick off the biggest tourney in junior hockey against the champs from the QMJHL.

“I haven’t really played a tournament in a while, it kind of takes you back to minor hockey days,” said Seminoff. “Just looking at it like you’ve got to win that first game.”

“It’s kind of special. You grow up watching the tournament, you see all those guys who go on to have successful pro careers that played in the tournament in those previous years,” said Bankier. “It’s pretty exciting to be finally doing it for myself and my teammates.”

While the team is keeping an eye on the championship series happening across the CHL, Clouston is focused on preparing his players to be the least accommodating hosts possible.

“I think in a tournament, it’s a little bit more about our team,” Clouston suggests. “You’ve got to get ready and get to the top of your game. We’ll cue the guys up on a few things about our opponent, but you’ve gotta get ready, and you’ve gotta be good that night.”