Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

PRE-CHRISTMAS ROAD TRIP

Blazers off to the Prairies for long overdue Eastern Conference road trip

Dec 7, 2023 | 12:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a long while since the Kamloops Blazers made their way to the Prairies — so long, in fact, it will be the first trip back to the Eastern Conference since the 2019-2020 season.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it a lot,” veteran blueliner Logan Bairos tells CFJC Today. “When we pass the Alberta border into Saskatchewan, I’m sure I’ll have a remark for the guys — ‘Welcome to the best province on Earth.’ There’ll be some jokes, some fun. It should be a good bonding experience for the guys.”

Bairos, from Saskatoon, is one of five Saskatchewanians on the Blazers’ roster this year. The other four are Dylan Ernst from Weyburn, Sam Borschowa from McTaggart, and up front you have the two Ashtons — Ferster is from Shellbrook and Tait hails from Prince Albert.

“Oh, those Prairie fans, they really get into it,” Tait warns. “There’s some good fans out there. Even hometown of [Prince Albert], that barn gets pretty packed, so I think it’ll be pretty exciting, for sure.”

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With so many first-timers making the trip to the Prairies, the coaches were sure to give out some tips for packing appropriately.

“You tell them to bring their winter jacket, usually,” Head Coach Shaun Clouston says. “It looks like the start of the trip isn’t too bad, but it’ll get a little colder as we go.”

For Kamloops-born 20-year-old Dylan Sydor, this trip will be his first to the Eastern Conference.

“Yeah, it’s going to be pretty cool. I haven’t been out there before,” Sydor says. “A lot of guys on the team, that’s their home, so they have lots of friends and family coming out. I’m excited for them and to get some wins for them and their families.”

Of course for the players, success on the ice is an important focus of the trip. However, for their families, getting a chance to see them play in person, at home, wearing the Blazers’ ‘B’ on their sweaters will be special.

“There’s a bunch of players from the other side of the mountains, so they’ll get to have more family and friends to the games, which doesn’t happen near as often for those guys as it does for the guys from this side,” Clouston says.

Whether you’re a rookie or a vet, there’s nothing better than playing in front of loved ones.

“I think they’re going to come to every game,” Tait says. “Hopefully, I’ll get to talk to them after some wins.”

“From the start of the season, I had [this trip] circled,” Bairos says. “Last year, we went to Alberta and my family was able to come out and watch those games, but this is a little different. You get your aunties and uncles and all your family and friends to come out and watch you in Saskatoon, so I’m really looking forward to it.”