Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers/Allen Douglas

By Adam Donnelly

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS

Blazers’ big man Ferster contributing to the success of the team’s top line

Mar 5, 2024 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — With 17 goals and 20 assists, Ashton Ferster is having a career season with the Kamloops Blazers this year.

At 6’4” and 206 lbs, the team has relied on him to use his size and be a physical presence when he’s out on the ice.

“When I’m playing my best, I’m in those areas and I’m playing a gritty game,” Ferster says. “It helps out the line, too, creates a little bit of room and gives [Jordan Keller and Emmitt Finnie] more room to do their thing.”

The Shellbrook, SK product joined the Blazers last season as a depth player on the team’s run to the Memorial Cup. This season, he’s been asked to step up and fill a top-6 role, as well as contribute to the team’s physicality.

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“He’s a big man and he’s figured out a way to really use that as time has gone on,” Head Coach Shaun Clouston says. “And then the opportunity changed. We moved players at the deadline and he moved up to the number one right wing spot, and he’s taken advantage of it. It’s classic preparation-meets-opportunity, and he was ready to go.”

The Blazers top line of Ferster, Finnie and Keller is a big reason the team has been as successful as it has since the January 10 deadline. The trio has combined for 73 points in 22 games, and both Finnie and Keller give Ferster a lot of the credit for that success.

“He’s been awesome,” said Finnie, who has 11 goals and 19 assists since the deadline. “He’s a big body and he does a lot of the dirty work out there for Jordo and me. I can’t explain how hard he’s worked and I’m just proud of what he’s been doing.”

“He’s obviously a great player, you know, big body,” Keller, who’s scored six goals and added 16 helpers since January 10th, explains. “He likes to get in there on the forecheck and make things happen, and it’s been a lot of fun playing with him.”

Ferster is enjoying that chemistry he’s found with the skill guys and is quick to give that credit right back to his linemates.

“My linemates are helping me out lots,” said Ferster, who has scored nine goals and added 12 assists since January 10th. “We’re playing some really good hockey here, as of late, and I’m just going to the net and getting some bounces. [Our] chemistry right from the start was really good. You’ve got two really skilled guys. I try and find them the puck and create some room for them. They’re so skilled, they take care of the rest.”

Since deadline day, the Blazers have been a .500 hockey club, with 11 wins and 11 losses.

“Part of that has been embracing the compete. You win races to pucks, you compete in the corners, you compete in front of the net — you know, the 50/50 battles,” Clouston says. “I think we’ve got guys buying into that and it’s contributed to some success, recently.”