Image credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea

By Marty Hastings

DEADLINE DEALS

Courtney, Ravndahl expected to make Blazers’ debuts on Friday

Jan 9, 2025 | 8:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers made several moves ahead of the WHL trade deadline, which passed at 5 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 9).

Overage forward Beau Courtney practised with the Blazers on Thursday (Jan. 9) for the first time since being acquired from the Everett Silvertips on Tuesday (Jan. 7) in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.

“I feel like I’m a hard-working, two-way forward, penalty kill[er], a little bit of a Swiss Army knife, can jump into any situation and kind of figure it out,” Courtney told CFJC Today.

The Blazers are fighting to avoid missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season and expect Courtney will add grit, tenacity and experience for the remainder of the campaign.

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Blazers’ head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said Courtney — who is expected to begin his Kamloops tenure playing centre between Tommy Lafreniere and Jordan Keller — has more offensive upside than his statistics this season (five goals and nine points in 31 games) suggest.

Clouston said Courtney accepted a role this season in Everett playing alongside younger players and his team-first attitude is appealing.

The Blazers parted ways with 20-year-old defenceman Layton Feist — a move that made room for Courtney — and he has cleared WHL waivers and joined the Mount Royal Cougars in the U Sports ranks.

Feist’s departure left a hole on the blue line that was filled on Tuesday.

The Blazers acquired 19-year-old Rhett Ravndahl from the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.

Clouston said it is a move made with experience and defensive soundness in mind.

Ravndahl, from Birch Hills, Sask., and Courtney, from Parker, Colorado, are both expected to make their Blazers’ debuts on Friday (Jan. 10), when the Vancouver Giants come to town. Game time is 7 p.m. at Sandman Centre.