Image Credit: WHL

By Victor Kaisar

Lafreniere Award

Blazers forward Tommy Lafreniere named WHL rookie of the week

Jan 13, 2025 | 12:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Blazers forward Tommy Lafreniere has been named the WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Jan. 12.

The 17-year-old Lafreniere led all rookies with six points (two goals and four assists) in two games last week, as the Blazers beat the Vancouver Giants 5-4 on Friday (Jan. 10) and the Prince George Cougars 6-3 on Saturday.

Lafreniere is currently third in rookie scoring with 36 points (15 goals and 21 assists) in 39 games this season. He’s also second in goals and fourth in assists among all WHL first-year players.

Friday night, Lafreniere was named first star as he finished with a pair of goals, one of which forced overtime with less than ten seconds to play. He also assisted Jordan Keller’s first goal that made it a 3-3 game late in the third period.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Indigenous Environment

10h ago

Question of the Week

Would you support borrowing $150 million to build a larger RCMP detachment for Kamloops?

14h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Can we stand four more years of The Donald? Lord, give me strength

Jan 12, 2025

Keller then scored a no-look backhander while on his back to give the Blazers a famous win.

Lafrienere was also named first star on Saturday as the Blazers doubled up the B.C. Division-leading Prince George Cougars 6-3. He had a primary assist on Emmitt Finnie’s game winning goal, and assisted both of Nathan Behm’s goals as the Blazers capped off a four-point weekend at Sandman Centre.

An eighth-round pick of the Blazers in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Lafreniere is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He was given a ‘W’ rating by NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary players to watch list in October.

The 15-21-3-0 Blazers are Vancouver Island bound this weekend for a pair of games against the 23-11-3-4 Victoria Royals, who sit second in the BC Division.

Puck drop from the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday (Jan. 17) night is at 7:05 p.m.