Image credit: CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

IN THE WHL

Gaglardi teases aggressive off-season, says Blazers will not miss playoffs next year; Clouston assesses roster

Mar 27, 2025 | 5:17 PM

NOTE: Scroll down to find complete interviews with Tom Gaglardi and Shaun Clouston

KAMLOOPS — Majority Owner Tom Gaglardi said his Kamloops Blazers do not have the option of missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

“You know, that’s two years in a row now and that just can’t happen,” Gaglardi said. “You kind of expect coming out of Memorial Cup on the cycle of these things that the next year is going to be tough and, you know, it was. But our goal this year was to make the playoffs. We fell short. Not by a lot.

“And put it this way, we’re going to do everything we need to get back into the playoffs.”

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The Blazers posted a 24-39-4-1 record to finish 10th in Western Conference standings and short of the playoffs, marking only the second time the club has failed to qualify for the post-season in back-to-back years since moving to Kamloops in 1981.

Blazers’ head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston entered the season planning to add players, but to bargain shop without dispensing high draft picks.

Production from established veterans and development strides from promising prospects were also part of the plan, which was sabotaged by a rash of key injuries and inconsistent performance from a handful of players.

Among those who logged time in the infirmary: Detroit Red Wings’ prospect Emmitt Finnie, Pittsburgh Penguins’ signee Harrison Brunicke, top-pair defenceman Ryan Michael, starting overage goaltender Dylan Ernst and highly touted European import Vit Zahejsky.

“Did we have one game this year where we had our whole team?” Gaglardi said. “I’m not sure we did. Had we had our full roster available most games in the year, I think we’re in the playoffs. So, it’s disappointing.”

THE FORWARDS

The Blazers struggled to put the puck in the net, tallying the fewest number of goals (206 in 68 games) in the Western Conference.

Jordan Keller recorded a league-leading 19 power-play markers and seems a safe bet to return for his 20-year-old campaign.

Kamloops acquired John Szabo from the Edmonton Oil Kings in September in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick and is pleased with his contribution, but his status for next season is undetermined.

Michael and Keller seem likely to be frontrunners for overage spots, leaving Szabo and defencemen Rhett Ravndahl and Sam Borschowa among suitors for the other 20-year-old spot.

Any positional prognostication is subject to roster change and consensus among management is the Blazers will be more aggressive this off-season.

The 2006 age group (players who will be 19 years old next season) includes Max Sullivan, Bryce Minten, Conner Radke and Josh Kelly.

“I think there were improvements and there were struggles for me,” Sullivan said. “I had some stretches where I was building on my game, doing good things. It’s just about being consistent for me. I’m just trying to bring that into next year.”

Kelly is among the Blazers who experienced significant growth in the second half of the season, with Clouston noting his emergence as a power forward when injuries offered opportunity to move up in the lineup.

Nathan Behm, Tommy Lafreniere, Andrew Thomson and Zahejsky make up the group of 2007-born forwards (18 next season).

Behm and Lafreniere placed second and fourth, respectively, in team scoring and are expected to bump the Blazers’ run of having at least one player selected in the NHL Entry Draft to 14 years, the longest active streak in the WHL.

Zahejsky came highly touted as the second overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft, but broke his ankle during a pre-season jog and did not make his debut until Nov. 15.

The Czech import showed flashes of potential during the latter stages of the season and the club is confident his future is bright.

Clouston said Thomson – who had 10 goals and 19 points in his 16-year-old campaign – had a challenging and disappointing sophomore season, in which he tallied three goals and 10 points.

“But I think he felt and the coaching staff felt that it was getting better,” Clouston said. “You know, he looked more confident. He looked a little bit more involved and that’s kind of the story of our season for a lot of individuals.”

Ty Bonkowski received high praise.

“We’ve talked a lot about Bonk,” Clouston said of the 2008-born forward. “It’s going to be unfair to say because of the comparison, but he’s got some qualities like Emmitt Finnie.”

Finnie is likely to begin his professional career next season within the Red Wings’ organization and Gaglardi recognized his contribution to the Blazers.

“You know, we had a lot of bright spots, too,” Gaglardi said. “He turned into an unbelievable leader, an unbelievable player. And, you know, I’ve been saying this for about him for a while – he’s going to be a good pro.”

Clouston was asked if the club considered trading Finnie at the trade deadline.

“That wasn’t something that we were interested in doing, so we didn’t really entertain offers,” Clouston said.

“We did believe that if we could stay healthy in the second half, that he would help lead us into the playoffs.”

Asher Gingras, Jacob Dumansky and Eli Tverdovsky are among 2009-born forwards who will push to make the team next season.

THE DEFENCEMEN

Czech import Matteo Koci is expected to pursue professional opportunities in Europe, leaving Borschowa and Ravndahl among the glut of overagers.

Brunicke is projected to return to anchor the back end in his 19-year-old season and Kalan Anderlini rounds out the group of 2006-born rearguards.

“We hope we have more competition next year,” Clouston said. “The roster spots are wide open. And yet, you know, I think we do turn the page and look at using some draft picks this year. I think we do really go to work and see what we can do with some of our college list players.”

Clouston said 2007-born defencemen Isa Guram and Jager Gugyelka earned favour with improved play late in the season.

“I think Isa Guram played his best hockey down the stretch,” Clouston said.

Among the defencemen expected to push for roster spots next season are 2009-born Joaquin Geras and Madden Tymchak, 2008-born Dryden Deobald and 2007-born Liam Kilfoil.

THE GOALIES

Dylan Ernst has exhausted his junior eligibility and 2007-born Logan Edmonstone is in position to carry the torch next season.

Edmonstone struggled in December when Ernst missed time due to illness, but kept working with goalie coach Dan De Palma.

“When he got his next opportunity [in February], he made the best of it and really proved that, you know, he can compete at this level and battle for a No. 1 spot,” Clouston said.

“His numbers from the first half of the season if you compare them to the second half of the season are significantly improved, like drastically improved.”

Madex Kabrud, born in 2008, played in one game for the Blazers this past season.

THE OFF-SEASON

Change is coming.

“Now we have to get a little bit more impatient and we have to make some decisions that are definitely more aggressive,” Clouston said.

“Whether that’s in acquiring players through trade, recruiting players in the off-season and making tougher decisions on players that have spent, you know, a fair bit of time with us now. That’s nothing personal. That’s just the nature of competitive hockey. And yeah, we’re pretty excited moving forward.”

Added Gaglardi: “We just will not be missing the playoffs next season. It’s not something that we want our fans to get used to. We’ve got a plethora of draft picks now. And so I think we’ll be turning those draft picks into roster players.”

Gaglardi offered a glowing performance review of management and coaching staff, with a cautionary footnote.

“I think we’ve got a staff that’s the envy of most of the league,” he said. “But, you know, having said that, look, there’s expectation that we’re in the playoffs next year. And, you know, they need to get that done. And we’re not going to accept three years in a row not being there.”

Below are the interviews with Gaglardi and Clouston

TOM GAGLARDI

SHAUN CLOUSTON