File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Behm to ASU

Blazers forward Behm commits to Arizona State University for 2026-27 season

Aug 6, 2025 | 6:31 AM

KAMLOOPS — One of the Kamloops Blazers’ leading scorers will not play out his entire junior career in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

In a post to social media Tuesday (Aug. 5) night, Blazers forward Nathan Behm announced he has committed to play National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I hockey with the Arizona State University Sun Devils for the 2026-27 season.

Behm finished second in scoring for the Blazers in the 2024-25 WHL season with 31 goals and 66 points in 59 games played. The 18-year-old was selected 66th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Behm will be eligible to play for the Blazers in the 2025-26 WHL season before making the move south of the border.

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In late 2024, the NCAA announced changes to eligibility allowing hockey players who have played in major junior leagues in Canada, such as the WHL, to retain eligibility to play Division 1 hockey. Previously, after completing a WHL career, players could only go professional or play at the U Sports level in Canada.

Behm is the first member of the Blazers to commit to playing NCAA Division I hockey during a season in which he’s still eligible to play in the WHL. However, two of the Blazers’ graduating 20-year-old players from the 2024-25 season have committed to NCAA teams, with Beau Courtney set to play for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and Oren Shtrom set to play for the University of Alaksa-Anchorage in 2025-26.

The Blazers finished the 2024-25 WHL season with a 24-39-4-1 record, good for 53 points in 68 games. They were 12 points behind the Seattle Thunderbirds for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. The Blazers aim to return to the WHL playoffs for the first time since 2023.

The Blazers begin their exhibition schedule on Wednesday, Sept. 3 when they welcome the Vancouver Giants to Sandman Centre. The Blazers’ home and season opener at Sandman Centre will take place Saturday, Sept. 20 when they host the Spokane Chiefs.