Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers

By Victor Kaisar

New Blazers Captain

Ryan Michael named 2025-26 Kamloops Blazers captain

Sep 20, 2025 | 11:23 AM

KAMLOOPS — Ryan Michael has been named the newest captain of the Kamloops Blazers.

The 20-year-old Michael, who was an alternate captain for the past two seasons, was surprised by family Saturday (Sept. 20) as the Blazers named him the 39th captain in franchise history ahead of their home opener against the Spokane Chiefs.

“It means a lot. I’m really excited about this year,” an emotional Michael said in a video shared on the Blazers social media accounts. “I think we can really make this a great year. I think we have the group to do it.“

“The new guys who’ve come in, I think you guys have been awesome. The energy has been great and I’m looking forward to it tonight and seeing what we can do out here.”

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The veteran defenceman is going into his fifth and final – and fourth full – season – in the Western Hockey League. A third round pick of the Blazers in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Michael has seven goals and 48 points in 164 career regular season games.

“The guys who have been here know how important the leadership part of it is to us,” Head Coach and General Manager Shaun Clouston added. “This guy has been with us from the beginning and when we talked as a staff it was [a] unanimous [decision].”

Michael takes over as captain from forward Emmitt Finnie. While Finnie is eligible to return to his overage WHL season, he is expected to embark on his first full season of professional hockey in the Detroit Red Wings organization.