Blazers release 2026-27 schedule as WHL to pilot new overtime format during preseason

Other notable dates on the Blazers’ 2026-27 schedule include a three-game Alberta road trip to face Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. Games in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge will be played on Dec. 16 and 18 respectively, before the WHL’s holiday break.

The Blazers will conclude the extended regular season with a pair of home games against the Prince George Cougars on March 26 and 27. WHL playoffs are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 31, and the first round will a best-of-five series.

Kamloops will look to better last season’s first round playoff sweep at the hands of the Rockets, though they’ll be without their top four scorers, who are all moving on to play NCAA hockey.

New overtime format to be piloted in preseason

All six games of the Blazers preseason schedule – which gets underway on Wednesday, Sept. 2 – will pilot the WHL’s ‘no return’ three-on-three overtime format, ahead of a potential expansion to the 2026-27 regular season.

Under the proposed format, players on an attacking team won’t be allowed to deliberately carry, pass, or shoot the puck into the neutral zone once they’ve crossed the blueline. Should that happen, play will be whistled down and a faceoff will take place in the offending team’s defensive zone, unless the opposing team gains possession.

If play is halted, the opposing team will get to choose which of the two circles the faceoff occurs in, while the offending team will not be allowed to change lines, similar to what happens on an icing call.

“‘No Return’ three-on-three overtime has been contemplated in early anticipation of changing coaching strategies during three-on-three overtimes that are highly conservative and may potentially reduce the excitement of the extra period,” the WHL said in a statement.

“Key measures for this pilot will include the number of shot attempts and scoring chances in overtime and the percentage of game outcomes determined by overtime prior to a shootout.”

Also this year, WHL teams will also be allowed to travel by air for one set of out of conference road games, as long as the bus trip is greater than 10 hours.

“The decision to allow WHL Clubs to fly for one set of road games was approved by the WHL Board of Governors in association with a variety of initiatives to continue to augment the player experience, to enhance player development, and to adapt to the changing hockey landscape,” the WHL statement added.

You can find the Blazers entire 2026-27 regular season schedule here. A PDF version can be found here.

by Victor Kaisar

Blazers release 2026-27 schedule as WHL to pilot new overtime format during preseason

New overtime format to be piloted in preseason

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