Blazers’ youth impressing ahead of first preseason game

One of those young players is 15-year-old Colin Kim. He showed the world his skill Saturday night when he pulled off the famous Michigan lacrosse move in a scrimmage. A video has since gone viral on Blazers social media and is just one of the many things that Kim has shown the coaching staff in his bid for a roster spot.

“If that was all he did, it makes no difference, right? But he made a lot of good plays,” says Blazers Head Coach and GM Shaun Clouston. “He’s got great vision. He plays fast. He’s scored in lots of different ways, set up lots of different plays – so it’s the whole package.”

Kim and fellow linemates Mazen Green and Brady Ondrus played a big part in Team Garand winning the Blazers Alumni Cup. Both Ondrus and Kim were involved in the game-tying goal to send the final to overtime. It was a confidence boost for both players – being given important minutes from the coaching staff.

“Once I found out they could trust me enough to put me out that late in the game, I mean, it just gives me enough confidence to go out there and give it my all,” said Kim, who was a 2025 first-round pick in the US Priority Draft.

The big-bodied Ondrus spent time with the organization last year but has yet to make his debut wearing the Blazers uniform. The 2025 second-round pick is trying to take the experience of practicing with the big club and apply it to his game early on.

“I think just all areas more, just like confidence and like scanning quicker plays, and it’s just improving all the time as a goal.”

For Team Minten, it was 2025 first-round draft picks Matteo Ferreira and Teagen Bouchard who led them to a finals appearance. Ferreira tallied a late goal on a penalty shot while playing top minutes and creating offensive opportunities all training camp.

Bouchard centered the top line of veteran Andrew Thomson and newcomer River Arnason, who are both expected to make the Blazers roster.

“Yeah, I think it’s huge. I mean, you’re playing with guys who return, so obviously you want to perform up to their competition and, obviously, their expectations,” said Bouchard, who played three games with Kamloops last season. “I think it was good for me to kind of see where I was at with them. And obviously, I think we performed pretty good, so I’m pretty happy about it.”

The roster is expected to be cut down to about 35 players heading into the preseason. The Blazers will welcome the Penticton Vees to Sandman Centre Wednesday night. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.

by Anthony Corea

Blazers’ youth impressing ahead of first preseason game

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