Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers

By Victor Kaisar

NHL Draft

Blazers draft streak reaches 14 years as Behm, Lafreniere picked by NHL teams

Jun 28, 2025 | 12:10 PM

LOS ANGELES — A pair of Kamloops Blazers forwards have been drafted into the National Hockey League Saturday (June 28), making it 14 years in a row where the WHL franchise has had at least one player chosen.

Nathan Behm, who made the trip to Los Angeles, was picked by the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round, 66th overall.

“It’s a dream come true obviously. You work towards its since you’re a little kid and its finally here and now its a reality, so I’m super thrilled,” Behm said post-draft. “It’s an Original Six team so obviously lots of history. There is a good young core there so I’m excited to get started.”

Behm racked up 31 goals and 66 points in 59 games last season, and was ranked 44th among North American skaters, and he said he is grateful to the Blazers organization.

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“I played under a couple really good coaches there and was just super grateful to be part of a good organization there and kind of grow my game to where it now and hopefully continue to go that now,” he added.

Seventeen picks later, it was Tommy Lafreniere’s turn as he was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round, 83rd overall.

“I’m just super excited,” Lafreniere told CFJC Sports ahead of the draft. “I’ve been looking forward to this since I was four years old. So, I’m just so excited.”

Lafreniere had 24 goals and 56 points in 68 games with the Blazers in the 2024/25 season. He was ranked 57th among North American skaters going into the draft.

There have been 25 players drafted into the NHL over the course of the Blazers streak, which is the longest in the WHL. That includes Kamloops native Logan Stankoven in 2021 and forward Connor Zary – the only first rounder on this list – in 2020.

Blazers’ forward Vit Zahejsky was projected by some draft prognosticators as a possible late round pick this year, though it wasn’t to be for the Czech forward. He was coming off a season that was hindered by injury, but he still put up three goals and 15 points in 46 games,

Zahesky – who was taken by the Blazers second overall in last year’s CHL Import Draft – was also one of Czechia’s top players at the U-18 World Championships as he finished the tournament with four goals and an assist in five games.

He remains eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft along with 17-year-old goaltender Logan Edmonstone, who is expected to be the Blazers starting netminder this coming season.

Also Saturday, six-foot-five defenceman Sean Barnhill was picked by the New York Rangers in the third round, 70th overall. The Scottsdale, Arizona native has been listed by the Blazers, and he has committed to playing NCAA hockey at Northeastern University.

Similarly, five-foot-11 American forward Ashton Schultz was picked by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round, 167th overall. He too was listed by the Blazers and is expected to play for the University of North Dakota this fall.

As well, Conrad Fondrk, who was drafted by the Blazers in the 2022 WHL US Draft was picked by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 50th overall. Fondrk has committed to playing for Boston University in the NCAA.