Image credit: Kamloops Blazers

By Marty Hastings

IN THE WHL

Blazers’ blueline finding stride after veteran infusion

Nov 6, 2025 | 4:22 PM

KAMLOOPS — Veteran presence is steadying the Kamloops Blazers’ blueline, according to head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston.

“It’s helped quite a bit,” Clouston said. “We got off to a pretty good start and then it got tough. We felt like if we could solidify or strengthen the back end it would help, and I think it has.”

The loss of 19-year-old Harrison Brunicke to the Pittsburgh Penguins and 20-year-old Rhett Ravndahl to injury put the blueline into a state of flux for the first month of the season.

Whether Brunicke returns to the WHL this season — Clouston had nothing new to report on Thursday — remains to be seen, but Kamloops (8-7-1-2) has been planning as if his departure is permanent.

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Clouston made trades last month to acquire a pair of rearguards – 19-year-old Carson Olsen and 18-year-old Kayd Ruedig.

“Good people that seem to be fitting in with the team and good players,” Clouston said.

Olsen is slotting in with overage captain Ryan Michael, providing physicality and dependability in the defensive zone.

“I love it so far,” Olsen said, noting he aims to be reliable, limit mistakes, finish checks and move the puck up ice. “We play well together. We talk a lot out there. I think we’re both the same kind of defenceman, so it works really well.”

Ruedig came advertised as an offensive defenceman and has delivered, with three goals and six points in seven games since the trade to Kamloops from Portland.

“I’m getting quite a bit more opportunity here and I think it’s helping my game, helping my confidence quite a bit,” Ruedig said. “Just letting me play, letting me play free.”

Ruedig has been paired with 18-year-old Isa Guram, who is receiving praise for progress this season.

“You could argue he’s our most improved player,” Clouston said of Guram.

Ravndahl has played in three games since returning from injury, toiling alongside 17-year-old Dryden Deobald.

Playing in his 150th WHL contest on Tuesday against the Chiefs in Spokane, Ravndahl scored twice in one game for the first time in his major junior career.

“I didn’t think that day would ever come, but it did,” he said. “It was an unbelievable feeling.”

Kamloops, which thumped Spokane 8-2 to secure its second consecutive victory, has points in three straight games.

The Blazers are tied for third in Western Conference standings and are scheduled to square off against the conference-leading Everett Silvertips (13-1-1-0) on Saturday, a 6:00 p.m. start at Sandman Centre.