Image credit: Brian Johnson Photography/Kamloops Blazers

By Marty Hastings

IN THE WHL

‘Everyone is just buying in’: Blazers climbing conference standings

Dec 1, 2025 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Rhett Ravndahl is beginning to have visions of offensive grandeur.

“My grandpa was talking to me the other day,” said Ravndahl, a defenceman for the Kamloops Blazers. “Apparently, Wendel Clark was a defenceman for the [Saskatoon] Blades back in the day and ended up being a great forward, so I guess that might be my calling. I don’t know.”

Ravndahl, who is playing up front to buttress a forward group depleted by injuries, scored the first Kamloops goal in two home-ice victories on the weekend – 7-5 over the Penticton Vees on Saturday and 5-4 over the Spokane Chiefs on Friday.

The 20-year-old Birch Hills, Sask. product was smiling while rehashing his grandpa’s history lesson and happy Blazers were easy to find on Monday after practice at Sandman Centre.

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Kamloops is riding a three-game winning streak and victorious in five of its last six contests, ascending Western Conference standings – now tied for third – without the services of injured top-six forwards Jordan Keller and Vit Zahejsky.

“Everyone is just embracing their role right now,” Blazers’ forward Andrew Thomson said. “We’ve got three D-men playing forward, but they’ve been doing a great job.”

Timely contributions are augmenting the offence provided by juggernauts Nathan Behm, JP Hurlbert and Tommy Lafreniere, the latter riding a 12-game point streak.

“I’m really just trying to play the right way,” said Lafreniere, who has 19 goals and 34 points in 26 games this season. “There are still some holes to fill in my game, but I’m fortunate enough to play with two great players and we’ve been clicking.”

Madden Tymchak, another defenceman taking shifts up front, is winning over fans and teammates with gusto and gumption, appealing to the hometown crowd after dropping the gloves late in the second period on Saturday.

On the same night, Thomson tallied his first goal since last December and 17-year-old rearguard Dryden Deobald buried his first WHL goal – the game winner.

“It’s a really big confidence boost for me,” Thomson said. “I can get back to playing my game and helping the team win.”

Added Ravndahl: “That’s part of the winning mentality we have. Everyone is buying in. Everyone is contributing when guys are going down and to see those guys step up in big moments is awesome.”

Kamloops leads the Western Conference in goals this season with 113.

“We just attack the net,” Lafreniere said. “The best defence is more offence.”

The Blazers have allowed 110 goals this season, second-most in the conference.

“We’ve still got to work on our end quite a bit,” Lafreniere said.

The Blazers (13-10-2-2) and Vees (11-8-3-3) are scheduled to play a home-and-home set this weekend, with Kamloops hosting their teddy bear game on Friday (Dec. 5) and the rematch scheduled for Saturday in Penticton.

Game time is 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Sandman Centre.