Clouston reflects on Blazers’ season, talks of handling off-season uncertainty while players mull NCAA jump

“Things had to go right at the end,” Clouston said. “Losing (Ty) Bonkowski was a challenge. We had stretches where we were playing really well. If a couple more pucks go in, maybe that creates a little more momentum and confidence. It felt like we just couldn’t put 60 minutes together.”

Next season marks Year 4 of the rebuild and, in the before times, the club would be poised to take a significant step forward, eligible to return nearly the entirety of its roster.

“You lose your 20-year-olds, but every single player other than that comes back,” Clouston said. “We had three 19s. So, just from experience, you have the potential to go from 31 wins to 49 wins or 52 wins. That’s just aging up.”

And that’s just not the way it is any more.

The NCAA Division I Council voted in November of 2024 to allow Canadian Hockey League players to maintain NCAA eligibility, a rule change that has dramatically altered the major junior hockey landscape and renders the upcoming Blazers’ off-season rife with uncertainty.

COMPLETE INTERVIEW

NCAA-committed J.P. Hurlbert, Tommy Lafreniere, Nathan Behm and Josh Evaschesen – four of the team’s best forwards – have not revealed if they will return to the WHL.

“I think it’s the best choice for every one of those players to come back for one more year,” Clouston said. “I just do. It’s not a line. I believe there’s still more they could do in this league.

“They could put up bigger numbers. They could take on a bigger leadership role. We have explained those things. We’ll explain again. We’ll have conversations with their agents. I don’t think they’re telling us, ‘We haven’t made our decision yet,’ when they have. I think they haven’t. Our mindset is if we could get a player back, two players back, versus zero, it’s a win.”

Projecting next season’s lineup is never an exact science at this time of year and the NCAA-WHL unpredictability makes the task more difficult.

THE FORWARDS

Cooper Moore told CFJC he will postpone jumping to the NCAA ranks and return to the Blazers next season, the diminutive Augustana University commit noting he plans to marinate in the WHL in a leadership position with the Blazers.

Evaschesen, who along with Moore enjoyed success in the major junior ranks after leaving Junior A, seems likely to be moving on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York for the 2026-2027 season.

“Cluey giving me the call to invite me to camp and me taking the leap of faith to come here has probably been the best decision I’ve ever made,” said Evaschesen, whose graduated Blazers’ teammate Ryan Michael will play at RPI next season. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s tough. In a way, I owe them. But it’s also about what’s best for you. I’m leaning toward going, but we’ll see what happens. It’s a long summer.”

Ty Coupland, who was acquired in a deadline deal with the Red Deer Rebels, and European import Vit Zahejsky are expected to return for their 19-year-old campaigns, while Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Lafreniere and Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect Behm are mulling moves to Western Michigan University and Arizona State University, respectively.

“Nothing set in stone,” Behm said. “Both leagues are great. Older players, stronger [in the NCAA], so it will test me for sure, but I think it could help, as well. It’s going to come down to personal preference and what you want to get better at. We’re going to have some serious conversations.”

Ty Bonkowski, Owen Cooper and Logan Lanti are likely to return for their 18-year-old campaigns next season and could be joined by an ascending European import in the age group.

Petr Tomek’s stock is soaring, the 17-year-old racking up 20 points in 51 games this season for Energie Karlovy Vary in the top Czech pro league.

Whether he reports to Kamloops next season remains to be seen.

Hurlbert defected from the U.S. National Team Development Program and joined the Blazers in time for the 2025-2026 season.

The Allen, Tex., product was explosive, registering 97 points in 68 games to secure his status as an expected Round 1 pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.

Hurlbert is committed to play for the Michigan Wolverines – he would be a fourth-generation Wolverine in his family – but has not announced his plans for next season.

Aaron Keller was promoted to director of player personnel in August of 2023 and his first wave of draft picks began to make an impact this season.

Jacob Dumansky, who excelled in the post-season against Kelowna, will return for his 17-year-old season, along with Asher Gingras.

“These are 16-year-olds,” Clouston said. “There weren’t a ton of them in the league this year. We had four guys who saw regular action. We believe they’ll take a step.”

Los Angeles product Eli Tverdovsky, who played two games for the Blazers this season, is expected to push for a roster spot and Cole Secord will likely get a look at training camp.

Next season’s 16-year-old group will include a pair of highly touted forwards, Teagen Bouchard and Brady Ondrus.

“These are 15-year-olds that had exceptional seasons,” Clouston said. “They’re top players. We expect those guys to jump right in.”

Collin Kim of Asuza, Calif., will be aiming to impress at camp.

THE DEFENCEMEN

There is less roster ambiguity on the back end, but Carson Olsen’s spot on the team next season is not solidified and he has much to prove if he is going to snare an overage roster spot.

Isa Guram is a lock, the much-improved, Northen Michigan University-committed rearguard amped to return and help anchor the blueline in his 19-year-old campaign.

“I want them to come back,” Guram said of his teammates on the fence. “We’d have a good group if they come back. It’s unfortunate if they don’t. With the new rule change, it’s a weird time. I’ve seen it first-hand with all the guys who have come through here and developed, like [Emmitt] Finnie, [Fraser] Minten, [Matthew] Seminoff, all those guys. It’s the place to be. It’s a pro schedule, a lot of hockey and a lot of learning.”

Dryden Deobald, who will be 18 next season, and Madden Tymchak and Joaquin Geras, both 17 next season, gained valuable experience in 2025-2026. Liam Kilfoil is expected to be in the mix in the age group at training camp.

Mateo Ferreira, who was named the top defenceman at the 2026 Telus Cup Western Regional this past weekend in Regina, is among the wave of ballyhooed Keller picks poised to join the club next season.

THE GOALIES

In net, Logan Edmonstone and Ivans Kufterins are eligible to return for their 19-year-old campaigns.

Edmonstone appeared to win the starting job this season and was the preferred goaltender during the post-season.

What that means for Latvian import Kufterins’ position on the team – considering the club is high on Kaeden Tate, who will be 17 next season – remains to be seen.

Clouston said it will be unfortunate if players move on early from the WHL, but the club will be supportive of their decisions.

He said means of improving the roster include further development of the promising young core, the import draft, the overage market, trades (with ample draft capital at his disposal) and by unearthing the next capable Junior A transfers.

“We’re going to do our absolute best to try to retain a player or two,” Clouston said. “If we do, great. If we don’t, then we move on.”

by Marty Hastings

Clouston reflects on Blazers’ season, talks of handling off-season uncertainty while players mull NCAA jump

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