KAMLOOPS — The Blazers will go into this season with two hometown players on the roster.
Logan Stankoven is going into his second season.
Dylan Sydor will be making his Western Hockey League debut.
Sydor is the third player to follow in the skate step of his father in playing for the Blazers.
There was Matt Needham, son of Mike, and Nick Cyzowski, son of Dave.
After signing with the Blazers last week and then coming out of quarantine, 17-year old Dylan Sydor had his first practice with the team today.
It’s not exactly unfamiliar territory. Sydor attended Blazers training camp in 2019 and earned a spot on the list —— but still needed another year of development and growth.
“He was a smart player.” says head coach Shaun Clouston. “Good skills, real nice vision, good hands. He was just quite small — probably in the 140’s at that time.”
Through lots of time in the gym and on the ice Sydor put on a growth spurt.
Now listed on the Blazers website at 5-10, 168 pounds.
“Definately a late bloomer.” says Sydor. “I spent this COVID season in Merritt with the Centennials in the BCHL. I have been in the gym a lot. We were skating all year. I have put on about 25 pounds and have grown two inches, so it’s been awesome.”
In the last season of hockey that was played before COVID, Sydor put up respectable numbers with the Thompson Blazers in the Major Midget League —- scoring 17 goals and 37 points in 40 games.
It’s never easy for anyone to follow in the footsteps of a sibling or a parent who has had a big career.
Drafted in the first round of the 1990 NHL draft after three full seasons with the Blazers, Dylan’s father Darryl went on to an 18 season NHL career, winning the Stanley Cup twice.
Needless to say Darryl has had a big influence on Dylan’s development as a player.
“Oh tons, any questions I have, he always has an answer to.” says Dylan. “It’s awesome to have him as a Dad and a tool right there for me to help me out along the way.”
Twenty-nine years after Darryl last suited up with the Blazers, winning the Memorial Cup in 1992, Dylan is expected to make his debut —– perhaps as early as this weekend when the Blazers open the season with games against Vancouver and Prince George.
“He’s really, from what I have seen, a motivated individual.” says Shaun Clouston. “He’s very committed — obviously awesome bloodlines. I think he’s just going to keep getting better and better — 17, 18, 19 and then the goal is to play at 20 and sign a contract at 20. I do see some really big upside, but it probably takes a while to get there.”
