Blazers open up training camp ahead of Memorial Cup season

However, it’s not changing the players’ approach.

“I think training camp’s the same,” said forward Daylan Kuefler, who had a breakout season last year with 38 goals. “Come in, you’ve got to get ready for the season. It’s just like any other season. We’re just looking forward to the end of it.”

Blazers captain Logan Stankoven added, “I think the mindset at the beginning of every year is to win a WHL championship, and obviously we’ve had some great teams the past few years and last year we weren’t quite able to get the job done. It kind of leaves a little bit of a sour taste in your mouth and something you’re going to keep in the back of your mind going into this season.”

“It maybe adds a bit of excitement around the room, but we’ve got the same core group of returning guys that we here last year, so the general feel is the same. Everyone’s just very excited about the opportunity we have in front of us,” said centre Fraser Minten, who was drafted 38th overall in July by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Blazers return most of the core that was one game away from the WHL Final, losing in Game 7 to Seattle. This season, they want to get the league championship and win it — earn their way into the Memorial Cup.

“Yeah of course, you want to go in the same way every team has to — and that’s winning a league title, so that’s what we’re looking to do for sure,” noted Kuefler.

While the main core is there, the Blazers added a piece through the acquisition of 19-year-old defenseman Kyle Masters from Red Deer for Mats Lindgren. Masters stepped on the ice for the first time on Monday with his new teammates.

“Yeah, I think anytime you get to go to a team that’s hosting the Memorial Cup, you’re excited to get going. Once I found out [about being traded to Kamloops], I was really excited,” said Masters, who had three goals and 11 assists with the Rebels last year. “I think it’ll be a great opportunity. Hopefully I can add a little bit more juice where needed and hopefully I can do as much as I can for this organization. Like you said, on paper they look like a great team to start off with.”

The Blazers’ final day of training camp is Labour Day Monday. The team hosts Kelowna in its first preseason game next Friday, Sept. 9.

by Chad Klassen

Blazers open up training camp ahead of Memorial Cup season

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