Kamloops Blazers notebook: looking at a potential depth chart

Photo credit Allen Douglas/Kamloops Blazers

With the summer winding down and training camps opening in the next week or so, it is a good time to get an idea of where some of the teams in the league stand.  The Blazers were six points back of the Prince George Cougars for the division title last season.

Jon Keen was recently on an episode of The Pipeline Show and shared some of his feelings regarding the 2017-18 Blazers, I would agree that the offense is going to suffer a little bit this year and will need to hope for big things from Brodi Stuart, Conner Zary and Ryley Appelt.

Forwards (16):

Left Wing Centre Right Wing
Jermaine Loewen (98) Nik Chyzowski (97)* Quinn Benjafield (98)
Jackson Shepard (00) Luc Smith (98) Erik Miller (99)
Scott Mahovlich (99) Garrett Pilon (98) Conner Zary (01)
Brodi Stuart (00) Nik Holowko (97)* Kyrell Sopotyk (01)#
Travis Walton (99) Ryley Appelt (00)
Josh Pillar (02)#

– The team is looking at a difficult season on the front end as they are losing a lot of their scoring punch as well as their captain Colin Shirley. They will potentially lose Deven Sideroff as well. Lane Bauer also ages out of the league. Fan favourite Matt Revel was moved at the deadline last season to the Portland Winterhawks. 40 goal man Rudolfs Balcers has moved onto professional hockey. Only two of the remaining forwards scored more than 10 goals last year and none more than 16.

This group has 3 overage players, not including Sideroff who possibly could be returned by the Anaheim Ducks. Import pick Justin Sigrist is in camp with the Blazers, remains unsigned.

Defense (10):

Left Defense Right Defense
Ondrej Vala (98) Nolan Kneen (99)
Luke Zazula (00) Joe Gatenby (97)*
Sean Strange (00)# Tylor Ludwar (99)
Trevor Thurston (02)# Devan Harrison (00)
Quinn Schmiemann (01)#

– The defense is a very solid group losing just two players from the roster of last season. The young players on this team have gained valuable experience already and have proven to be capable defenders for a team that had excellent goaltenders behind them. With just one defenseman of this group being an overage player, it would seem most likely that Joe Gatenby remains on the squad for the season.

Goalies (4):

Goalies
Dylan Ferguson (98)
Kyle Dumba (98)
Max Palaga (00)
Dylan Garand (02)#

– Dylan Ferguson was solid in net for the Blazers last season while Connor Ingram was away with the Canadian National team for the World Junior Hockey Championships. Kyle Dumba was brought in to assist as Ferguson has yet to shoulder the load for an entire WHL season. Look for these two to fight it out all season to see who will be the starter in 2018-19 as a 20-year-old. Max Palaga will likely be next year’s back up and may see some games sprinkled throughout this season.

Notable yet-to-be signed forwards:

Massimo Rizzo (01) – 2016 1st round bantam draft pick

Jerzy Orchard (01) – 2016 5th round bantam draft pick

Kyler Yeo (99) – 2014 4th round bantam draft pick

Justin Sigrist (99) – 2017 1st round import draft pick from Switzerland

Notable yet-to-be signed defensemen:

Kaiden Collumb (00) – 2015 8th round bantam draft pick

Jimmy Darby (01) – 2016 4th round bantam draft pick

Notable yet-to-be signed goalies:

Blake Wood (01) – 2016 8th round bantam draft pick