Played on Feb 4, 2026
Game Played in Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Isa Guram (D, L, 6’0″, 173, Kamloops Blazers, 05/10/2007, Northern Michigan)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Isa is a complete defenseman at the WHL level. He logs heavy minutes in all situations and consistently makes the right plays. Defensively, he trusts his skating, allowing him to maintain excellent gap control when defending the rush. On puck recoveries, he can skate away from pressure while shielding the puck with his body. Isa has strong vision and can zip accurate passes to his forwards, while also being willing to join the play when the opportunity is there. With a calm demeanor, he rarely panics and makes the best available play, even if that means a simple chip out. With solid size, great skating, and high-end hockey IQ, Isa is a standout defenseman for Kamloops.
Tommy Lafreniere (C, R, 6’0″, 177, Kamloops Blazers, 01/16/2007, Western Michigan)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Tommy showcased his motor and work ethic throughout this game. He was consistently involved whenever he was on the ice. On the forecheck, he was right on top of puck carriers, and offensively he did a good job finding open space. He escaped pressure effectively using his feet and was drawn into a penalty due to his effort and explosive skating. He plays at a high pace and enjoys jumping in and out of pockets. In a game where offense was hard to come by, Tommy was one of the few forwards creating chaos and generating opportunities for the Blazers.
Ty Coupland (RW, R, 5’11”, 173, Kamloops Blazers, 05/06/2007)
Game Rating
B
Ty Coupland is displaying strong offensive instincts in his third full WHL season, showcasing a well-rounded skillset that has him poised for a breakout campaign. His speed and puck-handling skills allow him to create separation on the ice, making it difficult for defenders to keep up with him. He excels at closing quickly on forechecks and has a reliable motor that drives plays forward. Coupland’s ability to fake out opponents is particularly effective, complementing his speed and allowing him to find open teammates. With continued success, he could take his game to the next level as a point-producing winger.
1 Viewing
Comments: Ty is a smart forward who possesses a wicked shot. He is not the fastest skater, but his mechanics are sound. With the puck, Ty remains calm and in control, making smart and simple decisions. During four-on-four play, he dictated possession well by circling back and controlling the tempo. He looked to find space to use his shot and capitalized early with a perfect low blocker-side goal that left the goalie with no chance. He did not use his speed tonight like we have seen in the past and this would make him even more dangerous. But his net-front presence and board battles were adequate tonight. However, when needing to escape pressure, it can be a challenge.
Ty Bonkowski (RW, R, 5’10”, 169, Kamloops Blazers, 07/09/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Ty is an undersized forward who uses his quickness and speed to his advantage. On breakouts and quick transitions, he is extremely dangerous with the puck and space, capable of flying past defenders if they are caught flat-footed. He is one of the few forwards whose hands improve as his speed increases. On the forecheck, Ty relies on speed and stick positioning to create turnovers. While effective, he is not always physically threatening. Overall, he is a skilled forward with excellent speed. He is not relied upon for toughness or physical play, but he manages contact as well as he can.
Nathan Behm (C, R, 6’2″, 202, Kamloops Blazers, 04/18/2007, Arizona State)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Nathan is a true 200-foot forward-very responsible defensively and gifted offensively. With his size, he blends a power-forward game with strong offensive skill. This shows in his puck protection and his ability to quickly maneuver through defenders. His vision is advanced, allowing him to take calculated risks rather than forcing plays. With his frame and style, Nathan has high potential to excel at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Ethan Eskit (G, L, 5’11”, 184, Victoria Royals, 01/07/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: After being pulled the night before, Ethan deserves praise for bouncing back with an almost flawless performance. His defense made his job easier, as he faced only 20 shots and stopped 19. Ethan is an undersized goalie who plays very big due to his movement and ability to stay square. He is strong in his crease, taking away time and space while moving side to side extremely well. His biggest success in this game was rebound control, as he did not allow any second chances. He absorbed nearly every puck that came his way. His puck-handling ability also helped the team exit the zone more efficiently. Worth noting again, Ethan is one of the better skating and more mobile goalies in the WHL this season.
Odin Vauhkonen (D, L, 6’1″, 192, Victoria Royals, 09/16/2008, Harvard)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Odin continues to develop his two-way game effectively. As a defenseman, he is very patient with the puck, allowing plays to develop before executing. Away from the puck, he joins the rush well, more due to his vision and hockey IQ than his skating. He is by no means a poor skater, but with his larger frame could benefit from improved fluidity. Despite this, he led multiple breakouts in this game by beating opponents up the ice with his feet. His ability to scan and identify open ice reinforces his strong vision. Defensively, Odin was excellent with his gap control, using his long reach to actively break up plays at both blue lines. With a smart decision to join the rush, he was rewarded with a loose puck in the slot, which he buried with a quick, low-glove release-no stickhandle, just corral and fire.
Ludovic Perreault (LW, L, 5’7″, 167, Victoria Royals, 03/20/2009)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Ludovic is an aggressive, smaller forward who puts everything into his game. He is another Victoria player whose motor never stops. He buzzes around the ice with excellent agility and edge control, puts everything into his shot, and uses speed to win corner battles. While those are his typical strengths, this game also saw him deliver a huge forechecking hit, catching an opponent with his head down. Playing alongside a gifted passer, Ludovic looks to be an outlet, finding seams and openings to get free. He does not look to possess the puck but instead focuses on being in the right spot to receive and shoot. With a goal and an assist, he did his job offensively.
Nolan Stewart (F, L, 6’0″, 171, Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights, 08/10/2004)
Game Rating
B+
Nolan Stewart showcased his strong skill set as a right wing on the third line, displaying a work ethic that contributes to his point-per-game pace. He effectively uses his speed to create scoring opportunities by reading the ice and finding open areas. On the forecheck, Nolan consistently evaluates plays and positions himself for turnovers. His style is characterized by hard-nosed play and skillful execution, as seen in his recent goal where he worked around his defender and chipped a shot short side over the goalkeeper’s shoulder.
1 Viewing
Comments: Nolan continues to establish himself as a gifted offensive threat with strong defensive intelligence. He reads the play well and positions himself where the play is headed, allowing him to receive pucks or create turnovers. His speed is most effective in straight lines, and improved edge work would help him become more dynamic. On the penalty kill, Nolan was a force at the defensive blue line, using a well-timed active stick. Add in his feathered pass through the opponent’s feet on a two-on-one for an assist, and you see both his offensive and defensive abilities on display.
Reggie Newman (RW, R, 6’2″, 200, Victoria Royals, 06/08/2005, Ferris State)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Reggie was a true leader in this game. After Victoria was embarrassed the night before, he came ready to play. He was detail-oriented and made sure his presence was known early. A true power forward, Reggie has great size and strength, matched with solid skating ability. More of a north-south player, he forechecks hard and hits even harder. With five big hits to start the game, Reggie could have registered an assist when he blew up an opposing defenseman. His pressure and hit led to the puck floating into the slot, where Odin Vauhkonen found it and buried the goal. While he never actually touched the puck, he still made the play through leadership and an effort-driven style.
Eli McKamey (RW, R, 5’9″, 178, Victoria Royals, 01/19/2009, North Dakota)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Eli deserves a lot of credit for his intensity. He plays with pace both with and without the puck, which allows him to consistently stand out. His motor never stops, as his feet are always moving, and he is dynamic when in possession. While skating, Eli constantly scans the ice and knows where his teammates are or where they are going. This allows him to make the correct decision on when to shoot or distribute, often creating better opportunities for others. With a goal and an assist, he also showed his effort late in the game with a fully committed backcheck to break up a grade-A chance on a two-on-one. With his puck skills, vision, and intensity, Eli has an incredibly high ceiling.
Roan Woodward (C, L, 5’10”, 178, Victoria Royals, 09/03/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Roan Woodward is a speedy forward who thrives in open ice situations where he can utilize his speed advantage. While struggling in one-on-one confrontations, Roan shines when possessing the puck on his stick at high speeds. Notably, he demonstrated impressive playmaking skills during power plays, utilizing deception to create openings and find teammates with precision passes. Roan’s ability to create quality scoring chances was evident, despite not notching a point tonight. However, his defensive side and competitive drive require improvement to elevate his overall performance. By refining these aspects, Roan can further develop as an asset on the ice.
1 Viewing
Comments: Roan showcased his playmaking abilities in this game. His style feeds off speed and deception, resembling a pond-hockey approach. This stems from Roan being a true thinker of the game, as he enjoys drawing defenders toward him and moving the puck to open teammates. He possesses a rocket of a wrist shot and has a strong understanding of when to shoot versus when to pass. He is incredibly creative with the puck, using small, detailed skills even when collecting pucks off the rim. Roan manages the power play well by controlling the puck before plays are set up. While he made several smart plays to disrupt the opposing power play, his pond-hockey style can sometimes lack grit defensively. Overall, a gifted offensive player who can control a game through puck possession.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images