| Kalan Anderlini | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | D | 6’3″ | 186 | Calgary Hitmen | 2021 | Langley, BC | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Did not play.
Anderlini is a former 178th overall selection in the 2021 WHL by the Calgary Hitman. So far during the 2023/24 season he has dressed for 39 games, has 2 assists, 8 PIMs and is -18. At this point in his development we do not see him as a potential NHLer but his size and later development curve make a player to check back on.
| Harrison Brunicke | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 184 | Kamloops Blazers | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Brunicke earned a 23:42 in ice time (Team high) including 4:09 on the PP (3rd among D) and 2:28 on the PK (3rd among D). He finished even with 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, received 3 hits, 5 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 53% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Brunicke is a former 3rd round selection in the 2021 WHL draft who has grown into a 6’3″, 190 lbs right defender who consistently leads his team in ice time at over 22 minutes per game. He has a shoulder width knee over toe skating posture that I believe will allow him to gain speed and explosiveness as he gains weight. He is not the most overly physical player as he averages 0.48 hits per game but it does make me be a little cautious that he is on the receiving end of 1.34 hits per game. The combination of his smooth skating ability, size and the fact that he is a former 3rd round WHL pick leads me to believe that he is a player who is really trending upwards in his development so I believe he will be a middle round selection who has a chance to play NHL games.
| Vojtech Vochvest | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | D | 5’11” | 187 | Kamloops Blazers | 2023 | Mlada Boleslav, CZE | 2005 | 2023-2024: C |
Vochvest earned 13:52 in ice time (5th among D) including 0:32 on the PP (5th among D) and 2:02 on the PK (4th among D), He finished even with 5 PIMs, 2 hits, received 2 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 3 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 62% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Vochvest is an undersized defender who plays a hard combative style that rubs his opponents the wrong way. He has a bit of an “A” frame skating base that may hinder his mobility but there is no doubt that it gives him a major source of power when he drives his body through people. He is the type of player that seems to maintain body contact with an opponent throughout the entire sequence of defensive zone coverage and while defending the cycle. It’s too bad he is not bigger because he could be a real defensive weapon in professional hockey but coming in at 5’11”, 187lbs and very little offense it will be difficult for him to earn a job.
| Nathan Behm | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | R | C | 6’3″ | 184 | Kamloops Blazers | 2022 | Calgary, AB | 2007 | 2024-2025: B+ |
Behm earned 15:14 in ice time (7th among fwds) including 3:51 on the PP (7th among fwds). He did not play on the PP. He finished -1 with 3 shots, 4 grade “A” opportunities, 1/1 on face-offs, received 1 hit, had 2 shots blocked, 7 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 46% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Behm just looks like a professional. As an ’07 he has a 6’3″ NHL frame with a powerful stride that propels him around the ice and it looks like it doesn’t take much effort to make a breakout pass along the defensive mid-wall and then be the hard middle drive on the resulting line rush. To me he does not do too much and does not try to look flashy but he is very good at pulling pucks off the walls, out of his feet and driving through body contact while the puck is on his stick. Off the puck I’d like to see more aggressive body contact as he’s averaging 0.59 hits per game but this is his rookie year in the WHL so I’m guessing that will come. To me he is a high end legit power forward prospect.
| Josh kelly | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | LW | 6’1″ | 187 | Kamloops Blazers | Port Moody, BC | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Kelly is did not play in this game due to injury
Kelly is a good sized left shot left wing who earned a job with Kamloops with a strong training camo after going undrafted in his year. After putting up big numbers in the BCEHL last year he plays an abrasive forth line minutes for Kamloops this year. At this point he is not an NHL prospect but if he cam improve his skating base and glide efficiency he has a chance to be an impact WHL player.
| Bryce Minten | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | R | C | 5’11” | 166 | Kamloops Blazers | 2021 | Vancouver, BC | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Minten earned 8:08 in ice time (11th among fwds) including 0:49 on the PP (8th among fwds). He did not PK. He finished even went 3/6 on face-offs, 2 giveaways, 0 takeaways and for the season he is winning 51% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Minten is an undersized right shot forward who can play center or wing. He is another late round Kamloops selection that has found his way into the line-up do to his hard work and skating ability. he is quick. He stops on pucks and although he has never put up big numbers his tenacity could lead to future roles as a net front front on a second power play unit. At this point we do not see him as a potential NHL prospect.
| Zach Pantelakis | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | C | 5’10” | 141 | Kamloops Blazers | 2022 | Vancouver, BC | 10/18/2007 | Not yet rated |
Pantelakis is currently out with an injury.
Pantelakis is an October 2007 who was a 5th round WHL pick in 2022 who has worked his way onto the Kamloops roster. That alone makes him someone to keep an eye on.
| Conner Radke | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | R | RW | 5’9″ | 153 | Kamloops Blazers | 2021 | Langdon, AB | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Radke earned 7:34 in ice time (12th among fwds) including 0:49 on the PP (10th among fwds). He did not play PK. He finished even with 0 shots, received 1 hit, had 1 shot blocked, 4 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 44% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Radke is an undersized right shot forward with a shoulder width knee over toe skating base and full length strides. He has good straight line speed and works throughout his full shift but at this point we don not view him as a potential NHL prospect.
| Max Sullivan | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | LW | 5’10” | 155 | Kamloops Blazers | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Sullivan earned 8:38 in ice time (10th among fwds) including 0:49 on the PP (9th among fwds). He did not PK. He finished even with 1 shot, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 1 hit, received 3 hits, 4 giveaways, 5 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Sullivan is a speedy left shot forward who stops on pucks and uses his skating ability to be a disruptive force on the forecheck. He is 33 games into his rookie year in the WHL and at this point we do not see him as a potential draft pick but his speed could lead to a very impactful junior career as he physically matures.
| Ashton Tait | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | R | C | 5’10” | 175 | Kamloops Blazers | 2021 | Prince Albert, SK | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
Tait earned 10:31 in ice time (8th among fwds) including 0:41 on the PK (6th among fwds). He did not play PP. He finished even with 1 shot, 1 grade, 1/1 on face-offs, had 1 shot blocked, 1 giveaway, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Tait plays a straight forward direct game. When he gets the puck on his stick in the offensive zone he is thinking shoot first and drive the net second. Although it hasn’t led to many goals yet in his WHL career he has a sweeping curl and drag snapshot that looks like it gets on the goalie before they are ready.
| Andrew Thomson | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | C | 5’11” | 180 | Kamloops Blazers | 2022 | Sherwood Park, AB | 2007 | 2024-2025: B |
Thomson earned 16:22 in ice time (6th among fwds) including 3:57 on the PP (6th among fwds) and 0:59 on the PK (5th among fwds). He finished even with 1 shot, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 2 PIMs, 5/12 on face-offs, 2 hits, 5 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Thomson is a detailed 2007 center who is earning real minutes with Kamloops. The for 2022 3rd round pick plays a detailed game with an active stick and is -12 on a team with a -72 goal differential. He might not provide the flash and dash of some of the others in his age group but to me he is the conscientious type of player you win with and want as a teammate. There is no doubt Andrew Thomson is a player I will be watching for and keeping an eye on.
| Cole Wadsworth | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | L | LW | 5’8″ | 143 | Spokane Chiefs | 2021 | Penticton, BC | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Wadsworth earned 9:00 in ice time (9th among fwds). He did not play special teams.. He finished even with 1 hit, had 2 shots blocked, 2 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 48% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Wadsworth is an undersized left shot forward who is not afraid to fire the puck from anywhere in the offensive zone. Although his goal scoring has nit yet translated from midget hockey to the WHL he has shown a quick release and a willingness to dig for loose pucks in the belly of the slot. He is quick and agile and to me it looks like a long offseason with an extra 4 weeks of off-ice training will really benefit him as he heads into his third full season in the WHL. At this point he is not an NHL prospect but with added strength and explosiveness he could become an impactful WHL player.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images