Naming the Next Captain
Naming the Next Captain
By Dave Dormer
Naming the Next Captain: Blazers leaders already emerging
For Shaun Clouston, leadership isn’t something that suddenly appears when a letter is stitched onto a jersey.
It starts much earlier.
It can be a player bringing energy to an early-morning practice, encouraging a teammate after a mistake or simply setting the standard in the weight room.
With the Kamloops Blazers entering training camp after losing some of last year’s established leaders and top scorers, head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston says it opens an opportunity for a new generation of players to step forward.
“We might lose the most goals out of any team in the entire league,” he said.
“But we’ve got some good core guys that I think have a level of understanding of what it takes and a belief.”
JP Hurlbert, Nathan Behm and Tommy Lafreniere have chosen to continue their careers in the NCAA.
Josh Evaschesen had also committed, but instead chose to remain in the WHL this season and was traded to his hometown Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for three draft picks.
The turnover goes beyond production.
The Blazers are also losing players who carried significant responsibility in the dressing room. Previous captain Ryan Michael completed his WHL eligibility, along with Jordan Keller and Rhett Ravndahl. That means a different dynamic heading into training camp.
“It’s going to have to be more of a team effort,” Clouston said.
Despite the changes, the Blazers’ core concepts, philosophy, standards and identity will remain the same.
“I think what the fans here in Kamloops expect and what we expect is really similar,” said Clouston.
“If we work hard and lay it on the line, our fans are knowledgeable, they see that. They get excited when guys go hard on the forecheck and compete like crazy all night. So, I do believe that we will have a very hard-working team.”
Clouston also noted the Blazers have 15 returning players this season and he has been impressed by gains made over the summer.
“We want to be a hard-working, high-paced, competitive team that goes out there as a group of five, one line after the next, after the next,” he said. “Plays the right way and has success.”
The opportunity for a breakout season extends beyond the players emerging as potential leaders.
“I think there’s going to be three or four or five players that Blazers fans aren’t really aware of how good they can be,” said Clouston.
“People around the league are going to go, ‘How did that happen? Where did that player come from?’”
The process of identifying the next leadership group is already underway.
Days before training camp, Clouston gathered seven of the team’s older players after a skate at the Sandman Centre and walked with them over to the patio at the Shark Club.
Among them was 18-year-old Ty Bonkowski, who Clouston said will be part of that group.
They talked about training camp, the standards Clouston expects from the team and what it will take to set the tone for the season.
It’s part of a process that actually began at the end of last season.
During exit meetings, each player was asked who they believed could be a leader for the following season.
Clouston says the answers have given the coaching staff a clear indication of who their teammates believe can step into bigger roles.
“Nearly every year there’s common names,” he said.
The leadership group will continue to take shape through training camp and the preseason, with the players ultimately deciding which of them is best suited to wear the captain’s C.
Clouston says that choice is almost always in line with what the coaching staff believes as well.
TRAINING CAMP DETAILS
The Blazers training camp begins with check-in and registration on Thursday, Aug. 27. On ice sessions will begin on Friday, Aug. 28 and conclude on Monday, Aug. 31. All ice sessions will be at the Sandman Centre and are open to the public.
Ice sessions will include practices, a Young Stars game, 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 play throughout the weekend.
The hockey club has named the four teams after alumni Logan Stankoven, Fraser Minten, Dylan Garand and Emmitt Finnie.
A total of 80 athletes will be participating in camp from 2006-born players to 2011-born players.
Friday, Aug. 28
9:30 am – 10:15 am Team Minten (Grey) – Practice
10:30 am – 11:15 am Team Garand (Orange) – Practice
11:30 am – 12:15 pm Team Finnie (White) – Practice
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm Team Stankoven (Blue)– Practice
5 pm – 6:30 pm Team Grey vs. Team Orange (2006/2009 Players)
6:45 pm – 8:15 pm Team Blue vs. Team White (2010-2011 Players)
Saturday, Aug. 29
9 am – 12:30 pm 3 on 3 Tournament
5 pm – 6:30 pm Team Minten (Grey) vs. Team Stankoven (Blue)
6:45 pm – 8:15 pm Team Finnie (White) vs. Team Garand (Orange)
Sunday, Aug. 30
9 am – 10:30 am Team Minten (Grey) vs. Team Finnie (White)
10:45 am – 12:15 pm Team Garand (Orange) vs. Team Stankoven (Blue)
4 pm – 4:45 pm Goalie Ice (All Goalies)
5 pm – 6:30 pm Team Minten (Grey) vs. Team Garand (Orange)
6:45 pm – 8:15 pm Team Stankoven (Blue) vs. Team Finnie (White)
Monday, Aug. 31
8 am – 9:30 am 3rd Place Game
9:45 am – 11:15 am 1st Place Game
