The Kamloops Blazers have named Connor Zary as the team captain ahead of a shortened 24-game season that gets underway on Friday.
Zary, a 19-year-old forward, is in his fourth season with the Blazers after originally being selected in the second round of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. He was a first round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2020 NHL Draft, and also won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2021 World Juniors.
“Its awesome. It’s a real good feeling,” he told NL Sports. “Just knowing that we have a lot of older guys and younger guys and a lot of good leaders on the team, to be named captain is kind of special.”
The Saskatoon, Sask. native has played 188 career WHL games with the Blazers and has 73 goals and 109 assists for 182 points.
“I don’t think [being captain] changes anything. I’ll go at it the same as usual. Sure there’s more responsibility but you don’t change who you are,” Zary added.
Joining Zary as part of the Blazers’ leadership group are defencemen Montana Onyebuchi and Quinn Schmiemann along with forwards Orrin Centazzo and Logan Stankoven.
Onyebuchi was named an assistant captain for the second straight season. The 20-year-old is going into his fourth season with the Blazers after he was acquired in a 2018 trade with the Everett Silvertips. The Dugald, Man. native has played 237 WHL games and has added 63 points.
Fellow 20-year-old Orrin Centazzo was also part of the Onyebuchi trade. The Marwayne, Alta. native is going into his fifth WHL season with 167 points in 243 WHL games. He also led the Blazers last season with 44-goals.
Schmiemann meanwhile was a sixth round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Wilcox, Sask. native is heading into his fourth season with the Blazers after he was drafted in the third round of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. He’s put up 65 points in 122 WHL games.
Rounding out the leadership group is Kamloops native, Logan Stankoven. In his rookie season, he put up 29 goals and 48 points in 59 games, tying a franchise record for most goals by a 16-year-old. Stankoven is also a top prospect going into the 2021 NHL Draft.
Radio NL will be broadcasting all home and away Blazers games during the 2020-21 season. You can find the full schedule here.
It’s happening…. your 2021 @blazerhockey 🔥 CAPTAIN: pic.twitter.com/VddcW35QmX
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 24, 2021
“I don’t think (being captain) changes anything. I’ll go at it the same as usual. Sure there’s more responsibility but you don’t change who you are.” – @ConnorZary pic.twitter.com/rvgc974jdz
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 24, 2021
