2025 WHL Graduates: Kamloops Blazers
Over the summer, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2024-25 season in a 22-part, team-by-team series.
Today, we continue with the graduating players from the Kamloops Blazers.
Beau Courtney (F)
Hometown: Parker, Colo.
WHL Career Stats: 229 GP – 39 G-35 A – 74 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 8th Round, 174th Overall (Everett)
Leading off the Kamloops Blazers’ graduating class of 2025 is forward, Beau Courtney. Although short, Courtney’s tenure in Kamloops was memorable. The forward, who was acquired by the Blazers following a trade deadline deal with the Everett Silvertips, first hit the ice with his new club on January 10. Needing a few games to gain his bearings, Courtney first goal and point with Kamloops came during a 5-2 triumph over the Prince George Cougars on January 25. The 21-year-old ended up making 31 appearances with the Blazers, totalling up five goals and two assists for seven points. However, most of Courtney’s junior hockey career was spent under the bright lights of Angel of the Winds Arena. A mainstay on the Silvertips roster for parts of four seasons, Courtney appeared in 198 career games with the U.S. Division club. In that time, the product of Parker, Colo., tallied together 67 points (34 G-33 A). Courtney’s legacy in the Western League also extended past his on-ice accolades, as he represented Everett as an alternate captain before being traded to Kamloops. Now, having completed his WHL career, Courtney is travelling north to join the University of Alaska-Fairbanks for the 2025-26 season.
Now entering, Silvertip Country!
Come with 20-year-old forward Beau Courtney, as he shows us around the @WHLsilvertips' locker room. pic.twitter.com/YzQxeiJ6rK
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 3, 2024
Dylan Ernst (G)
Hometown: Weyburn, Sask.
WHL Career Stats: 165 GP – 3.17 GAA-0.897 SV % – 85 Wins
WHL Draft: 2019 – 2nd Round, 28th Overall (Kamloops)
A goaltending great is departing from the Kamloops Blazers organization – and, by goaltending great, we, of course, mean longtime Blazer, Dylan Ernst. Originally selected in the second round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft by Kamloops, Ernst earned the honours of being the first goaltender off the board – and for good reason. After a handful of appearances over the first couple of seasons, Ernst began to make his presence felt at the WHL level. In four games played during the 2020-21 season, Ernst posted a near-perfect record of 3-1, a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.00, and a save percentage (SV%) of 0.872 %. Then, following in the wake of 2022 WHL Goaltender of the Year and New York Rangers prospect, Dylan Garand, Ernst took the mantle of Kamloops’ starting netminder for the 2022-23 WHL Season and beyond. It was then where Ernst truly cemented himself as one of the League’s top puck stopper. With a record of 38-10-2-1 and a dazzing, 2.69 GAA, Ernst led his club to their fourth consecutive B.C. Division Championship and the 2023 Western Conference Championship Series. In the two seasons following, Ernst continued to lead the Blazers into battle on a nightly basis, making 40 or more starts in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 WHL Seasons. In total, Ernst spent parts of six seasons as a member of the Blazers, recording 85 wins in 165 appearances.
🎥SAVE OF THE NIGHT🎥
Dylan Ernst's forehead remains undefeated!@RealCdnSS | @blazerhockey | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/8XZwEgBUfl
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 27, 2024
Oren Shtrom (F)
Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.
WHL Career Stats: 236 GP – 46 G-67 A – 113 PTS
WHL Draft: 2019 – 3rd Round, 57th Overall (Medicine Hat)
From Medicine Hat, Alta., to Everett, Wash., to Prince George, B.C., to Kamloops, B.C., Oren Shtrom’s junior hockey career was a road with many pitstops. And, it was a road that originated in his hometown of Gilbert, Ariz. Hearing his name called in the third round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers, the Arizonan packed his bags and headed to Southern Alberta for the 2020-21 WHL Season. Shtrom spent parts of three seasons with the Tabbies, netting 37 points (14 G-13 A) in 89 appearances. His performance in ‘The Hat’ was enough to catch the eyes of Everett Silvertips management, who acquired him via trade in October 2022. Dressing in only 17 games due to injury with the Tips, a refreshed Shtrom entered the 2023-24 season with the Prince George Cougars. It was with Prince George where the then 19-year-old suited up in his first, and only, WHL Playoffs run, skating in 15 games as the Cougars reached the 2024 Western Conference Championship Series. Shtrom concluded his junior hockey career in Kamloops, posting a career best 42 points (17 G-25 A) in 64 skates with the Blazers. Over his five-season tenure in the Western League, Shtrom skated in 236 career games while reaching the 113 point (46 G-67 A) threshold. And, having completed his WHL eligibility, Shtrom will head to the University of Alaska-Anchorage for the 2025-26 season.
Oren Shtrom with the self assist 🫡@blazerhockey pic.twitter.com/G3KY6hCTRl
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 1, 2025
