Blazers’ Harrison Brunicke Emphasizes Composure Over Chaos Ahead of WHL Playoffs
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The stage is set as the Kamloops Blazers will open up the first round of the WHL Playoffs against the Kelowna Rockets on Friday.
As the team prepares for the opening round, veteran defencemen Harrison Brunicke is drawing on his previous playoff experience in 2022-23 to lead a younger Blazers squad.
Since returning from the Pittsburgh Penguins in January, Brunicke has provided a massive pro-calibre boost to the blueline. He tallied 24 points in 24 games. The Penguins’ 2024 second-round pick has been utilized in a crucial shutdown capacity, often logging more than 23 minutes per night. Now he and the rest of the locker room gear up for a playoff matchup against Kelowna.
“We feel pretty good,” said Brunicke. “We’ve talked about kind of embracing that underdog role a little bit. They’re a good team with some key players, but for us, it’s just about being ready to go for Game 1.”
For Brunicke, this postseason carries a different weight than the one in 2023. He and Captain Ryan Michael have switched from young observers to veteran leaders.
“Last time, we were younger guys, so we didn’t really get the full experience,” Brunicke explained. “This year, it’s different. We’re kind of trusted more and looked upon in those situations.”
That added responsibility includes helping a younger Blazers core navigate the emotional swings that come with playoff hockey, something Brunicke believes can make or break a series early.
“It’s a lot more emotional and a lot more physical,” he said. “You’ve got to come in ready to play right away, but at the same time not overthink it and just play your game.”
That message becomes even more important against a Kelowna team known for its physical edge and ability to drag opponents into scrums after the whistle.
“They’re aggressive, a little chippy, they’ve got some grease in their game,” Brunicke said. “We just have to be ready for that, but also be smart about it.”
In a rivalry matchup where emotions can quickly boil over, discipline could ultimately be the deciding factor.
“They’re going to try and pull us into scrums and things like that to get us away from our game,” he added. “So for us, it’s about sticking to our structure and just coming ready to play.”
It’s a simple formula, but one that reflects a team intent on dictating its identity rather than reacting to the chaos of playoff hockey.
For Brunicke and the Blazers, that mindset could be the difference.
