Jordan Keller: A Season of Growth, Goals, and Gratitude
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
Jordan Keller was born in Sapporo, Japan where his father and former Kamloops Blazers defenceman and current Director of Player Personnel, Aaron played professional hockey.
Aaron played for the Blazers from 1992-93 through to 1995-96 and won two Memorial Cup’s with Kamloops. During the 1994-95 and the 1995-96 campaigns, Keller notched a whopping 80+ point seasons. The Kamloops, British Columbia native would go on to have a decorated career in Japan’s Asia League, representing the Oji Eagles up until his retirement from the game in 2014. Keller has since been with the Blazers organization in some capacity since the 2018-19 season.
Meanwhile, Jordan was playing minor hockey right here in Kamloops with the likes of current WHLers Tanner Molendyk (Nashville Predators) of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Sawyer Mynio (Vancouver Canucks) of the Calgary Hitmen. Looking back on his younger days of hockey, Jordan attributed success to his father, “I think just looking at what he did was an inspiration for me to pursue my hockey dreams.” Keller said. He also alluded to the friendships he formed from a young age, “Some of those guys on that team are still my friends.”
Jordan began his WHL career with the Saskatoon Blades and still remembers his first game playing against the Winnipeg Ice during the 2021-22 season. “You know, my welcome to the WHL moment was probably playing in that game, they had a really good team that season,” Kellersaid. In which, they did. The Ice compelled a roster of Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson, Edmonton Oilers forward Matthew Savoie and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Geekie just to name a few.
The almost 20-year-old would then spend the next one and a half seasons with the Blades before being dealt home to Kamloops in which he stated, “I was shocked by the trade, I can’t lie.” But the trade mean’t coming home and playing infront of friends and family and becoming the next “hometown hero.” Jordan, however, is extremely humble and doesn’t look at himself as a hometown hero as some fans might look to him like others in the past have with Logan Stankoven, Ryan Hanes, Mark Recchi and more.
This season, Jordan has been firing on all cylinders and playing a conservative style of hockey that finds him the WHL’s leader in powerplay goals with 19 markers. In total, he has racked up 29 goals and 31 assists for career-high 60 points in 61 games, and is currently on pace for 67 points. Jordan has already surpassed career highs and says that he “worked on a bit of everything” in the off season. But did i mention how humble he is? Again, he pointed out to linemates Tommy Lafreinere and Emmitt Finnie and their success impacting him as a breakout player this season.
Speaking of this season, with just seven games remaining the Blazers are in a crucial push for the playoffs in which Jordan stated, “We got to come together and just dig deep as a team and leave it all out there, I think we’ve been doing that as of late especially battling through the injuries to key guys.” The Blazers lost captain Emmitt Finnie (Detroit Red Wings) for a bit of time, and prior to that were without Harrison Brunicke (Pittsburgh Penguins). Now, they will be without rearguard Ryan Michael who is out for the remainder of the season.
But when it comes to locker room fun though and keeping the boys in high spirits, it’s Max Sullivan who keeps the boys going, “It’s gotta be Sully, he has the aux, he brings the music.” Jordan says with a laugh.
Jordan will look to return to Kamloops next season in what will be his final WHL season as a 20-year-old. But for now, it’s about riding out these last handful of games and clinching a spot in the WHL playoffs.
