Ty Coupland Finding His Fit in Kamloops After Deadline Deal

By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X

It was the night of the trade deadline, well past the 5:00 p.m. cutoff in Regina, when Ty Coupland was notified by Red Deer Rebels GM Brent Sutter that he had been traded to Kamloops.

“It was in the back of my mind, especially with Red Deer selling, but I didn’t expect a trade that late,” Coupland recalls.

The 18-year-old would then take the earliest flight out of Regina the next morning, making a pit stop in Calgary before arriving and suiting up that evening against the Penticton Vees.

“It’s a competitive group, but everyone has been really welcoming,” he said.

Coupland possesses a hard NHL-calibre release, something that has been evident throughout practice and games early on. “I think my game fits well here. I have a hard shot and bring a good mix of speed and balance, and I like to play with pace,” he said about his play style. In 4 games with the Blazers, Coupland has picked up two assists. Prior to arriving in Kamloops, Coupland tallied nine goals and 11 assists in 33 games.

The North Vancouver native wears No. 17 in Kamloops but grew up wearing No. 22, a number he couldn’t wear in Swift Current due to its retirement in honour of the Swift Current Broncos bus crash. Coupland finds himself at a crossroads with hometown product Jordan Keller wearing No. 22, so he again opted for No. 17, last worn by Kai Matthew in 2024-25.

Coupland has already heard the roars of Sandman Centre, how loud the Blazers fans can get, and that’s something that drives him forward.
“The fans are very passionate, it’s a lot of fun to play in front of them.”

Coupland, much like other players, watches lots of hockey and takes different elements of players’ games into his own.

“I love watching hockey and studying different players. Guys like Lucas Raymond and Brayden Point. I like how Raymond creates offence, plays with pace, and impacts the game in different ways.”

Those influences are already beginning to show in Coupland’s game with Kamloops, particularly in his ability to play with speed while still finding ways to generate offence.

Coupland is settling into a new environment quickly, embracing both the expectations and opportunities that come with joining a playoff-calibre group. For a player eager to learn, compete, and carve out a defined role, Kamloops presents a fresh start.