NHL Draft-eligible forward Behm named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Kamloops Blazers forward Nathan Behm has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending September 29, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
The 2025 NHL Draft-eligible skater erupted for four goals and two assists in two games, leading all WHL skaters in goals and points.
Behm got the ball rolling against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday, September 27 by chipping a puck ahead to create an odd-man rush for the Blazers, with Andrew Thomson snagged the game-opening goal. The Calgarian would net his first goal of the season midway through the first period with a precision redirection of an Isa Guram shot from the point. The Thunderbirds would level the match at 2-2 after the first frame, but Behm put the home side back on top by tucking a puck five hole in a quick play on the doorstep. The 17-year-old completed the natural hat trick just 20 seconds later with a spin-o-rama shot from the slot. The three-goal, one-assist effort marks Behm’s first WHL hat trick and most points earned in a single WHL game. Kamloops would go on to capture its first win of the young season 5-3 with Behm earning first-star honours.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound winger carried the momentum onto the scoresheet the following night against the visiting Victoria Royals. With the B.C. Division leaders up 1-0 late in the opening period, Behm parked himself in front of the Royals net and banged away at the puck for a gritty powerplay goal. In the second period, with the Blazers on another man advantage, he absorbed a hit along the boards but made the pass that led to Oren Shtrom’s powerplay tally, giving Kamloops its first and only lead of the night as Victoria cruised to a 5-2 win.
Behm leads the Blazers in goals (four), assists (two) and points (six). He is tied for third in goals and points among all WHLers.
The Blazers sophomore is one of the top Kamloops players preparing for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft- but he’s also impressed off the ice, winning the Canadian U17 Long Drive Championship with a 340-yard bomb over the summer.
Behm was drafted 13th overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft and racked up 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in 68 games in his rookie season.
Kamloops (1-2-0-0) kicks off a five-game road swing on Friday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. PST against the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre.
2024-25 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
September 23, 2024: Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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