Matt Needham is set to become one of the longest serving captains in franchise history this season.
The 20-year-old from Penticton is entering his fifth full season as a member of the Kamloops Blazers, and third season as the captain.
Needham was named captain as an 18-year-old by, then Head Coach, Dave Hunchak.
“I was a little bit shocked. I was still pretty young, coming into camp I wasn’t expecting anything like that. I remember talking to my dad about it and with him playing here it was pretty emotional,” Needham said. “It was an honour getting that so young. It’s still an honour. It’s really cool, especially with the history here.”
Needham’s father, Mike, played three full seasons with the Blazers between 1987 and 1990, amassing 125 points in his final season. Now, Mike is entering his second season as an Assistant Coach with the Blazers.
“Matt’s a really competitive young man. He’s got a really good hockey sense and hockey IQ. Having grown up being a coach’s son with Mike being his coach for a lot of years, he’s got a good feeling for the game,” said Head Coach Don Hay. “I don’t think people talk enough about his skill. He’s got a really good skill base and that makes his a real complete 200-foot player.”
Needham, should be still be wearing the ‘C’ in blue and orange at the season’s end, will follow in the footsteps of Ajay Baines as being the only two Blazers' captains for three full seasons.
“They are both really similar in their makeup as far as what you would call a character player,” Hay said. “It’s not surprising Ajay was captain of this team. He fought for everything and worked for everything he achieved and Matt’s the same way. He works hard, competes hard, he’s good on and off the ice, and he’s a role model not only for our players but for our community.”
Needham admits he is more of a lead-by-example type of person, and being a vocal leader has not always come naturally to him, but it is something he is actively working on.
“I’m not scared to say anything, but I’m definitely not rah-rah. I definitely go about my business and hope guys can take things from that,” he said. “Last year I tried taking steps, that’s something Don wants me to work on, so I’ve being trying to get more comfortable with speaking and being comfortable saying whatever I feel.”
Needham first got his taste of WHL hockey six seasons ago as an underage 15-year-old call up. He had seven points in 13 games.
He then cracked the lineup as a 16 year old and scored 12 goals and 34 points in his first season.
His first two seasons in the league, Needham played on a Blazers team that showed promise, but twice was unable to get past the Portland Winterhawks.
However, the last two seasons haven’t been as successful. The Blazers have failed to make the playoffs in each of Needham’s years as a captain, something the team will look to change this season.
“That game six against Portland, stuff like that you’ll never forget,” Needham said. “Those times were definitely times I’ll always cherish, and the last couple of years kind of built me into a leader and more of a mentally strong guy.”
His personal statistics were consistent over his first three years. He consecutively scored 12 goals each season with a career-high of 35 points before last season.
As a 19-year-old Needham more than doubled his totals with 25 goals and 76 points.
With a young team again this season, Needham know staying positive will lead to success at the rink.
“You don’t want to get down on anyone,” he said. “Everyone is pretty young, so they’re going to make mistakes, you’ve got to know that, and if you stay and have fun with it everyone’s going to have a better attitude.”
The Blazers will officially open the 35th season of WHL hockey in Kamloops when they host the Kelowna Rockets Saturday night at the Sandman Centre.
To celebrate 35 years of WHL hockey in Kamloops, every Saturday will feature a different captain in the history of the franchise starting with the 2015-16 Kamloops Blazers and working back to the 1981-82 Kamloops Jr. Oilers.
