Former Blazers Named to Top 125 All-Time WHL Players

Ten former junior hockey players in Kamloops were named amongst the best players ever in the Western Hockey League.

The WHL unveiled the list of the top 125 players in history on Tuesday. The list includes the best players from the league’s inception in 1966 and features players who played as recently as last season.

A committee of league historians compiled the list of 88 forwards, 27 defencemen, and 10 goaltenders.

Nine former Kamloops Blazers and one Kamloops Jr. Oiler were named to the list.

As part of the 50^th anniversary of the WHL, fans can vote on the top-50 players of all time. In January, the WHL will count down the 50 best players in the history of the league.

Here are the former Kamloops players in the top 125:

Nolan Baumgartner was a member of the Kamloops Blazers from 1992 until 1996. The defenceman won two Memorial Cups with the Blazers in 1994 and 1995, and was drafted 10^th overall by the Washington Capitals in 1994. Baumgartner was named the WHL Playoff MVP and league’s best defenceman in 1995. He also won World Junior gold with Team Canada in 1995 and 1996. He went on to play 887 games in the NHL and is currently an assistant coach with the AHL’s Utica Comets.

Rob Brown played for the Kamloops Blazers from 1983 to 1987. The right winger notched 173 points in his third season. He holds the WHL single-season scoring record as he scored 76 goals and 212 points in his final year. He was drafted 67^th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1986, and played 543 career NHL games. Brown’s number 44 is one of six jerseys retired by the Blazers.

Shane Doan played for the Kamloops Blazers from 1992 until 1995. He won two Memorial Cups with the Blazers in 1994 and 1995. He had his most successful season in 1995 when he scored 94 points and was won the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the Memorial Cup MVP. Doan was drafted seventh overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1995, and it remains as the only NHL franchise he has played for. Doan has been the captain of the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes since 2003, and is entering his 20^th season in the NHL.

Dean Evason is the lone member of the Kamloops Jr. Oilers on the list, where he played from 1981 to 1984. He scored 71 goals and 164 points in his second season in Kamloops, and followed that performance up with 137 points in 57 games in his last season. Evason was drafted 89^th overall by the Washington Capitals in 1982 and went on to play 803 NHL games. He coached the Kamloops Blazers from 1999 to 2002, and is currently the head coach of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. His number 20 was retired by the Blazers.

Greg Hawgood played five full seasons in Kamloops, beginning with the Jr. Oilers in 1983 and finishing with the Blazers in 1988. The defenceman and former captain had a career-high 48 goals 133 points in his final WHL season. He was drafted 202^nd overall by the Boston Bruins in 1986 and played 474 career NHL games. His number 4 was retired by the Blazers.

Jarome Iginla played for the Kamloops Blazers from 1993 to 1996. He won two Memorial Cups in 1994 and 1995, and was named the WHL’s player of the year in 1996, finishing four in league scoring with 136 points. He was drafted 11^th overall by the Dallas Stars in 1995. He won the 1996 World Junior Championship, and has gone on to win two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada. The former Calgary Flames captain is currently a member of the Colorado Avalanche.

Scott Niedermayer played for the Kamloops Blazers from 1989 to 1992. He was a key part of the first Memorial Cup champion Blazers squad in 1992, and he was voted the MVP of the tournament. He was selected third overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1991. Niedermayer won four Stanley cups, two Olympic gold medals, a Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoff MVP, and James Norris Memorial Trophy and the NHL’s best defenceman. He was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013. His number 28 was retired by the Blazers.

Mark Recchi is the only player from Kamloops listed in the top 125. The hometown hero played for the Blazers from 1986 to 1988. His best WHL season came in 1987-88 when he scored 61 goals and 154 points. He was drafted 67^th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988 and played 22 seasons in the NHL. Recchi won three Stanley Cups, and became the oldest player to score in the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. His number 8 was retired by the Blazers.

Darryl Sydor played for the Kamloops Blazers from 1988 to 1992. He was the captain of the Blazers first Memorial Cup champion team in 1992. He also represented Team Canada at the 1992 World Juniors. Sydor was drafted seventh overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 1990, and went on to win two Stanley Cups and played 1,291 NHL games.

Darcy Tucker played for the Kamloops Blazers between 1991 and 1995. He is one of three players that won three Memorial Cups with the Blazers in 1992, 1994 and 1995. He was the Blazers captain for their third Memorial Cup victory in 1995. Tucker was drafted 151^st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, and went on to play 947 NHL games, primarily with the Toronto Maple Leafs, amassing 1,410 penalty minutes.

Fans can vote on the WHL website to have their say alongside the committee to select the top 50 players in the history of the league.

A full list of the Top-125 WHL Players of All Time is available online.