The Kamloops Blazers are a major junior-level
hockey franchise that plays in
Kamloops,
British Columbia, competing in the
WHL. The team was formed when the
NHL's
Edmonton Oilers sold their junior club, the Kamloops Junior Oilers, to local investors in 1984. The new owners dubbed the franchise the Blazers. The club has played continuously in the WHL since then, winning the league title four times and the
Memorial Cup a record three times (in 1992, 1994 and 1995).
Several famous professional players have donned the Blazers' jersey, including Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi and Rob Brown. The team would also foster the growth of famous coaches, notably Ken Hitchcock (who won a Stanley Cup behind the bench of the Dallas Stars) and Tom Renney (later coach of the Canadian Olympic team).
Sources:
The Internet Hockey Database -
http://www.hockeydb.com
Western Hockey League -
http://www.whl.ca
Kamloops Blazers -
http://www.kamloopsblazers.bc.ca/