Ashton Tait has been a regular in the Kamloops Blazers line up this season. (Submitted photo/Allen Douglas)

By Nolan Kowal

Life in the WHL

P.A.’s Ashton Tait adjusting to life in the WHL

Dec 13, 2023 | 12:06 PM

Tuesday was another hockey homecoming in Prince Albert, as Ashton Tait returned to the Art Hauser Centre as a member of the Kamloops Blazers to take on his hometown Prince Albert Raiders.

Tait, 17, is in his first full season in the Western Hockey League.

“It was a little different at first,” admitted Tait. “But great coaches really helped with systems. I think systems are really important and make the speed of the game seem less fast and really just help overall.”

The Blazers are a young team that is in the midst of a rebuild, and Tait has played in 27 of his team’s 31 games thus far.

“For me personally, I haven’t had much success on the score sheet but I think I’ve been playing pretty good fundamental hockey,” Tait said. “Our team, we’ve been playing well, but I think we’ve just been making a few key mistakes that we can’t make.”

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Blazers Head Coach Don Hay said he’s been pleased with Tait’s progression.

“He was with us a little bit last year in our Memorial Cup drive… he came in during the playoffs and practiced with us and got comfortable with us,” said Hay. “He’s like any other young guy, he’s finding it tougher as you play in the league and as you want to be a regular player.”

“He’s fitting in well, he’s a very competitive young man, and a smart young man. I think as he continues to work on some of his other elements, he’s going to be a really good player,” said Hay, who pointed out that the Blazers also have Shellbrook, Sask. native Ashton Ferster on their roster.

Tait grew up in P.A. and played for the AAA Prince Albert Mintos prior to making the jump to major junior.

“A lot of great memories… I think just celebrating wins with them in the dressing room over there was definitely special,” Tait said.

The Raiders beat the Blazers 3-1 on Tuesday.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com