WHL Stars of Tomorrow: Ty Bonkowski, Kamloops Blazers
Anybody can jump into a task with two feet, but only a gifted few can find their footing regardless of where they land.
In the eyes of Kamloops Blazers General Manager and Head Coach, Shaun Clouston, 2008-born forward Ty Bonkowski is among the special few.
Selected by the club in the sixth round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, the product of Richmond, B.C., quickly turned heads during last season’s training camp as he showcased his talent as a fast learner and his ability to adapt in every type of on-ice situation.
“Usually there’s a transition or a period of time where the players, especially with the pace of the game of the Western Hockey League, appear a little bit out of sorts. And, you know, [Ty] sort of bypassed a lot of those things,” Clouston shared. “I think he has a lot of qualities that we covet. He’s a hard-working player. He’s conscientious. He’s got good speed. He’s able to process things quickly, play up-tempo, and play with pace – and those are all things that we like and will transfer and allow him to have success here.”
For Bonkowski, nailing his first impression with the Blazers’ staff came as a huge relief. Of the teams he chatted with prior to the draft, the club located in Kamloops, B.C. was his number-one choice.
“I talked to a couple of teams, but the Blazers really stood out to me. I know they have a really great history of developing great players, and they’ve had some pretty great teams. So, yeah, it was awesome to hear my name getting called by them.”
So, the local B.C. boy was smiling ear to ear when he saw his name pop up on the WHL’s draft tracker.
It even put a positive spin on the English class he was sitting through at the time.
“I was actually in school. I’m pretty sure it’s English class right after practice. But, I was on the app, kept refreshing and I saw my name,” Bonkowski said. “I’m super honoured. I know they have a great staff there, and just overall they’re a great organization.”
SIGNED ✍️!
2008-born F Ty Bonkowski has signed a WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement 🤝.
READ: 📑 https://t.co/8ppsNYOdXc pic.twitter.com/YQNsZIAvLw— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) July 17, 2023
In the aftermath of Bonkowski’s training camp performance, the crafty forward found himself on the Blazers’ radar as a potential option for regular season opportunities.
And, after a successful season with the Burnaby Winter Club U18 Prep – tossing up 31 points (12 goals–19 assists) in 29 games – Bonkowski got the call. The then 15-year-old made his WHL debut in a road tilt against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Although held off the scoresheet, Clouston and the rest of the Blazers’ coaching staff remained impressed. The same traits that were present during training camp also shined through during his regular season debut as well.
“Probably the thing that stood out the most was just his ability to kind of jump in with both feet and go after it,” Clouston admitted. “[He] was able to play at an elevated pace compared to where he was playing. Good on the forecheck, understood basic concepts and systems without having to spend a lot of time dealing with corrections. He’s got real good instincts as a young player.”
Then, three days later, Bonkowski returned to Kamloops where he skated in front of a home crowd for the first time during the regular season. According to the rising prospect, it was an experience like no other.
“The noise they make after every shot or a hit or a goal. It’s just awesome here,” Bonkowski smiled. “They’re a big part of the team, and they’re just such a hockey town. So, you want to play good for them, you want to play good in front of them, and they give you their support in return.”
2008 F Ty Bonkowski (6th round, 130th overall) has joined the team for the final week of the season 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/lBbxamgjRg
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) March 18, 2024
Now, as he reflects on his first campaign in Kamloops and as he gears up for his 16-year-old season, the British Columbian is grateful to be spending his junior hockey career in the Western League.
“In my opinion, it’s the best junior league in North America. You see it with every draft. Every year they get a ton of players drafted to the NHL.”
And, now that he’s here, he hopes that he can one day join the evergrowing list.
“That’s my ultimate goal.”