One Save at a Time: Dylan Ernst Reflects on His WHL Journey
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
Dylan Ernst, or “Erny” as he is best known to Kamloops Blazers fans, has capped off his Western Hockey League (WHL) career.
The Weyburn, Saskatchewan native has spent the last six years in Kamloops, donning the blue and orange Blazers colours. Throughout his time with the club, Ernst compiled an 85-61-7 record, ranking fifth in all-time games played by a Blazers goaltender.
The veteran netminder has experienced the highs of the national spotlight and the lows of rebuilding seasons. Through it all, he’s emerged as a pillar of growth, grit, and leadership.
Ernst made his WHL debut in 2020-21, appearing in four games and posting a 3-1-1 record. The small sample size was enough to impress Blazers coaches and management, earning him the backup role the following season behind Dylan Garand. But while it looked good on paper, mentally, it was daunting.
“I came into the league and it was, you know, pretty tough. I felt like I almost couldn’t be there,” Ernst recalled. With help from goalie coach Dan De Palma, “things ended up working out. It was great,” he said.
From those early doubts to becoming the starting goalie in a Memorial Cup, Ernst’s evolution wasn’t just about skill — it was about resilience.
His biggest challenge? Transitioning from the powerhouse Blazers squad that hosted the Memorial Cup in 2023 to a team in rebuild mode.
“Going from winning games left and right to a season where we didn’t get the results we needed — that year just made me stronger. It taught me how to deal with adversity a lot better,” Ernst said.
Mentally, that shift was taxing. After playing on a stacked roster that included Carolina Hurricanes forward and former Blazers captain Logan Stankoven, Boston Bruins forward Fraser Minten, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger, and many others with championship aspirations, learning to manage tough losses was new territory.
“It was pretty tough at first. I just wasn’t used to it. But you lose one game, you’ve gotta forget about it, put it behind you, and focus on the next day,” Ernst said.
He credits much of his mental growth to his work with the Blazers’ goaltending staff. “One of the biggest things we worked on was the bounce-back. After a goal, just moving on — next puck, that’s it. Don’t think about the last one.”
When asked if he models his game after any particular goaltender, Ernst smiles. “Honestly, I like to watch all the goalies. I’ll pick parts from each of them — whatever feels comfortable to me.”
Now one of the more seasoned players on a younger Blazers squad, Ernst has taken on a mentor role, especially with goaltenders like Logan Edmonstone and Madex Kabrud stepping in.
“I just try to show them that one loss doesn’t define your whole season. You’ve got to move on quickly. Sixty-eight games come fast — you need a short memory.”
Blazers assistant general manager Tim O’Donovan added: “You know, really what Dylan is — he’s a great teammate for everybody. It doesn’t matter, young guy or old guy — he treats everybody really well, which won a lot of respect in the locker room for that.”
But if there’s one moment that stands above the rest in his time with the Blazers, it’s the Memorial Cup. As the starting goaltender in front of a hometown crowd, Ernst calls it the most exciting moment of his career so far.
“I’ve never been a part of something like that. Words can’t even describe it,” he said, still visibly moved by the memory. “It’s something I’ll never forget, Ernst said.
“Even though we didn’t win the Memorial Cup, just being there — that’s something I’ll never forget. Or just that whole year in general. Winning those couple playoff rounds — that was a special time.” Former Blazers captain Logan Stankoven reached out via text and had this to say about his former teammate, “Erny, who was not only a great goaltender but a great teammate as well, always kept the room light, and I really enjoyed being around him. It’s been awesome to see how much he’s developed over the past few seasons, and I wish him all the best moving forward in his career.”
As for what’s next, Ernst is still weighing his options. “Hopefully, NCAA somewhere,” he says. “I haven’t decided where to go yet, but hopefully I’ll decide here soon.”
Wherever he lands next, Dylan Ernst will bring experience, leadership, and the quiet resilience of a goalie who’s grown through every challenge, one save at a time.