The Kamloops Blazers were busy on WHL trade deadline day.

Currently sitting first in the BC Division, the Blazers bolstered the rosters with a trio of deals that included the acquisition of 20-year-old forward Luke Toporowski from the Spokane Chiefs.
 

Toporowski, who is second on the Chiefs with 15 goals and 29 points in 27 games this season, cost the Blazers 20-year-old forward Nick McCarry and a second-round WHL draft pick in 2025.

The Iowa native has 165 career points in 223 WHL games, all with Spokane.

He will help fill the scoring void left by the departure of Josh Pillar, who was dealt to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for a pair of conditional draft picks today.
 

Pillar, who is from Warman, Sask., is currently at home recovering from a private medical situation.

“The Blazers, in conjunction with the Blades and Josh’s family, agree that the best place for his recovery is in his hometown,” explained a release from the Blazers.

Another player who will hopefully fill the void left by Pillar is 19-year-old forward Drew Englot, who was acquired from the Regina Pats this morning in exchange for 17-year-old forward Tye Spencer.
 

Standing 6’2” and 198 lbs, Englot is a big forward who has recorded 16 points in 32 games this season.

With the trade deadline now in the rear-view mirror, the Blazers will now look ahead to their next on-ice action, which is Friday night in Prince George against the Cougars.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of the Spokane Chiefs.}