KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
Last season: 47-20-5, third in Western Conference, second in B.C. Division. Lost in conference final.
Head coach: Dave Hunchak (first season, after two seasons as associate coach).
Key losses: Graduates: F Dylan Willick, F Kale Kessy, F Brendan Ranford. Turned pro: D Joel Edmundson, F Colin Smith, F JC Lipon and D Tyler Hansen. D Marek Hrbas. Traded: G Cole Cheveldave.
The 20-year-olds: F Joe Kornelsen, D Sam Grist.
The imports: F Tim Bozon and 2013 CHL import pick Swiss D Edson Harlacher.
Key returnees: D Sam Grist, D Landon Cross, D Jordan Thomson. F Matt Needham and F Cole Ully.
New faces: Trade acquisition 19-year-olds F Tristan Sieben and G Bolton Pouliot.
Watch for: The coaching staff to do an awful lot of teaching as Kamloops lost a lot of experience.
-- Gregg Drinnan, Kamloops Daily News.
KELOWNA ROCKETS
Last season: 52-16-3-1, second in Western Conference, first in B.C. Division. Lost in second round.
Head coach: Ryan Huska (seventh season).
Key losses: Captain Colton Sissons (turned pro) and graduates RW Cody Fowlie, RW Dylen McKinlay and RW JT Barnett.
The 20-year-olds: RW Myles Bell, G Jordon Cooke, LW Zach Franko, D MacKenzie Johnston will compete for three spots, providing Bell doesn't sign a pro deal.
The imports: Swedish RW Henrik Nyberg and 2013 CHL import pick Swiss C Kris Schmidli.
Key returnees: Forwards: Myles Bell, C Tyson Baillie, LW Zach Franko and C Tyrell Goulbourne. Defencemen: Damon Severson and Madison Bowey and G Jordon Cooke.
New faces: Swiss C Kris Schmidli and C Nick Merkley.
-- Warren Henderson, Kelowna Capital News
VANCOUVER GIANTS
Last season: 21-49-2-0, last in Western Conference.
Head coach: Don Hay (10th season).
Key losses: Graduates: D Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, F Brendan Rouse and F Jason Trott. Traded: C Riley Kieser and LW Taylor Vickerman.
The 20-year-olds: LW Cain Franson, D Dalton Thrower, LW Marek Tvrdon and RW Tim Traber.
The imports: Russian D Dmitry Osipov (first overall pick in CHL Import draft) and German C Andreas Eder (61st pick). Also three-year Giants veteran Tvrdon.
Key returnees: Forwards Jackson Houck and Franson and D Mason Geersten. G Payton Lee.
New faces: RW Ty Ronning and C Alec Baer.
-- Steve Ewen, Vancouver Province
VICTORIA ROYALS
Last season: 35-30-2-5, sixth in the Western Conference.
Head coach: Dave Lowry (second season).
Key losses: Graduates: Alex Gogolev, captain Tyler Stahl and F Jamie Crooks.
The 20-year-olds: D Jordan Fransoo , F Ben Walker, and F Logan Nelson.
The imports: Czech Republic G Patrik Polivka. An IIHF boardroom decision blocked 2013 import draft pick F Jiri Fronk (19) from joining the Royals.
Key returnees: The 20-year-olds Walker, Nelson, Fransoo . The 19-year-olds F Steven Hodges, F Brandon Magee, D Keegan Kanzig and 2014 NHL draft eligible D Joe Hicketts.
New faces: 16-year-olds F Tyler Soy and D Chaz Reddekopp.
-- Cleve Dheensaw, Times Colonist
