When Tommy Lafrenière first jumped onto the rink at Meadow Park Sports Centre, he was four years old—and it was basically love at first stride. Mountain biking and skiing are great, but for him, tying one's skates and handling a puck brings up "a different feeling" that naturally ignited his love of hockey.
Now, Lafrenière has realized a dream most of his peers can only fantasize about. He's been drafted by an NHL franchise.
After trading its first and second rounders to the Philadelphia Flyers and Arizona Coyotes, respectively, the Edmonton Oilers approached this year's NHL Entry Draft with the 83rd pick as their highest. They chose to use it on Lafrenière: a six-foot-tall, 172-pound forward who began his journey in the Whistler Minor Hockey Association (WMHA).
"Honestly, I really couldn't believe it," he said. "I was with my whole family. We were in Whistler, actually, and it was just a surreal moment. My agent had called me, like, 15 seconds prior to the pick. I think our TV was delayed a little bit, but he just said 'congrats' and I didn't really know what was going on.
"Then I saw my name pop up on the screen and I was so excited. I was in shock, and everybody was yelling around me. It was such a cool moment. I'll remember it forever."
Lafrenière ranked second among WHL rookies in scoring this past season, with 23 goals and 56 points in 68 games as a member of the Kamloops Blazers in 2024-25. Most scouting reports note his effort level, speed and two-way acumen, and he takes pride in playing an honest game.
"I'm a hardworking player. Some teams would say I've [got a] motor," Lafrenière remarked. "I never stop, and I think that's one of the biggest things you need to be in hockey and in life … a hardworking person. Just bringing that to the ice is really huge."
Development pathway
Although he was born in Montreal, Que., Lafrenière lived in Whistler between the ages of four and 12. His family moved back to Montreal after that, but he would return to British Columbia and spend four years at the Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford before suiting up for Kamloops.
It was not all fun and games at Yale. Lafrenière got through some demanding times there, but maintains it's "one of the best programs you can go to" with outstanding coaches, classes and facilities. Eventually a 30-game, 58-point campaign with Yale's U18 Prep team helped the Whistlerite raise his stock, which in turn led to the Blazers.
Dressing in nine games to start his WHL tenure in 2023-24, Lafrenière registered four points.
"At the start, I'd say it was definitely hard for me. I had to learn how to play at that pace, at that [WHL] skill level," he admitted. "I had really good teammates, good coaches as well. They told me what to do and I played the right way. I shadowed a lot of veteran players … and I owe it all to them."
Lafrenière spent the first week of July at an Edmonton development camp participating in on-ice sessions, off-ice workouts, meals cooked by private chefs and a few recreational activities such as paintball. He met the Oilers coaching staff (including head coach Kris Knoblauch) and hung out with fellow prospects like Asher Barnett, David Lewandowski, Aidan Park as well as Daniel Salonen.
'One per cent better every single day'
Through it all, Lafrenière has not forgotten his roots. He's still in contact with his Whistler friend group and even feels a ping of jealousy watching them graduate from high school together, despite his own successful exploits.
"Whistler Minor Hockey was so awesome to me," gushed the 18-year-old. "I loved going to that rink. I loved playing for that team. We did some special things with that team. I had great coaches and honestly, it's a really special place in my heart. I loved those 6 a.m. practices. I loved driving to Vancouver."
Of course, the real work begins now. According to TSN, roughly 30 per cent of third-round picks like Lafrenière end up becoming NHL regulars—which aren't good odds. Fortunately, the young Blazer has his tireless work ethic to rely on, with one Central Division NHL scout likening him to "a smaller Nick Suzuki."
Lafrenière will take that compliment all day long.
"I've watched Nick Suzuki play since I was a little kid," he said. "I kind of used him as my player comparison when I was talking to teams at the combine. He's such a good player. He's so much fun to watch, and just being compared to him is something special, for sure."
And if he had the chance to mentor some younger players in the future, Lafrenière would exhort them to "work as hard as they can every single day to try and get one per cent better every single day."
