Tommy Lafrenière accomplished everything he needed to in the Western Hockey League, and now he’s looking to level up.

The Edmonton Oilers’ 2025 third-round pick spent the last three seasons with the Kamloops Blazers, culminating in a spectacular 41-goal campaign. This fall, he’ll make the move to Western Michigan to take on older competition.

“It’s obviously stronger, bigger guys, and it’s closer to pro,” Lafrenière said at Oilers development camp in June. “I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m super excited about it. I’m just going to go out there and work as hard as I can, learn from the older guys, and do my best.”

The 19-year-old took a big step with the Blazers last season, increasing his point total by 21 from the prior year. He finished third on the team in scoring and helped Kamloops reach the playoffs for the first time in three years. It was such a successful campaign that the Bakersfield Condors signed Lafrenière to an amateur tryout. During his cup of coffee with Bakersfield, he chipped in offensively with two points in five games and added an assist in three playoff games. More importantly, though, he got a feel for the physical demands that await him in professional hockey.

“To me, I think it’s just about getting stronger, that’s the biggest thing. I think my mental game is there, and it’s just getting bigger and stronger along the boards. When I was playing in ‘Bako,’ it was a lot of wall play. It was a lot of fun, and I was super excited to get that opportunity.”

After multiple years in the WHL, Lafrenière decided it was time for a new challenge instead of returning to Kamloops for another season. While he made great strides as part of the Blazers’ leadership group, he believes going to college is best for his physical development.

“I think for me, it was about getting to the gym a little bit more. Having a set game schedule on Friday and Saturday, and being able to work out from Monday to Thursday, and being able to get stronger during the season, I think, was really big for me, and it’ll help me a lot.”

Oilers assistant general manager Kalle Larsson agreed with Lafrenière’s assessment and believes Western Michigan is the right place for him to be.

“He’s still slight, and I think college is going to be great for him where he gets to focus on nutrition and working out and things like that,” said Larsson. “Just with the nature of their playing schedule, compared to the CHL, they get to do more of that, and I think that will really benefit him as a player.”

Building more strength would be a huge plus for the young forward, who continues to add layers to his game. Last season, he made significant strides as a goal scorer and two-way player, both of which were a big focus for him. “I’m a 200-foot player. I like to play fast, and I’m an honest player,” he said at the World Junior showcase this summer.

The 2026-27 season will be a crucial one for Lafrenière. Not only will he make a key transition in his young career, but he will also look to impress Hockey Canada in hopes of earning a spot at the World Juniors this winter. He’s going to have a lot on his plate, but the Oilers have full belief in him.

“We’re hoping that he’s going to be a top-nine NHL forward in the future,” said Larsson. “He has enough grit, he competes, and he has smarts. I think he’s a really exciting player. For us to be able to get him where we did in the draft, I think we hit a home run there.”