The Kamloops Blazers won't be starting the season without their captain.

Winger Tyler Shattock, who had been at training camp with the St. Louis Blues, will meet up with his teammates in Chilliwack in time for tomorrow night's season-opener against the Bruins.

Head coach Barry Smith said the return of the 19-year-old will only make the Blazers that much stronger offensively.

"It just pushes guys down into better spots in our line-up," he said.

"He's a great scorer and he's the captain of our team. He's the leader of our team."

Smith said he has yet to hear any official word from St. Louis brass about their impressions of Shattock, who had 69 points with the Blazers last year, but, unofficially, he's been told they liked what they saw.

"They usually send that account later," he said.

"But they were impressed with him."

Shattock's return means the Blazers will begin the year with no players away at NHL camps, with Jimmy Bubnick having come back to Kamloops earlier this week following a stint with the Atlanta Thrashers.

CJ Stretch, Giffen Nyren and Zak Stebner also attended NHL rookie camps as free agents.

Smith said his players will be happy to see their captain tomorrow in the Fraser Valley.

"These guys realize the kind of players Shatts [Shattock] and Bubs [Bubnick] are for our team," he said.

"They're excited to have them back."

Shattock is expected to fly into Vancouver tonight (Thursday) and meet up with the team tomorrow afternoon in the Fraser Valley.

The puck is set to drop in Chilliwack at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Friday), with a rematch to follow Saturday night at Interior Savings Centre.