JP HURLBERT SELECTED IN 1ST ROUND OF NHL DRAFT

JP HURLBERT SELECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF NHL DRAFT

Kamloops, BC – Kamloops Blazers forward J.P. Hurlbert has been selected in the 1^st round, 23^rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo.

Hurlbert had an outstanding 2025-2026 season with 42 goals, 55 assists and 97 points in 68 games with the Blazers. He won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL Rookie of the Year.

He competed for CHL at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge in November 2025 and also for Team WHL West at the 2026 WHL Prospects game in February 2026.

The Allen, Texas is set to join the Michigan Wolverines of the NCAA for the 2026-2027 season.

Hurlbert is the first player from the Blazers since Connor Zary in the 2020 NHL Draft to be selected in the 1^st round of the NHL Draft. Hurlbert is also the highest selection from the Blazers since Keaton Ellerby was selected 10^th overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.

Hurlbert’s selection continues the Blazers streak with a player selected in 15 consecutive NHL Drafts dating back to 2012, the longest active streak in the WHL.

Since the franchise became the Kamloops Blazers in 1985, the hockey club has had a player selected in the NHL Draft in 40 of 42 NHL Drafts.

For ticketing information, please contact Jim, Stacy or Missy at 250-828-1144 or by email at [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected].

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