Kamloops Blazers at Prince George Cougars 12/12 | WHL Highlights 2025-26
By Colton Davies – Follow Colton on X
The Kamloops Blazers opened a weekend road swing Friday night in Prince George, taking on the Cougars at CN Centre.
The first period got off to a slow start with just two shots through the opening four minutes, as Ivans Kufterins and Preston Lewis each saw minimal action early. Prince George would then strike midway through the period, erupting for three goals in a span of 2:09 to take a 3-0 lead.
The Blazers would then generate some quality looks late in the first as Tommy Lafreniere nearly capitalized on a rebound, while the Blazers’ second powerplay unit generated quality looks from Cooper Moore and Ty Bonkowski, but couldn’t find a way past Lewis.
The Blazers carried that effort into the second and were rewarded just 50 seconds in as Lafreniere ripped home a feed from J.P. Hurlbert to cut the lead to two. Kufterins followed with a pair of key stops during a Prince George 5-on-3 powerplay to keep Kamloops within striking distance.
The Blazers continued to build momentum offensively as Hurlbert fed Rhett Ravndahl for the one timer and Moore was on the doorstep picking up the rebound for his sixth goal of the season. Hurlbert would then snipe it home for his 22nd of the season, making it a 3-3 game. The intensity ramped up late in the frame when Carson Olsen dropped the gloves with Aiden Foster, marking Olsen’s second fight with the Blazers.
The third frame opened with minimal action on both ends through the opening 10 minutes. Prince George nearly struck as Dmitri Yakutsenak was robbed by Kufterins. Kufterins followed with a string of saves during a sustained Cougars push, Yakutsenak eventually capitalized on a rebound to restore the Prince George lead.
The Blazers wouldn’t back down, and Lafreniere buried his second of the night to pull the Blazers even once again, knotting the game at 4-4.
With regulation unable to decide it, the game moved to overtime. The Cougars had a couple big chances early on, but Kufterins came up with key saves. Kamloops nearly scored when Hurlbert setup Ryan Michael, but his shot was denied by Lewis.
Overtime solved nothing, sending the game to a shootout. Hurlbert was the lone Blazer to convert, but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars edged Kamloops 5-4.
