RECAP: Hurlbert Leads Blazers Past Giants

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Draft-eligible forward JP Hurlbert scored three times in a Kamloops Blazers’ 7-3 win over the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at the Sandman Centre.

The opening period was frantic, with the two clubs combining for five goals in what became a 3-2 Blazers advantage. The clubs exchanged second period goals, making it 4-3 for Kamloops after 40 minutes. The Blazers got an insurance marker midway through the third and added an empty-net goal to make it 6-3, before Hurlbert completed the hat-trick with 37 seconds left.

Vancouver drops to 25-39-1-2 (53 points), while Kamloops improves to 30-24-7-6 (73 points).

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Joe Iginla, Lance McCloskey and Mathis Preston each scored for Vancouver. The Giants’ power play – which had struggled in March – went 2-for-5.

In addition to Hurlbert’s three goals, Kamloops got contributions from Vit Zahejsky (two), Nathan Behm and Tommy Lafreniere.

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GAME SUMMARY

Iginla opened the scoring for the Giants on an early power play, snapping the puck past the blocker of Edmonstone for his 14th tally of the season after receiving a pass from Preston.

JOE IGINLA ON THE POWERPLAY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/njjeAgJDqA

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 21, 2026

Hurlbert tied the contest 1-1 less than a minute later on the Blazers’ first power play of the contest, hitting the 40-goal plateau in the process.

McCloskey restored the Giants’ lead only 10 seconds later with a seeing eye point shot for his fourth goal of the season.

MCCLOSKEY FROM THE BLUE 😦 it’s a 2-1 game Giants lead! pic.twitter.com/YHAtPfnQ5q

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 21, 2026

Zahejsky answered on the Blazers second power play, tying the score 2-2 at the 12:39 mark of the opening period.

He scored again just a few minutes later at even strength to give Kamloops’ their first lead of the night.

Hurlbert picked up his second goal of the evening early in the second period to make the score 4-2 for the home side.

Less than five minutes later, Preston beat Edmonstone with an incredible snap shot from the right circle on a Giants power play to cut the lead to 4-3.

Preston goes bar down to make it 3 goals for the G-Men! 🔥💪 pic.twitter.com/HUMVqfRvUC

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 21, 2026

Behm restored the Blazers’ two-goal cushion when he put home a pass from Harrison Brunicke during 4-on-4 play at the 7:21 mark of the third period.

Vancouver pushed hard when they got a power play late in the third period and pulled the goalie to make it a 6-on-4, but Edmonstone made several fantastic saves. Lafreniere hit the empty net with 1:44 remaining to make the score 6-3.

Hurlbert made it 7-3 with 37 seconds remaining in regulation.

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