Newly-signed Blazers forward JP Hurlbert scoring his first goal for Kamloops against Kelowna goaltender Nathan Kam on Friday at the Sandman Centre/via Brian Johnson
It took JP Hurlbert just 36 seconds to score his first goal in the Western Hockey League, as he would help lead the Blazers to their first pre-season victory — a romp over the Kelowna Rockets on Friday night at the Sandman Centre.
The newly signed American prospect picked up a hat trick in his first game, as the Blazers blanked the visiting Rockets 6-0.
“Yeah it felt great,” mused Hurlbert after the game in conversation with Radio NL. “I wasn’t planning on doing that tonight,” he chuckled. “But what a way to get started!”
Hurlbert would score his first goal in the Western Hockey League just 0:36 seconds into the first period.
“Laf [Tommy Lafreniere] made a great pass over to me and I was just lucky to put it in,” said a smiling Hurlbert postgame when asked about his first goal as a Blazer.
The Blazers raced out to an early lead in the 1st on back-to-back goals by Hurlbert, who would record his 2nd goal in the WHL just over a minute later — a power-play marker to make it 2-0.
The Blazers also got singles from veterans Nathan Behm, Tommy Lafreniere and Jordan Keller, as Kamloops would dress its top two lines for the first time in the pre-season.
Not to be outdone, new Latvian import goaltender Ivans Kufterins posted a 32 save performance to blank the Rockets.
“I want to thank my teammates for the blocked shots,” said Kufterins after earning his first win as a Blazer.
“I was really stressed for the first shot, and it took like 10 minutes for that,” added the 18-year-old Kufterins.
“The team scored six goals to give me confidence… so I think that was a really good game,” said the 1st round CHL Import pick.
The Kamloops Blazers celebrate as they take a pre-season victory over the Kelowna Rockets Friday night at the Sandman Centre/via Brian Johnson
“It was only pre-season, but it was nice to see JP in game action doing his thing,” said Blazers Head Coach and General Manager Shaun Clouston in a post-game conversation with Radio NL. “There was good energy.”
“Behmer [Nathan Behm] played a really good game,” added Clouston, pointing to the goal, assist and fight the Chicago Blackhawks draft pick would register on the official score sheet.
“A Gordie Howe hat trick,” mused Clouston. “Plus, I thought it was one of his best games I’ve seen him play.”
As for those who might be on the bubble when it comes to making the regular season line-up later this month, Clouston was a bit more guarded.
“Some of the young guys, some of the new guys,” he mused about who might have stood out to him.
But the GM would open up a bit.
“I liked [Josh] Evaschesen… and [Cooper] Moore had good games,” said Clouston, while also throwing some praise toward his new Latvian import.
“Ivans [Kufterins]… He didn’t see a lot of action early,” noted Clouston. “But he was really good when Kelowna pushed hard later in the game.”
The Blazers pre-season squad now gets its first taste of “bus life” as the team heads to Prospera Place for a Saturday night rematch against the Rockets in Kelowna.
The Blazers will have two more pre-season games after Saturday’s clash.
The first will be at the Sandman Centre next Friday against Prince George, followed by a neutral-ice game in Quesnel against the Cougars to close out pre-season action ahead of the regular season opener at home to Spokane, September 20th.
