Image credit: Anthony Corea/CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

IN THE WHL

Hurlbert off to blistering start; Blazers enjoy night of firsts

Sep 22, 2025 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — J.P. Hurlbert blustered into the River City on a hype train, the Lone Star State product billed as a 2026 first-round NHL Draft prospect.

On Saturday [Sept. 20] night, after Hurlbert registered his hat-trick goal in the second period of his WHL debut, public-address announcer Bill O’Donovan put wind at the locomotive’s back, calling him the Texas Tornado over Sandman Centre loud speakers.

“My buddies from home have reached out,” Hurlbert said on Monday, noting he was unaware Texas Tornado is the ring name used by Kerry Von Erich during his 1990s run with the WWE.

“I like it. It’s creative. I’ll definitely have to get used to it.”

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Blazers’ assistant coach Steve Marr was asked about Hurlbert’s early-season momentum, which picked up steam during a strong training camp and accelerated with a hat-trick in his pre-season debut.

“It helps his confidence because he’s so engaged with team activities and being part of leadership stuff. He’s such a tremendous kid,” Marr said. “He’s a great leader. He brings so much energy to this group. And on the flip side, I think our group has done a tremendous job. You never know when you get a guy like that if a culture is going to be resentful of it. The guys have done a great job of helping J.P. get comfortable right away.”

The Blazers improved to 1-0 with a 6-4 victory over the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday and Hurlbert – the 6-foot, 182-pound forward from Allen, Texas – was not alone in getting off the schneid.

Cooper Moore, a 5-foot-7, 155-pound forward from Red Deer, Alta, played last season for the Lloydminster Bobcats in the Alberta Junior (A) Hockey League.

He registered his first WHL goal – a short-handed game winner for the Blazers.

“It’s a dream to play in the WHL, to play in the highest league possible, so I knew kind of right away that was going to be my goal,” Moore said when asked about the rule change that allows CHL players to maintain NCAA eligibility. “To play the first game in this rink and with those fans, it was pretty cool, but to also get that first goal and kind of get it out of the way for the rest of the season was incredible.”

Isa Guram, playing in his 58th WHL game, opened his major-junior goal-scoring account.

“You definitely think about it,” said Guram, a 6-foot-1, 178-pound defenceman from Burnaby. “It’s tough for the confidence. It felt so good to see the puck go in the net, just a lot of weight off my shoulders. The building started exploding, so I knew it went in.”

Owen Cooper, who was traded to Kamloops from the Everett Silvertips on Sept. 16, iced the contest with an empty-net marker, the second goal of his WHL career.

He scored his first goal in the final game of the 2024-2025 regular season.

“It’s nice,” said Cooper, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound forward from Calgary. “It’s not always about the points, but I’m just glad that I got the first one out of the way because last year was a little rough.”

The Blazers are scheduled to host the Victoria Royals twice this weekend, with game time slated for 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

“Hopefully, we can get a couple more guys off the schneid next weekend,” Marr said.