Image Credit: WHL
Texas Tornado

Blazers’ Hurlbert named the season’s first WHL Player of the Month

Nov 4, 2025 | 1:41 PM

KAMLOOPS — The ‘Texas Tornado’ has stormed his way to another Western Hockey League (WHL) honour.

Kamloops Blazers’ forward J.P. Hurlbert has been named the WHL Player of the Month for September/October.

The 17-year-old forward registered 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 15 games during the first month-plus of the season to jump out to the league scoring lead.

Hurlbert, from Allen, Texas, has tallied at least three points in six of his first 17 WHL games.

Though Hurlbert is a rookie, he was not named league’s Rookie of the Month. That honour went to Brandon Wheat Kings forward Chase Surkan, who had 19 points (12 goals, 7 assists) in 11 games during September and October.

The Player of the Month award is the latest in a string of honours for the Blazers forward.

Hurlbert was named WHL Rookie of the Week for the first week of the season after starting his junior career with a hat trick. He was named Player of the Week one week later.

Earlier this month, NHL Central Scouting dubbed Hurlbert an ‘A’ prospect, meaning he is projected to be taken in the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Last week, Hurlbert was named to the CHL squad for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge tournament to be held later this month in Calgary and Lethbridge.