JP Hurlbert, Natham Behm, and Tommy Lafreinere celebrate at Sandman Centre on Dec. 27, 2025. (Image Credit: Brian Johnson/Kamloops Blazers)

By Victor Kaisar

Blazers 9 Hitmen 5

Five-point nights for Lafreniere, Behm power Blazers to 9-5 win over Calgary Hitmen

Dec 28, 2025 | 8:14 AM

KAMLOOPS — Tommy Lafreniere and Nathan Behm finished with five points each as the Kamloops Blazers knocked off the Calgary Hitmen 9-5 in a high-scoring Saturday (Dec. 27) evening tilt at the Sandman Centre.

It was the most goals scored by the Blazers in a game this season, eclipsing the eight they scored in an 8-2 win over the Spokane Chiefs in early November. The blowout win also snapped the Blazers four game losing streak in their first game back following the WHL’s week-long holiday break.

The Blazers top line of Lafreniere, Behm, and JP Hurlbert combined for 13 points while Ryan Michael, Carson Olsen, and Josh Evaschesen also finished with multi-point nights.

“It felt really good,” Lafreniere, who was named the game’s first star said. “We were just buzzing all around and played a full 200 foot game and it felt really good. It was a well deserved break and we came out flying and it was a really fun night.”

“I thought Tommy Lafreniere was outstanding,” added Blazers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston. “He had his wheels going. He had energy when he got here, he was good in the evening, he was good this morning and he was outstanding.”

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Lafreniere and Behm had the Blazers up 2-0 after one period, before Calgary pulled one back early in the second through Harrison Lodewyk.

Lafreniere, Ty Bonkowski, and JP Hurlbert all scored second period goals before Behm added a pair to complete his hat trick to give the Blazers a 7-2 lead after 40 minutes. Caine Wilke got the Hitmen’s other goal in the second period.

After Andrew Thomson made it 8-2, the Hitmen scored three of the game’s next four goals, though they weren’t able to mount a late comeback. Lodewyk and Kale Dach scored to made it 8-4 Blazers, before Evaschesen and Ty Meunier traded goals to round the scoring.

“I think these games when you come back after break you never know,” Clouston said of the effort. “I thought we were ready to go.

“We hadn’t won in regulation in a long time [Nov. 29 vs. Penticton]. I didn’t love our third period, I thought we took a couple penalties we didn’t need to but those are hard. “he biggest thing is we had good energy and we were ready to go.”

Blazers netminder Logan Edmonstone stopped 24 of 29 shots to pick up the win, while Calgary’s Eric Tu took the loss. He allowed six goals on 24 shots in 37:06 before he made way for Aidan Hesse, who allowed three goals on six shots in 22:54.

Also of note Saturday night, Kamloopsian Hunter Aura recorded his first WHL point in his hometown. The 18-year-old defenceman picked up a secondary assist on Meunier’s third-period goal.

The win takes the Blazers to 15-12-3-4, which had them fifth in the Western Conference at the half way stage of the 68-game WHL regular season. They’re Langley bound for a Sunday afternoon game against the 15-19-1-1 Vancouver Giants.

“I think we have to reset and put this game behind us and know we can have our fun, but we’ll aim to have another good game tomorrow and give it our all,” Lafrieniere said of the mindset going into Sunday’s game against a BC Division rival.

Puck drop from the Langley Events Centre is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Dec. 28.