JP Hurlbert celebrates after scoring his third goal during the Jan. 16 game against the Prince George Cougars. (Image Credit: Brian Johnson/Kamloops Blazers)

By Victor Kaisar

Cougars 7 Blazers 6 OT

Second period slump costs Blazers in wild game against Cougars

Jan 17, 2026 | 8:15 AM

KAMLOOPS — JP Hurlbert scored a hattrick and added an assist, while Jordan Keller had another two goal game, but a second period collapse cost the Kamloops Blazers as they lost 7-6 in overtime to the Prince George Cougars Friday (Jan. 16) night.

The Blazers led 4-1 early in the second period at Sandman Centre, but they gave up four unanswered goals and had to force overtime against a desperate Cougars team that was on a seven game losing streak.

“It’s a tough way to lose especially coming back and having a 4-1 lead but we can look at the positives from tonight,” Hurlbert said post-game. “A lot of resiliency in that locker room and its good for the guys to get a point but we got start finding ways to win one here.”

What can’t J.P. Hurlbert do?!@blazerhockey | #NHLDraft | #WHLHatTricks pic.twitter.com/IacJWi5Qhm

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 17, 2026

Josh Evaschesen scored the other goal for the Blazers, while deadline day acquisition Ty Coupland picked up his first point in blue and orange. It’s also back-to-back three point games for Keller since his return from injury last weekend.

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Hurlbert opened the scoring less than two minutes into Friday’s game, his first since NHL Central Scouting had him ranked 10th among all North American skaters. Prince George’s hat trick hero – Jett Lajoie – restored parity at 11:49, but Hurlbert put the Blazers back on top just 37 seconds later.

The Blazers escaped the first period with the one goal lead as the Cougars piled on a sustained period of pressure on Logan Edmonstone’s net. They hit the post twice and had an attempt that snuck through the Blazers goaltender cleared off the line by Rhett Ravndahl.

Goals from Evaschesen and Keller – on the power play – had Kamloops cruising at 4-1 just past the six minute mark of the second period, before the Cougars grew into the game and clawed their way back.

Second period goals from Arsenii Anisimov, Bauer Dumanski – on the power play – and Lajoie’s second evened the score at 4-4 after 40 minutes. Lee Shurgot then gave Prince George its first lead of the night when he struck just before the 10 minute mark of the third period.

Keller and Dmitri Yakutsenak traded goals to make it 6-5 Cougars before Hurlbert completed his hat trick with a 6-on-4 power play goal with just 25 seconds left on the clock. The Blazers’ pulled Edmonstone for the two-man advantage after Aidan Foster was penalized for cross checking.

NOTHING CAN STOP JORDAN KELLER! 💪 pic.twitter.com/EExPFG0H9Q

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) January 17, 2026

While the Cougars dominated possession in the extra frame, there were few chances, though Lajoie took his in stride when he tucked home a rebound over Edmonstone’s glove hand to seal the win for Prince George.

Edmonstone turned aside 45 of 52 shots in a losing effort, while Alex Levshyn picked up the win for Prince George. The Ukrainian netminder made 12 saves on 14 shots in 37:32 of relief work after the Blazers chased starter Joshua Ravensbergen, who allowed four goals on 14 shots in 26:09 of work.

The loss means the 18-14-5-4 Blazers are now 5-9 in overtime games, and 1-5 at Sandman Centre. They’re in sixth place in the WHL’s Western Conference, five points back of the 24-16-2-0 Cougars, who are in third place.

“[It’s] 14 games in overtime, and one to two points can swing a lot so we’ll learn from it and get better,” Hurlbert added. “I though it was a good team bounce back so we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”

Harrison Brunicke did not play for the Blazers as he sat out with a lower-body injury, and he’s considered day-to-day. It’s not clear if he’ll be back in the lineup this evening when the Blazers host the 17-23-1-1 Wenatchee Wild, in a 6:00 p.m. puck drop at Sandman Centre.