Blazers’ top six taking shape ahead of WHL regular season

Hurlbert, a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, registered a hat-trick and the line combined for seven points in a 6-0 victory over the Kelowna Rockets on Sept. 6 at Sandman Centre.

The game was a tease for Blazers’ fans, as it marked the unit’s only chance to play together during the exhibition schedule.

“Part of what they were doing was getting into good starting positions,” Blazers’ head coach Shaun Clouston said. “They’re pretty quick. They were pretty hard to handle.”

Lafreniere, 18, is slotting in at centre, a position each of the line members is capable of playing.

“Honestly, I was okay with playing both [wing or centre],” Lafreniere said. “I’ve played centre my whole life, so that’s kind of where I’m a little bit more comfortable. I think I need to work on my draws a little bit. Other than that, I think it’s been really good so far. I know J.P. and Bonk play centre, as well, but I think as of right now, it’s been a good fit.”

Lafreniere said playing with pace can unlock the unit’s potential.

“I think we all just play a really fast game and that helps us a lot, just playing fast, quick and getting behind their D is the biggest thing,” Lafreniere said.

Hurlbert – who did nothing to slow down his own pre-season hype train by registering six goals in three games — said meshing is also taking place away from the rink.

“We’re really tight together,” said Hurlbert, a 17-year-old right shot from Allen, Texas. “We like hanging out. We work out together. It’s about trying to become as tight as possible.”

The Blazers appear to be entering the campaign with a one-two punch in the top six.

Czechia import Vit Zahejsky at left wing, 20-year-old Jordan Keller at centre and Chicago Blackhawks’ draft pick Nathan Behm at right wing are drawing praise from Clouston.

“It was great to see them creating some similar chemistry prior to this season,” Clouston said.

Behm, 18, and Keller were the club’s second- and third-leading scorers last season, registering 66 points in 59 games and 65 points in 68 games, respectively.

Zahejsky, 18, came highly touted last season, a second overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft who broke his ankle before the 2024-2025 season began.

He tallied three goals and 15 points in 46 games after returning to the Blazers’ lineup.

Now healthy and with a better feel for the North American game, the club is hoping Zahejsky makes significant improvement this season. He registered one goal and three points in four pre-season games.

How Clouston chooses to deploy the lines — and in which order the one-two punch is thrown — remains to be seen.

Neither Behm nor Lafreniere is likely to be available on Saturday, when the Blazers open the regular season against the Spokane Chiefs, a 7:00 p.m. start at Sandman Centre.

Both players are participating this week at their respective NHL club’s training camps.

by Marty Hastings

Blazers’ top six taking shape ahead of WHL regular season

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