Played on Nov 18, 2025
Game Played in Toyota Center
General Game Notes: This high scoring matchup featured goals from all over the lineup and true back and forth action all night. Goals came in every situation from shorthanded, on the power play, and at even strength. In the end, it was the Blazers who edged out the Americans in overtime.
JP Hurlbert (C, R, 6’0″, 187, Kamloops Blazers, 04/01/2008, Michigan)
Game Rating
A
JP Hurlbert is a skilled player with exceptional goal-scoring ability, making it difficult for opponents to cover him. His quick foot speed allows him to create space and attack, while his low center of gravity enables him to handle the puck with ease. He consistently creates opportunities for his teammates by drawing defenders and generating time and space. Hurlbert’s ability to thrive under pressure is impressive, considering his smaller stature. He excels at making tough plays look effortless, using his agility and speed to outmaneuver opponents. His defensive skills are also notable, as he pressures opponents at the blue line and makes extra efforts to disrupt cross-ice plays.
1 Viewing
Comments: Hurlbert comes to play and wants the puck on his stick. His league leading one of his two points came early in the first period when he one timed a puck home past the goalie on a two on one. His offensive instincts are correct, he makes plays when they need to be made, and he attacks the net when space is given to him. He does not second guess himself much and showed that he has the skill to beat multiple players at once. He has a solid combination of size and speed that make him effective in a lot of situations that present to him. If there was something about his game tonight that could have been cleaned up it was his shift length, he wants to do it all at the same time, and it hindered his back check at times.
Isa Guram (D, L, 6’0″, 173, Kamloops Blazers, 05/10/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Guram is a big man that was able to find himself at the top of the crease and bury home a rebound chance. The offensive minded defenseman has that mindset in his game where he wants to be involved in the action if there is a chance to be at the net, he will be. Of course, this adds a ton of risk in his game. His goal was a good example of the risk reward, the pucks slips by him it is a three or two on one, or he is able to find it and it is a goal. He moves the puck well and with intention, he picks his target and snaps the puck.
Logan Lanti (RW, R, 6’0″, 173, Kamloops Blazers, 07/23/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Lanti is a forward whose biggest asset is his speed and elusiveness as a skater. He is a good puck handler, but not elite. He needs to add more of a consistency to his game in both ends of the ice. Too often before his head is on a swivel, his guy is a step behind him. Offensively he does a good job at making the first guy miss but then gets stopped in the corner with nowhere to go. If he can find a way to add that next play to his game, it will do a lot both being able to break the puck out and find the back of the net. He has done that in other game but it just comes back to being consistent.
Ryan Michael (D, L, 6’3″, 196, Kamloops Blazers, 02/05/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Michael showed that he uses his speed, instincts, and playmaking ability to drive offense, but improving his balance would help him stay on pucks longer and avoid being knocked off so easily. He is one of those players who quietly does all the little things that do not really show up on the scoresheet, and his reliable defensive play and work ethic make him someone coaches can trust in his own end.
Jacob Dumansky (C, L, 6’2″, 181, Kamloops Blazers, 01/03/2009)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Dumanky is a very smooth center who is effective in all three zones of the ice, but not dominant. He does a lot of little plays well like getting the puck out of the zone, sticking to his guy defensively, and work hard to be first on puck. He just did not show that extra stride tonight that make other players difference makers. He will not the focal point of a lot of bad plays but the same things shows at the other end.
Cooper Moore (F, R, 5’8″, 159, Kamloops Blazers, 04/06/2006, Augustana)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Moore is a skilled player who seemed out of place in his own ends at times. He is smaller than most and this makes it hard to defend some of the bigger players who can also move. Offensively though he is a shifty, hard working player, with good hands. He was able to show why he can produce every time he touches the puck. His game is polar opposites at each end of the ice. In the offensive zone, he has patients, creativity, and a willingness to spread the puck around. He does a good job at avoiding checks and must if he wants to stay in the play.
Tommy Lafreniere (C, R, 6’0″, 177, Kamloops Blazers, 01/16/2007)|
Game Rating
A-
Tommy Lafreniere showcased his dynamic and creative playmaking skills on the ice, utilizing his excellent hands and technical abilities to control the puck and catch opponents off guard. He demonstrated strong hockey sense and an impressive passing game, often finding teammates with precision and accuracy. However, areas for improvement include his skating and defensive responsibilities.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lafreniere scored an impressive goal from a bit of a distance. With a quick but very powerful wrist shot, Lafreniere beat the goalie over the glove from the tops of the circles. He was able to that one legged stance where he can get his full weight behind the puck, and without missing a beat, showed his accuracy in his shot. Lafreniere does a good job at controlling the flow of the play, not throwing pucks away under pressure and inviting defenders to him only the make the pass through or around them. He is creative in the offensive zone but risky as well, as most offensive dynamic players are.
Nathan Behm (C, R, 6’2″, 202, Kamloops Blazers, 04/18/2007, Arizona State)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Behm was the hero tonight scoring the over time winner, a fitting ending for the teams second leading goal scorer. It was one of his two points on the night showing his offensive credibility to his team. While on a breakaway that his goalie should get an assist on, he shot from the hashmarks and beat the goalie over his shoulder. He looked calm and collected not skating a million miles an hour because he knew he had the space. The confidence he displayed on a shot like that is a reason why he is near the top on his team in points.
Cruz Pavao (C, R, 5’11”, 201, Tri-City Americans, 08/24/2008)
Game Rating
A-
Cruz Pavao consistently demonstrates his impressive hockey skills, particularly on offense. His ability to adapt on the rush is noteworthy, as he effectively utilizes speed and agility to attack from multiple angles. He showcases excellent skating abilities, effortlessly gliding past defenders and making sharp cuts through the middle of the ice. While Pavao’s defensive game requires refinement, his overall skillset suggests a promising player with significant potential for growth. With attention to detail in both offense and defense, he has the tools to excel at the 200-foot mark.
1 Viewing
Comments: Pavao displayed a solid individual effort blocking a shot on the penalty kill, creating a breakaway for himself and putting the puck over the goalies shoulder for a snipe and tying the game up at one. This was a great goal due to the fact he was rewarded for getting in the way of a shot, which he showed that he would be willing to do more of as the game went on. Pavao showed that he can create a burst of speed from a stand still, granted he was being chased for a goal, but still showed that he can move. He was at his best tonight when he was using that speed burst to change speeds. Off the rush when he slows up, then speeds up, he creates space that make it harder for defenseman to keep their gap.
Cash Koch (C, L, 5’11”, 197, Tri-City Americans, 03/31/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Maybe this play was a better pass than goal but Koch was able to bury on a breakaway perfectly set up for him. A huge goal that was able to tie the game up late in the third. He showed hands and his ability to finish in a time that was crucial to do so. He showed speed and how he can keep his body in a position that will win him battles. He has some size that helps but his mobility with that size is what helps his game the most. A couple times at the end of his shift, he would throw some pucks. Hard to not make these plays but for his game to be full circle, he could limit that last ditch effort puck plays.
Carter Savage (D, L, 6’3″, 202, Tri-City Americans, 02/05/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Carter Savage plays a physically demanding game, utilizing his size and strength to assert himself in the corners and along the boards. He displays decent puck-moving skills, which allows him to contribute positively in transition. However, his overall offensive capabilities are limited, making him a marginal contributor on that end of the ice. In terms of defense, Savage’s positioning can be inconsistent, but his physical play helps mitigate this by allowing him to block out forechecking opponents and gain possession of pucks quickly. He also excels at initiating breakouts with strong first passes, showcasing his ability to control the pace of the game.
1 Viewing
Comments: With two assists on the night, Savage showed that he sees the ice well and moves the puck with intention. He does not play a flashy game, but he is undeniably effective on the blue line. His hard nosed physical style, impressive poise for his age, and steady defensive presence allow him to make a real impact at both ends of the ice. He can log heavy minutes and still remain a reliable defensive asset throughout the game. Where he was at his best tonight was being able to transition the puck up the ice, he gets back and first thought is where are his forwards to get the puck going the other way.
Gavin Garland (C, R, 5’10”, 183, Tri-City Americans, 02/08/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Garland consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, using his relentless motor to outmaneuver opponents and create scoring opportunities. He plays smart hockey, positioning himself to gain an advantage in every aspect of the game. While he may not possess exceptional physical size, Garland makes up for it with his quickness and agility on the puck. START Garland’s ability to dictate play and control possession is a notable strength. He remains focused on his goals, even when faced with challenging situations, and consistently prioritizes getting first on the puck or creating chaos in front of the opposition. While he may occasionally struggle to capitalize on scoring chances, Garland’s dedication to hard work and tenacity make him a valuable asset to his team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Garland got a cheeky little goal getting a stick on a point shot that he was able to redirect it past the goalie. Right as the puck went low to high, Garland went straight to the net showing hard working offensive instincts. He is smaller in stature which makes that part of his game all the more necessary, not afraid to compete in harder areas despite how big the defenseman are that are looking to box out that space. His situational awareness can dip at times, and he has a tendency to jump up ice a little too early, leaving himself, and occasionally his line mates, exposed defensively.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images