Played on Jan 28, 2026
Game Played in The Sandman Centre
General Game Notes: Kamloops won this game by just dominating the beginning of each period. The Blazers nearly outshot the Rebels two to one, and the scoring chances are probably close to the same type of stats. Though they were not able to convert, the Blazers had six power plays, which is enough time to create some type of momentum throughout a game. An overall lack of discipline from the Rebels did not help their game.
JP Hurlbert (C, R, 6’0″, 187, Kamloops Blazers, 04/01/2008, Michigan)
Game Rating
A
Hurlbert is a skilled player who effectively uses his speed and agility to create scoring opportunities. His strong offensive instincts allow him to make plays when they need to be made, and he attacks the net with confidence. He has a solid combination of size and speed that makes him effective in various situations. He excels at creating space on the ice, using tight turns and head-up play to face his opponents. Hurlbert consistently shows great foot speed, often using his teammates as screens to create open lanes for shots. His ability to thrive under pressure despite being smaller in stature is also notable. Defensively, he is energetic and makes an effort to pressure opponents at the blue line. However, holding onto the puck in his own zone can be a challenge. Overall, Hurlbert’s relentless pace and creativity make him a difficult player to cover for opposing teams.
1 Viewing
Comments: Hurlbert this is going to be a top-round pick because of how good he is with and without the puck. He is a special talent who has the ability to see more of the ice than his peers at any given time. He makes the players around him better by giving them the puck with time and space, and he battles equally as hard at both ends of the ice. In a rare time where he was not on the score sheet, he was able to provide momentum with the most shots on net.
Dryden Deobald (D, L, 6’4″, 168, Kamloops Blazers, 04/23/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Deobald scored a nice goal, just being patient in the slot and one timing home a puck over the goalies shoulder. Not usually known for his goal scoring, but when he connects, he was able to show that he has a powerful shot. He does his job well at playing more of a gritty style game where he can get underneath the opponents skin with a hard forecheck and a heavy back check. Even with his body first mentality, Deobald has some quick hands to go with his play style.
Cooper Moore (C, R, 5’6″, 141, Kamloops Blazers, 04/06/2006, Augustana)
Game Rating
A-
Moore is a skilled player with a unique game that can be difficult to pin down. His smaller stature makes it challenging for him to defend against larger opponents, but he has developed ways to combat this. Offensively, Moore is a shrewd and hard-working player who consistently shows the ability to create scoring opportunities.
1 Viewing
Comments: Moore was definitely the beneficiary of a solid passing play between his entire line. On a rush, the puck started out on one side of the ice, kicked into the middle, then after a play in tight in the goalie, it was kicked out again to Moore, who had an empty net available for a one timer shot. The smaller but very agile forward buried the puck without hesitation to open the scoring for the Blazers. Moore plays bigger than he is, but at times does get bumped off the puck if he is not attune quick enough to his surroundings. When he has time and space with the puck, his hands are so quick which makes him a threat most of the time in the offensive zone.
Tommy Lafreniere (C, R, 6’0″, 177, Kamloops Blazers, 01/16/2007, Western Michigan)
Game Rating
A-
Lafreniere showcased his impressive technical skills and hockey sense in tonight’s game. He demonstrated exceptional accuracy with his wrist shot, particularly from distance, where he was able to beat the goalie over the glove. His ability to control the play and make smart decisions under pressure is noteworthy. Lafreniere also displayed creativity in the offensive zone, using his hands and passing skills to surprise opponents. However, there are areas for improvement, primarily with his skating and defensive play. While his motor picks up when gaining possession of a puck, it slows down during transitions. His team’s early lead can be attributed to his performance, but some defensive mistakes need to be addressed. To become a more well-rounded player, Lafreniere will need to refine his defensive value.
1 Viewing
Comments: Lafreniere was able to show that he is such a deceptive player with the puck multiple times tonight. He was able to create turnovers and make sauce passes to teammates with pace. You never really know what he’s going to do, and because of this, it makes it hard for defenders to play him tight. His ability to manipulate space with the puck and his confidence are keys to him being at his best.
Harrison Brunicke (D, R, 6’3″, 195, Kamloops Blazers, 05/08/2006)
Game Rating
A-
Brunicke demonstrated a strong skillset as a puck mover, exceling when in control of the puck, particularly in transitioning from his own zone to the offensive zone. While not overly flashy, he effectively creates scoring opportunities for his team through clever positioning and decision-making. In his defensive role, Brunicke showcased good vision and anticipation, allowing him to interrupt passing lanes and block shots with ease. His solid size and decent mobility on the blue line also provided him with an edge in terms of lateral movement and positioning.
1 Viewing
Comments: Brunicke has the traits of both a defensive defenseman and an offensive defenseman, where he uses mobility to be effective at both ends of the ice. With three assists on a night, he was able to show his vision and ability to create chances from small area passes to wide open seams. Where he sets himself apart from his peers is his unique combination of his mobility and his size. His anticipation to close on guys was on time, as well as his offensive ability to get up in the play, whether that be to lead the rush or be a late wave into the zone.
Josh Evaschesen (C, L, 6’2″, 191, Kamloops Blazers, 08/11/2006, RPI)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Evaschesen showed his release getting a puck in the slot and with a bit of time and space, put his whole body into a shot that beat the goalie clean low. The flex on his stick was easily seen and with how quick he was able to get it off, the confronting defenseman had no chance at stick on puck. Evaschesen does a good job at being first on the puck, wether it is a retrieval or a dog fight at the net front, he wants in on the action. He plays a hard-nosed game and this rewards him a little extra time and space with the puck.
Ty Bonkowski (RW, R, 5’10”, 169, Kamloops Blazers, 07/09/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Bonkowski scored a nice goal, exiting his own zone with speed where he shot the puck with a bit of a distance and used the defender as a screen. The shot looked like it may have been tipped and caught the goalie off guard, but it was his quick release and the use of defensemen that was able to provide just enough deception to beat the goalie. Bonkowski is a smaller, speedy forward whose hands move just as quick as his feet, and because of this, he is a threat from a standstill because he can get moving with little or no space.
Nathan Behm (C, R, 6’2″, 202, Kamloops Blazers, 04/18/2007, Arizona State)
Game Rating
A-
Behm demonstrated his skillset with a clutch performance, scoring the overtime winner for his team. He showed poise and composure while taking a breakaway shot from the hashmarks, beating the goalie over his shoulder. This display of confidence is a testament to his ability to perform under pressure.
1 Viewing
Comments: One of the better overall players in tonight’s game, with an offensive skill set that makes him hard to defend. Behm is confident with the puck, making small area plays not only to his teammates but to himself to create space and open up the ice. He is so dynamic with the puck off the rush he will cut to the middle, just to spin back to the outside of the ice. Defensively, he provided the same type of energy in his own end, breaking up plays with an active stick and just being first on the puck.
Aleksey Chichkin (D, L, 6’4″, 222, Red Deer Rebels, 07/21/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Chichkin showcases a solid defensive game, leveraging his physicality to effectively defend in the zone. He avoids the common mistake of prioritizing clearing the front of the net over the rest of the play, instead maintaining awareness of the puck’s movement and re-engaging with opponents. Chichkin demonstrates good positioning by pushing off of opponents and scanning for the puck before rejoining the play. While his foot speed is a work area, he possesses size to close out gaps if needed. His ability to follow the play and engage when necessary makes him a reliable defender.
1 Viewing
Comments: Chichkin is a massive body who is not afraid to play that physical role in his own end. His game usually stops and starts with creating a turnover in his own zone and starting to break out of that. He needs to find a way to add another layer to his game. Whether that be mobility along the blue line or getting more shots through the net, but his one dimensional game will only go so far. With that being said, he is hard to beat due to his willingness to eliminate his opponent from the play and a long reach to create stick on puck.
Jiri Kamas (D, R, 6’1″, 187, Red Deer Rebels, 03/04/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: His willingness to put a knee down and get his body in front of a shot is something that you will notice every time the other team extended their possession in the offensive zone. Kamas sacrifices his body for a blocked shot and does a good job transitioning the puck after that with quick puck moving up to his forwards. With that being said, he needs to find another dimension to his game, specifically some type of offensive style threat where he can be more of an option on the blue line.
Owen DeWitt (LW, L, 6’3″, 196, Red Deer Rebels, 02/21/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Owen Dewitt’s playing style revolves around being crafty and finding ways to attack the net, even if it means relying on clever positioning rather than raw speed. While he may not have the ability to blow past defenders with ease, Dewitt makes smart use of the space he creates and consistently turns opportunities into chances. A key aspect of his game is winning battles along the boards, where his size proves to be a significant asset.
1 Viewing
Comments: Dewitt was able to get his team on the board and make it a one goal game. With just using his size and ability to hold his ground, he won a net front scrum and was able to bury home a loose puck. This is where he was at his best tonight, in areas surrounded by chaos, where he can stand out with his size and strength to manipulate space and smaller defenders. He does not have the best first couple steps, but he does have solid straight line speed once he gets going.
Patrick Sopiarz (LW, R, 6’0″, 196, Red Deer Rebels, 03/05/2008)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Just stepped into one after getting the puck from a forced turnover from his teammate. With a quick wrist shot, he beat the goalie over his shoulder for a nice goal from a bit of a distance. Sopiarz his ability to pick his head up quickly and see what’s in front of him is a huge reason why he was able to score the goal that he did.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images