Hurlbert brings high hockey IQ to CHL USA Prospects Challenge

By Lethbridge Herald on November 20, 2025.

brian johnson photo Kamloops Blazers JP Hurlbert comes into the CHL USA Prospects Challenge with a high hockey IQ.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

High-end talent will be on display at the  CHL USA Prospects Challenge in Calgary and Lethbridge  next week and a player to watch from the WHL is Kamloops Blazers forward JP Hurlbert, as he and Team CHL will play the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 team.

The 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a best-on-best, two-game series spotlighting the top NHL Draft-eligible players from the WHL, OHL and QMJHL facing off against the U.S. National Under-18 Team.

“I’m really excited to be  part of it,” said Hurlbert.

“It’s a huge opportunity to play with the best players in the CHL and just really excited to get to Calgary and play in Lethbridge and hopefully come out with two wins.”

There will be some familiarity for Hurlbert at the Challenge as he knows some of the U-18 team from  playing as a part of the U-17 NTDP last year.

“It’s gonna be fun,” said Hurlbert.

“Obviously a lot of great friends over there, a lot of guys (I have) a lot of memories with,  but it’s gonna be a great game and excited to play with the CHL guys and it’s gonna be a great time.”

Hurlbert is going into the Challenge as an A-rated prospect, which means he is projected to go in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

“It’s a tremendous honour to be seen that way but the draft’s a ways a way and so it’s putting my head down and going to work,” said Hurlbert.

“There’s obviously a bunch (of) tremendous players in this event. So it’s going to be really cool to learn from guys and talk to guys on what they see and it’ll be a great competition.”

Fans will be able to watch a winger that has dynamic attributes through his smarts, speed and skillset  that allow him to succeed on both sides of the ice.

“It’s just hockey IQ and being able to read off defenders and create time and space,” said Hurlbert.

“For me, I’ve never been afraid to shoot the puck and I feel that’s another strong area of my game is shot accuracy and placing the puck where I want it to go.”

The Texan leads the WHL and Canadian Hockey League with 40 points going into tonight’s action.

“Teammates have been a huge part and just reading really well with guys,” said Hurlburt.

“The success is great but as long as the team’s  winning it’s even better.”

Hurbert spoke about how he has approached developing his games since coming to Kamloops.

“The NHL is such a hard league to play in and you gotta improve (everything),” said Hurlbert.

Hurlbert will be an assistant coach for Team CHL.

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge is on Nov. 25 in Calgary and Nov. 26 in Lethbridge at VisitLethbridge.com Arena with both games starting at 6 p.m.

-With files from James Tubb, Medicine Hat News and Justin Seward, Lethbridge Herald