JP Hurlbert

JP Hurlbert
Born (2008-04-11) April 11, 2008 (age 18)
Allen, Texas, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Right
NCAA team Michigan
NHL draft 23rd overall, 2026
Detroit Red Wings

Jeffrey Paul Hurlbert III (born April 11, 2008) is an American college ice hockey player who is a left wing for the Michigan Wolverines of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was drafted 23rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Hurlbert played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program during the 2024–25 season, and recorded 19 goals and 18 assists in 56 games with the under-17 team. He also recorded 16 goals and 15 assists in 34 games with the NTDP in the United States Hockey League (USHL).

Hurlbert was drafted 20th overall by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2023 U.S. Priority Draft. On August 26, 2025, he signed with the Blazers. He made his debut for the Blazers on September 20, 2025, against the Spokane Chiefs, and scored a hat-trick. He was subsequently named the WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending September 21, 2025. The next week against the Seattle Thunderbirds, he recorded three goals and three assists in two games and was named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending September 28, 2025. He began the season with 11 goals and 17 assists in 15 games to lead the WHL in scoring during the months of September and October. He recorded eight multi-point games, including six games with at least three points, and was subsequently named the WHL Player of the Month. During November 2025, he recorded eight goals and 12 assists in 12 games. He recorded seven multi-point games, and became the first WHL player to reach the 20 goal milestone this season. He was subsequently named the WHL Rookie of the Month. He finished the 2025–26 season with 42 goals and 55 assists in 68 regular season games, leading his team in goals, assists and points. His 97 points led all WHL rookies and tied for first across the entire Canadian Hockey League with Nikita Klepov of the Saginaw Spirit. Following the season he was named the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy winner as the WHL's rookie of the year.

On June 26, 2026, Hurlbert was drafted in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Hurlbert committed to play college ice hockey for Michigan during the 2026–27 season.

International play

Hurlbert represented the United States at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, and recorded four goals and three in four games and won a gold medal. During the semifinals against Canada, he scored the game-winning shootout goal to help the United States advance to the gold medal game. During the gold medal game against the Czech Republic, he recorded one goal and two assists, helping team USA win gold. In November 2024, he represented the United States at the 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and recorded three assists in five games, as team USA finished in fourth place.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2024–25 U.S. National Development Team USHL 3416153138 —————
2025–26 Kamloops Blazers WHL 6842559745 41236
WHL totals 6842559745 41236

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2024 United States U17 4th 5 0 3 3 2
Junior totals 5 0 3 3 2

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
WHL
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy 2026

References

  1. ↑ Davies, Colton (September 2, 2025). "JP Hurlbert brings confidence and scoring touch to Blazers". CHL.ca. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  2. ↑ Vaski, Corvin (May 10, 2023). "Blazers select teammates from Texas in WHL US draft". kamloopsbcnow.com. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  3. ↑ DeMille, Matthew (August 26, 2025). "Kamloops Blazers sign 2026 NHL Draft top prospect J.P. Hurlbert". CHL.ca. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  4. ↑ Koreen, Mike (September 24, 2025). "Prospects report: Why Texan JP Hurlbert is playing in WHL". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Semeniuk, Eskit & Hurlbert Recognized with WHL Weekly Awards for September 22, 2025". oursportscentral.com. September 22, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  6. ↑ Reiter, Nathan (September 29, 2025). "Hurlbert, Edmonstone, Surkan Take Home WHL Weekly Honours". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Blazers forward Hurlbert named Tempo WHL Player of the Month for September / October". CHL.ca. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Blazers forward Hurlbert named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Month for November". CHL.ca. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Kamloops forward, Allen native JP Hurlbert named WHL Rookie of the Year". The Dallas Morning News. April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Red Wings trade goalie Cossa; draft Michigan winger Hurlbert". The Detroit News. June 26, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  11. ↑ Roth, Thomas (June 26, 2026). "Red Wings select forward J.P. Hurlbert 23rd overall in 2026 NHL Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Friday's hockey: UM lands top 2008-born prospect Hurlbert; MSU adds five players". The Detroit News. August 9, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  13. ↑ Leslie, Mike (April 10, 2024). "15-year-old Allen native is one of the brightest young hockey stars in the country, led Team USA to Youth Olympics gold medal". wfaa.com. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Advances to Gold Medal Game with 6-5 Shootout Victory over Canada in Youth Olympics Semifinals". USA Hockey. January 30, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Wins Gold Medal in Youth Olympic Games". USA Hockey. January 31, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Gangwon 2024: USA reclaim Youth Olympics men's ice hockey gold with 4-0 shutout win over Czechia". olympics.com. January 31, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ "U.S. Finishes Fourth at U17 Challenge". usahockeyntdp.com. November 9, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  18. ↑ Rocca, Taylor (April 23, 2026). "Blazers forward Hurlbert awarded Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year for 2025-26". CHL.ca. Retrieved April 23, 2026.