Jett Lajoie celebrates his overtime winner against the Kamloops Blazers on Jan. 16, 2025. (Image Credit: Brian Johnson/Kamloops Blazers)

By Victor Kaisar

Cougars 7 Blazers 6 OT

Lajoie hat trick helps Cougars snap losing streak at seven

Jan 17, 2026 | 8:53 AM

KAMLOOPS — Jett Lajoie scored the overtime winner to complete his first career WHL hat trick as the Prince George Cougars knocked off the Kamloops Blazers 7-6 at Sandman Centre Friday (Jan. 16) night.

The come from behind win enabled the Cougars to snap a seven game losing streak that began Dec. 30 in Kamloops. The 24-16-2-0 Cougars sit third in the WHL’s Western Conference with 50 points from 42 games, seven points behind the BC Division-leading Penticton Vees.

Jett Fuel.@PGCougars | #WHLHatTricks pic.twitter.com/61sqIA6Di3

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 17, 2026

JP Hurlbert, who opened the scoring for Kamloops, finished with a hat trick as well. He scored twice in the first period before second period goals from Josh Evaschesen and Jordan Keller ended Joshua Ravensbergen’s night early as he gave up four goals on 14 shots in 26:09 of work.

Alexander Levshyn picked up the win for Prince George, as he made 12 saves on 14 shots in 37:32 of relief work. Blazers netminder Logan Edmonstone stopped 45 of 52 shots in a losing effort.

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Lajoie scored the Cougars’ first goal of the night in the opening period, before second period goals from Arsenii Anisimov, Bauer Dumanski – on the power play – and Lajoie’s second evened the score at 4-4 after 40 minutes.

Lee Shurgot then gave Prince George its first lead of the night when he struck just before the 10 minute mark of the third period.

LEE SHURGOT SCORES OUR 4TH UNANSWERED. COUGS LEAD.@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/J3Z5iNgIPM pic.twitter.com/KbW7stB8wz

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) January 17, 2026

Goals from Keller and Dmitri Yakutsenak made it 6-5 Cougars before Hurlbert completed his hat trick with a 6-on-4 power play goal with just 25 seconds left on the clock. The American forced overtime as the Blazers capitalized once Prince George forward Aidan Foster was penalized for cross checking.

While the Cougars dominated possession in the extra frame, there were few chances, though Lajoie took his in stride when he tucked home a rebound over Edmonstone’s glove hand to seal the win for Prince George.

The Cougars will continue on the road as they head to Kelowna to face Rockets at Prospera Place. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.