Red Wings 2026 1st round pick JP Hurlbert has deep Michigan roots, but he was born and raised in Allen, Texas, and Hurlbert mostly matriculated through a minor hockey program established by the Dallas Stars.
Hurlbert spent this past season with the WHL’s Kamlooops Blazers, where he posted 42 goals and 97 points over the course of only 55 games, and he’s headed to the University of Michigan this fall…
But Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff notes that the goal-scoring forward is heading to the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario next week to take part in the World Junior Summer Showcase:
Hurlbert is one of three Red Wings draftees who have been invited by USA Hockey to participate in the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase.
Hurlbert, fellow 2026 draftee Victor Plante (47th overall), and 2025 pick Brent Solomon (109th overall) will be attending the showcase. Training camp for Team USA is slated for July 22-24 at the Belfor Training Center, adjacent to Little Caesars Arena.
The World Junior Summer Showcase will take place July 26-Aug. 1 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario.
“I’ve come back here to train, obviously,” Hurlbert said. “The I’ll go right down the road for World Junior Camp and then stay here for the rest of the summer and keep learning, keep training.”
He’s enjoying spending his summer working out in Detroit alongside other Red Wings hopefuls.
“Being with a lot of the prospects and then into Michigan,” Hurlbert listed as his plan for the remainder of the summer. “So I’ll spend a lot of time here for sure.”
Continued; as an incoming college freshman, Hurlbert has to pay his own rent and nominal fees for training at the BELFOR Training Center after he’s done with the WJSS…
But the Red Wings actually invite up to a dozen drafted prospects (including several NHL graduates) to live and work in Metro Detroit every summer, so Hurlbert isn’t doing anything that’s unusual–though it’s incredibly proactive for someone who didn’t turn 18 until this past April.
