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The University of Michigan has unveiled the jersey numbers for its seven incoming freshmen, with Detroit Red Wings prospect J.P. Hurlbert assigned No. 2 for the 2026-27 campaign. The announcement also covered Brandt Harper, Landon Dupont, Cam Reid, Kieren Dervin, and Nic Sima, rounding out the new class.
Hurlbert, a Texas native and fourth-generation Wolverine, was selected by Detroit at No. 23 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. His family legacy with Michigan, he believes, will translate into an on-ice intensity that provides a competitive advantage. 'I think having that much passion and a dream being built around it will definitely give me an edge,' Hurlbert said in an exclusive interview with Detroit Red Wings On SI. 'This is a school I want to bring the best that I absolutely can to, and leave it better than I found it. It's the next closest thing I know to home and I'll do anything I can to help bring a National Championship to Michigan.'
Hurlbert's junior credentials are impressive: he was named WHL Rookie of the Year after finishing fourth in league scoring with 42 goals and 55 assists (97 points) in 68 games for the Kamloops Blazers. He was also a finalist for WHL Player of the Year and served as an alternate captain in 2025-26. Additionally, he has experience with the USNTDP and participated in the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase.
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Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato has high expectations for Hurlbert, citing his passion and work ethic as standout qualities. 'What drove me to J.P. is his passion for the game. He's a student of the game, people that want to be the best versions of themselves—but don't just talk about it, they put in the work. That's what really drove me to him,' Naurato told Detroit Red Wings On SI. 'He's a game breaker, an elite offensive talent playmaker, an elite scorer, and he's proven that at the junior level. We're excited to put him in a position to perform to his strengths.'
The Wolverines concluded the 2025-26 season with a 31-8-1 record, falling in double overtime to No. 4 Denver in the NCAA Frozen Four. Michigan will open the new season at home against Bowling Green on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, where Hurlbert will make his collegiate debut.