Brad Hunt

Bradley Sean Hunt (born August 24, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He previously played in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, and Vancouver Canucks.

Hunt was born on August 24, 1988, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, to Steve and Tricia Hunt.

He has a younger sister, Brittany.

As a child Steve, a former Senior AA goaltender, set up a deck for Brad to shoot pucks from in the family's backyard.

Growing up, he was best friends with Victor Bartley, who also plays professional hockey.

Hunt began playing in the Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association at the atom level.

He began as a forward but in pee-wee he switched to defence to gain more playing time.

He played two years of midget AAA then made the junior B Ridge Meadows Flames in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) as a sixteen-year-old.

In his first year with the Flames, he was named the team's Rookie of the Year and played in the PJHL All-Star and Prospect Game.

During the season, he was called up to the junior A Burnaby Express in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

He played just three games for the Express and an additional two playoff games.

As a junior ice hockey player, Hunt was a member of the Burnaby Express team that won the 2006 Royal Bank Cup as Canadian junior A champions.

He was twice named the team's Most Outstanding Defensemen.

Internationally, Hunt has represented Canada on one occasion, winning a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.

That said, he was with the team when they won the 2006 Royal Bank Cup as Canadian junior A champions.

He stayed with the Express the following season and played in 60 games scoring 4 goals and 38 points and added another 8 points in 14 playoff games.

For his efforts, he was named the team's Most Outstanding Defenceman.

In the 2007–08 season, his final with the team, he increased his offensive production to 16 goals and 55 points and played in the BCHL All-Star Game.

He was again named the team's Most Outstanding Defenceman, while the Express Lost in Round 1 in 5 Games against the Victoria Grizzlies.

Following his third season in junior, Hunt attended Bemidji State University (BSU).

While there, he played with the Bemidji State Beavers, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I.

In his first season with the Beavers, Hunt scored 9 goals and 32 points in 33 games.

BSU won the College Hockey America (CHA) tournament with Hunt being named to the CHA All-Tournament Team.

While there, he helped them to two NCAA tournaments, including a Cinderella run to the Frozen Four in 2009.

He also earned multiple individual honours during his time at Bemidji State and left as the Beaver's all-time leader in defenseman scoring and defenseman power play goals.

By winning the tournament, Bemidji State earned an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.

The Beavers entered the tournament as the lowest seeded team and matched up with Notre Dame.

BSU upset the Fighting Irish and proceed to defeat Cornell University, advancing to the Frozen Four.

With the wins, Bemidji State became the first number 16 seed to make the Frozen Four, and the first team to ever make the Frozen Four from outside college hockey's top four conferences.

Their Cinderella run ended with a 4–1 loss to Miami University.

Hunt was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team.

At the end of the season, he was also named to the All-CHA Rookie Team, All-CHA First Team, and named CHA Rookie of the Year.

In his second season, Hunt's goal production dipped slightly to 7, but he increased his assist total to 26.

His assist total was one shy of tying the school's Division I single season record held by Luke Erickson.

At the end of the season, he was again named to the All-CHA First Team.

In the 2010 CHA Tournament, the top-ranked Beavers were upset by Niagara University in the first round and later tied Robert Morris University in the consolation game.

Hunt beginning his professional career in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Chicago Wolves, where he was an All-Star in the 2012–13 season.

He is considered undersized for a defenseman, but has a hard slapshot.

Prior to turning professional, Hunt played college hockey with the Bemidji State Beavers.