Brad Hunt Bio
Bradley Michael Hunt, born on August 24, 1988, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. Standing 175 centimeters tall and weighing 85 kilograms, Hunt has built a reputation as an undersized but offensively gifted blueliner, best known for a hard slapshot and reliable power-play quarterbacking. He is currently playing for Vaasan Sport, after most recently suiting up for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Hunt began his professional journey as an undrafted college free agent and has since spent parts of seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), including stops with the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks, and Colorado Avalanche. Internationally, Hunt represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, helping the country capture a gold medal.
Early Life and Background
Bradley Michael Hunt was born to Steve and Tricia Hunt and raised in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, where he developed his early passion for hockey. His father, Steve, had been a Senior AA goaltender, and he set up a deck in the family backyard so that a young Brad could shoot pucks at him. That home setup became the foundation of Hunt’s trademark slapshot, a skill that later defined his professional identity.
Hunt began playing organized hockey through the Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association at the atom level. He originally skated as a forward, but during his pee-wee years, he switched to defence in order to earn more ice time. Growing up in Maple Ridge, he became close friends with fellow future professional Victor Bartley, who shared his journey through the minor hockey ranks.
Hunt has a younger sister named Brittany, and the family remained an important presence throughout his development. The combination of his father’s goaltending background, the backyard shooting deck, and a strong minor hockey system in Ridge Meadows helped shape Hunt into the offensively minded defenceman he would become.
Path to Hockey
Hunt’s competitive path began in the Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association, after which he advanced through two seasons of midget AAA before joining the junior B Ridge Meadows Flames of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) as a sixteen-year-old. In his first season with the Flames, he was named the team’s Rookie of the Year and earned an invitation to the PJHL All-Star and Prospect Game. During that campaign, he received a call-up to the junior A Burnaby Express of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
Though he appeared in only three regular-season games and two playoff contests with the Express, Hunt was part of the roster when the Burnaby Express won the 2006 Royal Bank Cup as Canadian junior A champions. He returned for two more BCHL seasons, capturing the Express’ Most Outstanding Defenceman award twice and increasing his offensive totals to 16 goals and 55 points in his final junior season.
Following his junior career, Hunt attended Bemidji State University, where he joined the Bemidji State Beavers of NCAA Division I. As a freshman, he scored 9 goals and 32 points in 33 games and was named CHA Rookie of the Year. He also quarterbacked Bemidji State’s surprising 2009 Frozen Four run, becoming just the sixth defenceman in program history to surpass 100 career points.
Brad Hunt Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Undrafted out of college, Hunt signed an amateur tryout contract with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, where his first head coach was Craig MacTavish. He scored his first professional goal on March 29, 2012, against the Abbotsford Heat, in front of roughly 40 friends and family members. In 14 games with Chicago, he recorded 1 goal and 5 points, then added another goal and 5 points in five Calder Cup playoff games.
In his first full professional season with the Wolves, Hunt was named to the 2013 AHL All-Star Game, replacing the injured Brett Sterling as Chicago’s representative. At the time of the selection, he led the Wolves in scoring among defencemen. He finished third in the Hardest Shot event with a 99.5 miles per hour blast, then scored a first-period goal in the All-Star Game to help the Western Conference to a 7–6 win. After the season, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers, the club where MacTavish had become general manager.
NHL Breakthrough (2014–2017)
Hunt opened the 2013–14 season with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons, where he led Oklahoma City’s defencemen in scoring with 3 goals and 15 points in 29 games. Following injuries on Edmonton’s blueline, he was recalled and made his NHL debut on January 3, 2014, against the Anaheim Ducks, skating 10:53 and finishing as a minus-one. He appeared in three NHL games with the Oilers before being reassigned to the Barons.
After his time in the Oilers organization, Hunt returned to the Chicago Wolves on a one-year, two-way deal with the St. Louis Blues on July 2, 2016. He excelled with the Wolves in 2016–17, leading all AHL defencemen in scoring through 23 games. Recalled by the Blues, he made an immediate impact in nine NHL games before being placed on waivers on January 16, 2017, and claimed the next day by the injury-depleted Nashville Predators.
Vegas Golden Knights Era (2017–2019)
On July 1, 2017, Hunt signed a two-year, one-way contract with the expansion Vegas Golden Knights as a free agent. Skating primarily as a power-play specialist, he appeared in 58 games for the Golden Knights during the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons. On January 21, 2019, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild along with a sixth-round 2019 NHL Entry Draft pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the same draft.
With the Wild, Hunt recorded 3 power-play goals and 5 points in 29 games from the blueline. Despite his contributions, Minnesota missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.
Minnesota Wild Era (2019–2021)
Hunt spent the better part of three seasons with the Minnesota Wild, serving as a depth defenceman and power-play contributor. On June 24, 2019, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.4 million to remain in Minnesota. His steady presence helped solidify the Wild’s bottom pairing during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 campaigns.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2021–2022)
On July 28, 2021, Hunt signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent. He provided veteran leadership and power-play expertise on the Canucks’ blueline during the 2021–22 season, contributing offensive punch from the back end.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2022–2024)
On July 15, 2022, Hunt signed a two-year, two-way contract with the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. After attending training camp, he was placed on waivers and began the 2022–23 season with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, where he played a top-pairing role and led the team in scoring with 20 points through 22 games. Recalled on December 9, 2022, he made his Avalanche debut in a 2–1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers and scored his first Colorado goal on January 7, 2023, against the Edmonton Oilers in a 3–2 overtime victory. After clearing waivers on February 17, 2023, he was named captain of the Colorado Eagles.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hunt is considered undersized for a National Hockey League defenceman, but he compensates with a hard, accurate slapshot and elite offensive instincts. He thrives as a power-play quarterback, using his poise and vision to orchestrate man-advantage units. His skating and puck-moving ability allow him to transition quickly from defence to offence, while his veteran poise helps stabilize a third pairing.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hunt’s signature moment came during Bemidji State’s 2009 NCAA Tournament run, when he helped the Beavers become the first No. 16 seed to reach the Frozen Four. He also played a key role in the Burnaby Express’ 2006 Royal Bank Cup championship and represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, earning a gold medal.
Brad Hunt Career Wins
Across junior, college, and professional hockey, Bradley Michael Hunt has accumulated several notable victories, highlighted by the 2006 Royal Bank Cup with the Burnaby Express and a gold medal with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
NCAA and AHL Highlights
At Bemidji State, Hunt was a central figure in the program’s historic 2009 Frozen Four run and earned multiple All-CHA selections. In the AHL, he was selected to six All-Star Classics and was a driving force behind the Chicago Wolves’ offensive attack during multiple stints with the club.
Other Wins and Performances
Hunt captured the 2006 Royal Bank Cup as a member of the Burnaby Express, was twice named the Express’ Most Outstanding Defenceman, and won a gold medal with Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. He also earned CHA Rookie of the Year honors during his freshman season at Bemidji State.
Brad Hunt Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Bradley Michael Hunt was born to Steve and Tricia Hunt, with his father Steve having played goaltender at the Senior AA level. Steve played an instrumental role in Brad’s development, building a deck in the family backyard in Maple Ridge so that his son could practice his shot, which became the foundation of Hunt’s trademark slapshot.
Personal Life
Hunt has a younger sister named Brittany. He grew up in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and his childhood best friend, Victor Bartley, also pursued a professional hockey career. Details about his marital status, spouse, and children are not publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Bradley Michael Hunt is currently playing for Vaasan Sport after signing with the Finnish club following his time with the Hershey Bears. As a veteran defenceman, he is expected to bring offensive creativity and power-play quarterbacking to the Liiga roster. His experience across multiple NHL organizations and AHL affiliates positions him as a reliable leader on the Vaasan Sport blueline.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Hunt’s role will likely center on stabilizing the team’s transition game and providing veteran mentorship to younger Finnish defencemen. His ability to quarterback a power play and deliver a hard slapshot from the point remains his most valuable asset at this stage of his career.
With several seasons of professional hockey still in his legs, Hunt continues to demonstrate the same offensive instincts and leadership qualities that carried him from Maple Ridge minor hockey to the NHL stage and international competition.