Hunter Shepard Bio
Hunter Markus Shepard, born on November 7, 1995, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He currently plays for the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 185 centimeters tall and weighing 95 kilograms, Shepard is recognized for a calm, technically sound approach that has defined his career from junior hockey through the professional ranks.
After a distinguished collegiate career at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he led the Bulldogs to two consecutive NCAA championships, Shepard has steadily built a reputation as a reliable professional goaltender. He has competed in the ECHL and AHL, captured a Calder Cup championship with the Hershey Bears, and made his NHL debut in October 2023. In 2025, he signed with the Ottawa Senators organization, beginning a new chapter in his professional journey.
Early Life and Background
Shepard was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, to parents Mark and Terri Shepard. Neither of his parents played hockey, but the region offered a fertile environment for a future goaltender. As a young child, Shepard attended a daycare run by the mother of Adam Hauser, the starting goaltender for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s ice hockey team. He would catch softballs in the Hauser living room with a goaltending glove, an experience he credits with sparking his interest in the position.
He began playing competitive hockey at the age of five or six, while his father and uncle coached him in baseball. Shepard attended Grand Rapids High School, where he lettered as a goaltender in hockey and as an infielder and pitcher in baseball. In his senior year, he and teammate Avery Peterson became the first pair from the same school to receive Minnesota Minute Men Mr. Hockey awards in the same season, a notable accomplishment that highlighted his standing within the state’s high school hockey community.
Path to Hockey
Despite his high school success, Shepard was not selected in the NHL Draft and did not receive a collegiate scholarship offer. He was taken in the third round of the Tier 1 United States Hockey League draft by the Lincoln Stars, but he chose to leave because the team did not provide a dedicated goaltending coach. He then contacted Bismarck Bobcats head coach Layne Sedevie of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) to ask about a roster spot.
Shepard debuted with the Bobcats during the 2014–15 season and posted a 14–14–1 record with a 3.28 goals-against average. He improved dramatically in his second season, finishing 34–11–3 with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, setting a franchise record for wins. His performance earned him an invitation to the 2016 Top Prospects Tournament, and he was named NAHL Goaltender of the Month for January. Following that season, the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs approached him about joining the program as a third goaltender, and he accepted.
Hunter Shepard Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Shepard made his collegiate debut on October 15, 2016, in a 3–1 loss to Notre Dame, stopping 35 shots. He served primarily as a backup during his freshman year and dressed for the Bulldogs’ four NCAA tournament appearances. The following season, Shepard competed for the starting job and eventually claimed it, becoming the first UMD goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts in a home series.
He set UMD records for most shutouts in a single season and most consecutive shutouts during a February 2018 game against Western Michigan. Shepard finished the year with a 25–14–1 record, a 1.91 goals-against average, and a .925 save percentage. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2018 Frozen Four after leading the Bulldogs to the NCAA National Championship with a 2–1 win over Notre Dame, the program’s second national title.
NCAA Dynasty (2018–2020)
Returning for his junior season, Shepard posted a 29–11–2 record and started a program-record 81 consecutive games. He was named an AHCA First Team All-American, the first UMD goaltender to receive that honor since Alex Stalock, and a finalist for the Mike Richter Award. Shepard led the Bulldogs to a second consecutive NCAA championship in 2019, becoming the first goaltender in 50 years to lead a team to back-to-back national titles.
As a senior, Shepard was named co-captain, the first UMD goaltender captain since Rick Heinz in 1976. On November 27, 2019, he set a new program record for career wins with his 61st victory against Colorado College. On January 25, 2020, he started his 105th consecutive game, setting an NCAA record for consecutive starts by a goaltender. The COVID-19 pandemic cut his senior season short, but he finished with a 22–10–2 record and was again recognized as one of the nation’s top goaltenders.
Professional Debut and AHL Rise (2020–2023)
Shepard signed a two-year AHL contract with the Hershey Bears on June 25, 2020. He was assigned to the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL and earned ECHL Goaltender of the Month honors in December 2020. He made his AHL debut on May 2, 2021, posting a 28-save shutout against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and helped the Stingrays reach the Kelly Cup Finals that spring.
Shepard split the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons between the Bears and Stingrays. During 2022–23, he and Zach Fucale became the first Hershey goaltending tandem to each win 20 games in a season since 2018–19. Shepard started all 20 Calder Cup playoff games, posting a 1.85 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. He earned the Jack Butterfield Award as playoff MVP after the Bears defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals. The Washington Capitals then signed him to a two-year, two-way contract worth 775,000 dollars.
Washington Capitals and NHL Debut (2023–2025)
Shepard began the 2023–24 season with the Hershey Bears before being recalled to the NHL. He made his NHL debut on October 25, 2023, against the New Jersey Devils, earning a 6–4 victory for his first NHL win. He returned to Hershey and helped the team win a second consecutive Calder Cup on June 24, 2024.
Ottawa Senators Era (2025–Present)
After five seasons in the Capitals organization, Shepard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 2, 2025. He was assigned to the Belleville Senators for the 2025–26 season, where he serves as a key piece of the organization’s goaltending depth.
Playing Style and Strengths
Shepard is recognized for his poise, positional discipline, and consistency. He reads the play efficiently and relies on sound fundamentals rather than dramatic movements. His long collegiate run, including an NCAA record for consecutive starts, reflects durability and mental toughness, qualities that have allowed him to handle heavy professional workloads.
Notable Events and Milestones
Career milestones include back-to-back NCAA championships in 2018 and 2019, the NCAA record for consecutive starts by a goaltender, the Jack Butterfield Award as Calder Cup MVP, and his NHL debut win with the Washington Capitals in 2023.
Hunter Shepard Career Wins
Shepard has accumulated a lengthy list of victories across junior, collegiate, and professional hockey, highlighted by two NCAA national championships and a Calder Cup title.
NCAA Highlights
Shepard won NCAA championships with Minnesota Duluth in 2018 and 2019, earning Frozen Four All-Tournament Team and Most Valuable Player honors in 2018. He finished his collegiate career with 105 consecutive starts, an NCAA record for goaltenders, and set multiple UMD records along the way.
Professional Highlights
In the ECHL, Shepard helped the South Carolina Stingrays reach the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals. In the AHL, he was a central figure in Hershey’s 2023 Calder Cup championship and their 2024 Calder Cup repeat. He also earned AHL Goaltender of the Month honors in November 2022.
Hunter Shepard Family
Family Background and Lineage
Shepard is the son of Mark and Terri Shepard of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. No members of his immediate family played hockey, though his father and uncle coached him in baseball during his youth.
Personal Life
Shepard grew up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and has remained closely tied to the state throughout his career. He has spoken publicly about the importance of family and his Minnesota roots in deciding to stay at UMD for four years rather than turn professional early.
2025 Season Performance
Shepard joined the Ottawa Senators organization on July 2, 2025, and was assigned to the Belleville Senators for the 2025–26 AHL season. He is expected to serve as a stabilizing presence in Belleville’s goaltending rotation, providing depth and potential recall options for the parent club.
Coming off consecutive Calder Cup championships with the Hershey Bears, Shepard enters 2025–26 with momentum and a strong professional track record. His durability, refined technique, and championship experience make him a valuable asset as he adjusts to a new organization.
Shepard’s primary goal for the 2025 season is to continue his development as a professional goaltender and remain ready for an NHL opportunity. His track record of performing in high-pressure situations positions him as a candidate for future call-ups to the Ottawa Senators.