Hunter Jones (ice hockey)

Hunter Jones
Born	(2000-09-21) September 21, 2000 (age 24) Brantford, Ontario
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
AHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Laval Rocket Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL) Iowa Wild
NHL draft	59th overall, 2019 Minnesota Wild
Playing career	2020–present

Hunter Jones (born September 21, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL while under contract to the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the second round, 59th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Early life

Jones was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He began playing hockey at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks of the minor hockey system. His youth team was the Mississauga Reps U15 AAA of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).[1]

Playing career

Junior

Jones began his major junior career with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) in 2016–17. He played in 16 games for the Spirit, posting a 2.74 goals against average and .917 save percentage.[2]

After one season with the Spirit, Jones was drafted by the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He joined the Petes in 2017–18 and played in 15 games, posting a 5.14 goals against average and .866 save percentage.[3]

Jones struggled in his first season with the Petes, but he rebounded in 2018–19. He played in 57 games, posting a 3.31 goals against average and .902 save percentage.[4] He was named the Petes' most improved player and was selected to play in the 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[5][6]

In his final season with the Petes in 2019–20, Jones was named OHL's Goaltender of the Month in October 2019, after playing to an 8-1-0-0 record with a 2.34 goals against average, .923 save percentage and one shutout over nine games.[7]

Professional

Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round (59th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Wild on March 26, 2020.[8]

Jones made his American Hockey League (AHL) debut with the Iowa Wild in the 2020–21 season, playing 19 games, and posting a 3.50 goals against average and .886 save percentage.[9]

During the Stanley Cup playoffs of the 2022–23 season, Wild general manager Bill Guerin announced that Jones was recalled to be the Wild's third goalie on April 17, 2023.[10]

On July 1, 2024, Jones signed a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket, affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.[11] Prior to the beginning of the 2024–25 season, Jones was reassigned to the Trois-Rivières Lions, the Canadiens' ECHL affiliate, on October 7.[12]

Career statistics

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T/OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2016–17	Stouffville Spirit	OJHL		16	7	7	0	854	39	1	2.74	.917		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Peterborough Petes	OHL		15	3	9	0	875	75	0	5.14	.866		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Peterborough Petes	OHL		57	28	24	2	3,156	174	3	3.31	.902		5	1	4	245	19	0	4.66	.862
2019–20	Peterborough Petes	OHL		49	31	14	3	2,833	130	4	2.75	.913		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Iowa Wild	AHL		19	9	9	1	1,097	64	2	3.50	.886		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Iowa Wild	AHL		9	2	6	1	485	29	0	3.59	.884		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Iowa Heartlanders	ECHL		22	5	11	4	1,260	85	0	4.04	.878		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Iowa Wild	AHL		1	0	0	1	61	2	0	1.95	.929		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Iowa Heartlanders	ECHL		38	11	17	9	2,227	114	1	3.07	.905		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Iowa Wild	AHL		1	0	1	0	60	6	0	6.00	.889		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Iowa Heartlanders	ECHL		18	5	9	2	1,014	61	0	3.61	.890		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				30	11	16	3	1,703	101	2	3.56	.887		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

References

1. "Mississauga Reps U15 AAA 2014-2015 at Eliteprospects.com". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
2. "Stouffville Spirit 2016-2017 at Eliteprospects.com". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
3. "Peterborough Petes 2017-2018 at Eliteprospects.com". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
4. "Peterborough Petes 2018-2019 at Eliteprospects.com". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
5. "Awards - Peterborough Petes". CHL.ca. Peterborough Petes. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
6. "40 Players Selected for 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game". CHL.ca. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
7. Sweetland, Josh (2019-10-31). "OHL Top Performers of the Month for October – Ontario Hockey League". CHL.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
8. Davis, Greg (2020-03-26). "Peterborough Petes' goalie Hunter Jones signs NHL entry-level deal with Minnesota Wild - Peterborough". Global News. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
9. "Iowa Wild 2020-2021 at Eliteprospects.com". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
10. "Minnesota Wild Recalls Goaltender Hunter Jones from Iowa". Minnesota Wild. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-23 – via NHL.com.
11. "Rocket puts six players under contract". TheAHL.com. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
12. Loucks, Dylan (2024-10-08). "Former Wild Goaltending Prospect Sent To ECHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2024-10-16.

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database