Hunter Jones (ice hockey) explained

Hunter Jones
Birth Date:21 September 2000
Birth Place:Brantford, Ontario
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:204
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
League:AHL
Team:Laval Rocket
Former Teams:Iowa Wild
Draft:59th overall
Draft Year:2019
Draft Team:Minnesota Wild
Career Start:2020

Hunter Jones (born September 21, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the second round, 59th overall, by the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

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).[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] He was named the Petes' most improved player and was selected to play in the 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[6] [7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

During the Stanley Cup playoffs of the season, Wild general manager Bill Guerin announced that Jones was recalled to be the Wild's third goalie on April 17, 2023.[11]

On July 1, 2024, Jones signed a one-year AHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate Laval Rocket.[12]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
OJHL16 7 7 0 85439 12.74.917
OHL15 3 9 0 875 75 05.14.866
Peterborough PetesOHL57 28 2423,1561743 3.31.9025142451904.66.862
Peterborough Petes OHL4931 1432,83313042.75.913
2020–21Iowa WildAHL199911,0976423.50.886
2021–22Iowa WildAHL92614852903.59.884
2021–22Iowa HeartlandersECHL2251141,2608504.04.878
2022–23Iowa WildAHL100161201.95.929
2022–23Iowa HeartlandersECHL38111792,22711413.07.905
2023–24Iowa WildAHL101060606.00.889
2023–24Iowa HeartlandersECHL185921,0146103.61.890
AHL totals30 11 16 3 1,703 101 2 3.56 .887

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hunter Jones Stats and News . 2023-04-23 . NHL.com . en-US.
  2. Web site: Mississauga Reps U15 AAA 2014-2015 at Eliteprospects.com . 2023-04-23 . Eliteprospects.com . en.
  3. Web site: Stouffville Spirit 2016-2017 at Eliteprospects.com . 2023-04-23 . Eliteprospects.com . en.
  4. Web site: Peterborough Petes 2017-2018 at Eliteprospects.com . 2023-04-23 . Eliteprospects.com . en.
  5. Web site: Peterborough Petes 2018-2019 at Eliteprospects.com . 2023-04-23 . Eliteprospects.com . en.
  6. Web site: Awards - Peterborough Petes. 2024-07-29 . CHL.ca . Peterborough Petes.
  7. Web site: 40 Players Selected for 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game . CHL.ca. 2019-01-09. 2018-12-13 . en-CA.
  8. Web site: OHL Top Performers of the Month for October – Ontario Hockey League . Sweetland. Josh. CHL.ca. 2019-10-31 . 2023-04-23 . en-CA.
  9. Web site: Peterborough Petes’ goalie Hunter Jones signs NHL entry-level deal with Minnesota Wild - Peterborough. Davis. Greg. 2020-03-26 . 2023-04-23 . Global News. en-US.
  10. Web site: Iowa Wild 2020-2021 at Eliteprospects.com . 2023-04-23 . Eliteprospects.com . en.
  11. Web site: Minnesota Wild Recalls Goaltender Hunter Jones from Iowa . 2023-04-17 . 2023-04-23. Minnesota Wild . NHL.com . en-US.
  12. Web site: Rocket puts six players under contract . TheAHL.com. 2024-07-01 . 2024-07-01.