Christmas arrived on Independence Day in 2019 for 12th year veteran ECHL tough guy Garet Hunt(24) as he agrees to a one-year deal with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL for 2019/2020.
He takes an absolute massive 702 league games (7 seasons with Stockton Thunder, and two apiece for Alaska Aces and Jacksonville IceMen) over to Russia’s top league.
The small, very tough forward has also twice been most penalized, dropped the gloves 231 times and takes an extraordinary 2666 penalty minutes (all-time leader) with him as well.
He also is decently handy with the puck as he 5 times had 10+ goals and on occasions notched 10+ assists as well, twice hitting 30+ points but 5 seasons had 20+ totals.
At 31, 32 by the time the new season starts, he still has plenty left to hammer some more but this also may be a pretty great way to wrap up a very hard battled for pro hockey career.
Garet Hunt (24)
Undrafted left wing Garet Hunt(24) re-signs for his 6th pro season with Stockton Thunder, the only pro team he’s ever been under contract with.
He has skated in 314 ECHL regular season games and was named their 2012/2013 captain, going all the way to the Kelly Cup Finals.
The 25-year old has skated in 10 AHL games, 1 during his rookie campaign with Springfield Falcons and in his third year he actually was on the opening night roster with Worcester Sharks.
That stint lasted 9 games and he got his first point in the league, an assist.
He also totaled 35 penalty minutes, a leader distinction he held in the ECHL last season with a mark of 235.
The almost irony of that number is he’s used to put up closer to or over 250 pims in a season and has over 1200 career.
The small but sturdy, scrappy style 5’8″ 190 lbs. forward pays the price out there and also shows the ability at least on this level to help out on the score sheet as well.
He has 37 goals and a handy 65 assists with only a -6 rating, which is low for a guy that spends as much time in the box as he does.