Hunter Jones

Hunter Jones (born September 21, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for 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).

Playing career Junior Jones began his junior hockey 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.

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 appeared in 15 games, posting a 5.14 goals against average and .866 save percentage.

While facing struggles in his first season with the Petes, Jones rebounded in 2018–19. In 57 games, he posted a 3.31 goals against average and .902 save percentage. He was named the Petes' most improved player and was selected to play in the 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

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

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.

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.

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

On July 1, 2024, Jones signed a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket, affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. Prior to the beginning of the 2024–25 season, Jones was reassigned to the Trois-Rivières Lions, the Canadiens' ECHL affiliate, on October 7. Thereafter, Jones helped guide the Lions to the franchise's first Kelly Cup championship.

Entering the ensuing offseason as an unrestricted free agent, Jones agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Rocket organization on July 5, 2025. He once again rejoined Trois-Rivières that October ahead of the 2025–26 season.

International play

Internationally, Jones firstly represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada Black at the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he earned a silver medal. Shortly thereafter, he became the first ever 16-year-old goaltender to be named to the annual World Junior A Challenge capturing a silver medal along with team Canada East.

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 3 0 1 97 10 0 6.18 .833 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 — — — — — — — — 2024–25 Trois-Rivières Lions ECHL 28 15 6 6 1,629 78 0 2.87 .905 2 1 0 79 1 1 0.76 .970 2025–26 Trois-Rivières Lions ECHL 30 17 10 1 1,675 66 4 2.36 .917 — — — — — — — — 2025–26 Laval Rocket AHL 3 0 3 0 173 12 0 4.16 .844 — — — — — — — —AHL totals 33 11 19 3 1,876 113 2 3.61 .884 — — — — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2016 Canada Black U17 1 1 0 0 60 4 0 4.00 .852 2016 Canada East WJAC — — — — — — — — — Junior totals 1 1 0 0 60 4 0 4.00 .852

Awards and honours Award Year RefOHA Top Prospect Award 2017 OJHL Second All-Prospect Team 2017 CHL CHL Canada/Russia Series 2018, 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2019 ECHLKelly Cup champion2025