Brad Hunt, a 14‑year veteran of North American professional hockey, announced his retirement on social media, bringing to a close a career that saw him appear in 422 AHL games and 288 NHL contests.
A Career Defined by Resilience
Selected after a standout junior career in the BCHL where he flirted with a near‑point‑per‑game pace, Hunt chose the NCAA route and joined Bemidji State University, where as a freshman he captured conference rookie of the year honors and helped the Beavers clinch a championship.
After turning professional with an amateur tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves in 2012, he posted 33 points as a defenseman and earned AHL all‑star recognition, leading to a two‑year entry‑level deal with the Edmonton Oilers and a series of NHL call‑ups.
Over the next decade Hunt bounced between the Oilers, the Oklahoma City Barons, the St. Louis Blues, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Minnesota Wild, the Vancouver Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche, signing multiple one‑way contracts and often serving as a depth option on the blue line.
International Triumph and Final Chapter
His most recent chapter saw him return to the AHL with the Colorado Eagles before signing in Finland with Vaasan Sport for the 2025‑26 Liiga season, where he posted 25 points in 53 games as a rookie.
Internationally, Hunt represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championships, contributing to a gold‑medal performance that capped a career marked by perseverance and adaptability.
Though he never became a household name, Hunt’s statistical footprint — 409 points in 763 professional games — underscores the impact of an undersized, undrafted defenseman who carved out a durable niche in the NHL.