Hunt looking forward to Moose Jaw

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/12/2020 (1759 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Daemon Hunt could be excused if he thought the last 12 months of his hockey career have been cursed.

On Dec. 3, 2019, the Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman suffered a severe cut on his right forearm from a skate blade during a game. The injury required surgery, including repair and reattachment of the muscle, followed by extensive rehab.

The three-month layoff limited his WHL season to 28 games.

Five games after his return, the pandemic abruptly ended his season and the 18-year-old Brandonite watched helplessly as his status as a potential first-round NHL draft pick evaporated. He was eventually chosen in the third round by the Minnesota Wild.

But that misfortune was only a warm-up for more bad luck.

While attending Hockey Canada’s world junior selection camp in Red Deer, Alta., Hunt was diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. On Monday, following a 14-day quarantine period for the entire team, his dreams of representing his country were dashed when he was deemed “unfit to play” and released along with four others.

“Starting with my injury and then coming back and then with the pandemic and missing the (draft) combine and missing the draft… it’s just been an overwhelming 12 months and it’s definitely been hard physically and mentally for me,” said Hunt by telephone from Calgary Thursday.

“I think it’s almost close to rock bottom in a way. Honestly, I’m ready to put the past behind me and have a great season with Moose Jaw, get better every day and trust the process. In a year’s time, I’m going to be back at that world junior camp and I’m hoping to crack that roster.”

Getting sent home — Hunt’s family is currently relocating to Calgary — was a body blow.

“It was obviously heartbreaking and disappointing because you grow up watching the world juniors and just to be a part of that was great but actually playing in it is something else,” he said.

Hunt said he experienced symptoms — a sore throat — for three days and feels fine now but players afflicted with the virus, including Brandon Wheat Kings forward Ridly Greig, were not allowed to continue. 

“Actually, I got symptoms the day we went into our 14-day quarantine — we didn’t go into quarantine because of me,” said Hunt. “But I had symptoms, so they’re thinking I got it from someone else that was on the team.”

Meanwhile, Team Canada’s management whittled down its roster further in advance of Thursday night’s intrasquad game. Forwards Shane Wright, Adam Beckman, Tyson Foerster, Hendrix Lapierre and Cole Schwindt and goaltenders Brett Brochu and Tristan Lennox were cut loose, leaving 34 players in the Canadian camp.

Final world junior rosters can have 22 skaters and three goalies.

Winnipeg’s Seth Jarvis, a right-winger from the Portland Winterhawks, and Winnipeg Ice centre Peyton Krebs of Okotoks, Alta., remain on the roster.

Wheat Kings blue-liner Braden Schneider, a product of Prince Albert, Sask., also appears to be a good bet to make the final grade.

Dylan Garland, Taylor Gauthier and Devon Levi will be Canada’s three puckstoppers.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14