Curtis Hunt
Encyclopedia
Curtis Hunt is a retired professional ice hockey
player who currently is the head coach for the Regina Pats
os the Western Hockey League
(WHL).
in the WHL, winning a Memorial Cup
in 1985. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks
in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
, but never played in the NHL. Hunt played in the American Hockey League
for the Fredericton Express
and St. John's Maple Leafs
. He also played in the International Hockey League
(IHL) and the East Coast Hockey League.
. He then moved to the WHL, serving as head coach for the Moose Jaw Warriors
and Regina Pats
. After the 2003–04 season with the Warriors, Hunt was the runner-up for WHL Coach of the Year. Hunt made the jump to the National Hockey League
coaching ranks, serving as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators
during the 2008–09 season. After head coach Craig Hartsburg
was fired, Hunt was demoted to coach the Binghamton Senators
of the AHL. Hunt rejoined the Pats starting with the 2009–10 season.
Hunt has coached internationally for Canada at the junior level. He served as an assistant coach on Canada's gold medal winning teams at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
in 2006 and 2007.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who currently is the head coach for the Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
os the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL).
Playing career
Hunt played junior hockey for the Prince Albert RaidersPrince Albert Raiders
The Prince Albert Raiders are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. The Raiders play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference. They are based in the Saskatchewan city of Prince Albert...
in the WHL, winning a Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
in 1985. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft
1985 NHL Entry Draft
The 1985 NHL Entry Draft was the first draft outside of Montreal. The event was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and attended by 7,000 fans. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the...
, but never played in the NHL. Hunt played in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
for the Fredericton Express
Fredericton Express
The Fredericton Express were a professional ice hockey team based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1981 and 1988. The Express were affiliated with the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
and St. John's Maple Leafs
St. John's Maple Leafs
The St. John's Maple Leafs were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada at Memorial Stadium from 1991–2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001–2005.-History:...
. He also played in the International Hockey League
International Hockey League (1992–1996)
The International Hockey League lasted from 1992 to 1996. It replaced the Soviet Union's Championship league. The last season was in 1995-1996, as the league was replaced replaced by the Russian Superleague the following season....
(IHL) and the East Coast Hockey League.
Coaching career
Hunt started his coaching career in the IHL as an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids GriffinsGrand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League....
. He then moved to the WHL, serving as head coach for the Moose Jaw Warriors
Moose Jaw Warriors
The Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League which are based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team plays its home games at Mosaic Place. The franchise moved to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg after the 1983–84 season, where they had previously been named the...
and Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
. After the 2003–04 season with the Warriors, Hunt was the runner-up for WHL Coach of the Year. Hunt made the jump to the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
coaching ranks, serving as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
during the 2008–09 season. After head coach Craig Hartsburg
Craig Hartsburg
Craig William Hartsburg is a retired Canadian professional hockey player and associate coach in the National Hockey League for the Calgary Flames. He also coached in the Ontario Hockey League. He has previously been an NHL head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and...
was fired, Hunt was demoted to coach the Binghamton Senators
Binghamton Senators
The Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . Nicknamed the B-Sens, they play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Along with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the B-Sens are minor league affiliates of the Ottawa Senators...
of the AHL. Hunt rejoined the Pats starting with the 2009–10 season.
Hunt has coached internationally for Canada at the junior level. He served as an assistant coach on Canada's gold medal winning teams at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
in 2006 and 2007.