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Nelson's Dryden Hunt doing his best to forget about former WHL team Regina Pats

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
January 11th, 2015

Nelson Minor Hockey grad Dryden Hunt is doing a good job forgetting about his old team, the Regina Pats.

The speedy forward, who was part of a blockbuster Western Hockey League trade last week to Medicine Hat, had four points in three games to help the Tigers register a 2-1 record during a weekend road swing through BC.

Hunt had an assist to help Medicine Hat knock off Kelowna Rockets 5-3 Saturday in the Central Okanagan City.

During the opener, Hunt scored the winner on the power play, added an assist and was named the game’s first star in a 3-2 win over Victoria.

The lone loss came in Vancouver, a 5-3 loss to the Giants.

“I was (initially) more shocked and upset,” Hunt, informed that he and teammate Kyle Burroughs were headed to the Medicine Hat Tigers, told the Regina Leader-Post.

“I shed a few tears with a couple of the guys.

“When you’re anywhere for four years you make a lot of relationships that last a lifetime. For it to all of a sudden come to an end, it’s definitely tough. I’m going to miss everybody here top to bottom. It’s just sad.”

The deal had Medicine Hat acquiring Burroughs and Hunt from the Regina Pats in exchange for Connor Hobbs, a 2nd round pick in 2016 and a 3rd round pick in 2015. 

Hunt, a 19-year-old forward from Nelson Minor Hockey, is playing in his fourth WHL season.

This year as an assistant captain, the 6-foot, 200-pound forward has recorded 14 goals and 33 assists (fourth most in the WHL) for a team leading 47 points in 37 games. Hunt currently ranks 12th in the league in points and in 163 career games has 40 goals, 57 assists for 97 points.

“I’m very excited to go to Medicine Hat,” said Hunt. “It’s a new start for me.

“They’re a great team. They’re going to make a run this year and I’m excited to be a part of it. I know Kyle is as well. It’s that much better that we’re going together. I’m happy to go to Medicine Hat but I’m leaving a lot of relationships in Regina. It’s mixed emotions.”

The season has been a special ride for Hunt.

During the summer he landed an amateur tryout with Carolina, and played so 2014 Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament.

Medicine Hat currently leads the WHL Eastern Conference Central Division with a 29-10-1-1 record.

Ironically, Hunt gets to see his former teammates up close and in person when the Tigers host Regina Pats Wednesday in the Hat.

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