Daemon Hunt Bio
Daemon Hunt is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on May 15, 2002, in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Hunt developed through the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Moose Jaw Warriors, where he served as team captain before turning professional. Selected 65th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2020 NHL Draft, he has spent time in both the American Hockey League (AHL) and the NHL, building a reputation as a steady, left-shooting defenseman with leadership experience and international credentials.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 193 pounds, Hunt combines size with mobility, allowing him to log meaningful minutes in all situations. He is recognized for his skating, defensive awareness, and poise with the puck, qualities that have made him a dependable presence on the back end throughout his young career.
Early Life and Background
Daemon Hunt was born on May 15, 2002, in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, and grew up in the same small prairie community. According to additional biographical details, he was also born in Brandon, Manitoba, and later moved back to Brandon to pursue his hockey development, a city that remains his current residence. The cross-border ties between Moosomin and Brandon reflect the regional movement of junior hockey prospects in western Canada, where players often relocate to access stronger development opportunities.
Hunt comes from a hockey family, as he is a cousin of former NHL player Matt Calvert, who competed in the league for over a decade. Growing up around the game in this environment gave Hunt an early understanding of the work required to reach the highest levels of professional hockey. He spent his formative years in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, areas known for producing steady, defensively responsible players.
Path to Hockey
Hunt’s competitive career began in 2011–12, when he played six games and recorded two points for the Saskatchewan Junior Pats in the Brick Invitational tournament. He later joined the Brandon Wheat Kings organization, playing for their under-15 team in 2015–16 and 2016–17 before moving up to the under-18 squad for the 2017–18 season. During the 2016–17 campaign, he scored 60 points, a performance that caught the attention of WHL scouts.
His strong play led to his selection in the first round, 15th overall, by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2017 WHL bantam draft. In 2017–18, he registered 36 assists and four goals in 40 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings while also appearing in nine games for Moose Jaw, recording a goal and an assist. The following year, 2018–19, Hunt appeared in 57 games for the Warriors, scoring 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists, and he was named an alternate captain for 2019–20, when he posted 15 points in 28 games.
Daemon Hunt Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Hunt’s major-junior career with the Moose Jaw Warriors was his launching pad to professional hockey. He was chosen 65th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, validating his progression through the WHL. Before the 2020–21 season, he played briefly on loan for the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and then appeared in three games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild before returning to Moose Jaw.
That season, Hunt served as team captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors, scoring 18 points in 23 games, and he added three more games with Iowa after the WHL schedule concluded. On May 6, 2021, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild, formally beginning his professional career.
Moose Jaw Warriors Era (2021–2022)
After signing his entry-level deal, Hunt remained with Moose Jaw as team captain for the 2021–22 WHL season. He played 46 games and produced 39 points, a strong offensive output for a defenseman. Over the course of his WHL career with the Warriors, Hunt finished with 163 games played and 94 points, consisting of 33 goals and 61 assists, a balanced contribution that highlighted his two-way game.
Iowa Wild Era (2022–2023)
Hunt joined the AHL’s Iowa Wild for the 2022–23 season, where he appeared in 59 games and totaled 11 points on two goals and nine assists. Among rookie defensemen in the league that season, he ranked first with two game-winning goals, a sign of his willingness to contribute in critical moments. This performance helped position him for an opportunity at the NHL level.
Minnesota Wild Era (2023–2024)
Hunt was injured during a Minnesota Wild preseason game in 2023–24 and was returned to Iowa to begin the regular season. After four games with Iowa, he was called up to Minnesota on October 23, 2023, and made his NHL debut in a 3–2 loss to the Washington Capitals. He played two games for the Wild, posting one shot on goal, before being reassigned to Iowa on October 30.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hunt is recognized as a mobile, left-shooting defenseman with sound positional play and reliable defensive habits. His skating allows him to join the rush when appropriate, while his size and reach help him win battles along the boards and in front of the net. Coaches have valued his steady decision-making and his readiness to log responsibility in all situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Hunt’s early career, his NHL debut on October 23, 2023, stands as a significant personal milestone, marking the realization of a journey that began in Moosomin and Brandon. His ranking as the top rookie defenseman in the AHL for game-winning goals during 2022–23 also represented a notable professional achievement.
Daemon Hunt Career Highlights
Across his time in the WHL, AHL, and NHL, Hunt has compiled a steady résumé built on leadership and defensive responsibility. His captaincy of the Moose Jaw Warriors, his first-round WHL bantam selection, and his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild form the foundation of his professional journey.
Junior and AHL Highlights
Hunt recorded 94 points in 163 WHL games with the Moose Jaw Warriors, finishing his major-junior career as captain. In the AHL, he posted 11 points in 59 games with the Iowa Wild in 2022–23 and added further experience in subsequent seasons, including a stint with the Cleveland Monsters following a midseason trade.
Other Performances
Hunt represented Canada at the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships, recording one assist in seven games with a plus-five rating. He also played five games at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, helping Canada win the silver medal, and was part of Canada’s 2022 World Junior team that won gold, though he was injured in a pre-tournament game and did not appear in the event itself.
Daemon Hunt Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Daemon Hunt is a cousin of former NHL player Matt Calvert, who played more than 400 games in the league across organizations including the Columbus Blue Jackets. This family connection has given Hunt a direct view into the demands and lifestyle of a professional hockey career. The presence of an established NHL relative has served as both a resource and an inspiration throughout his development.
Personal Life
Hunt was raised between Moosomin, Saskatchewan, and Brandon, Manitoba, and currently resides in Brandon. He has kept much of his personal life private, and details about his relationships and family outside of hockey are not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
Hunt began the 2025–26 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization after being traded by the Minnesota Wild to Columbus on November 30, 2024, in exchange for defenseman David Jiříček. With the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, he produced 2 goals and 12 assists for 14 points in 48 games during the 2024–25 season, a steady contribution at the second professional level.
On October 2, 2025, the Blue Jackets placed Hunt on waivers, and he was claimed by the Minnesota Wild the following day, returning him to the organization that originally drafted him. The move positioned him to compete for a spot on Minnesota’s NHL roster early in the 2025–26 campaign.
Heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, Hunt’s outlook is shaped by his blend of WHL captaincy experience, AHL reliability, and brief NHL exposure. His familiarity with the Wild’s system, combined with his left-shot defensive profile, gives him an opportunity to carve out a larger role with Minnesota as the season progresses.