Hunter Drew Bio
Hunter Drew (born October 21, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and right winger currently under contract with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League. Drew was selected by the Anaheim Ducks, 178th overall, in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and began his professional career in 2019 after three seasons in major junior hockey.
Early Life and Background
Hunter Drew was born on October 21, 1998, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Raised in a Canadian hockey environment, Drew progressed through youth ranks in Ontario before earning a place in major junior hockey with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Standing 6 ft 2 in and listed at 213 lb, Drew developed as a large, mobile skater whose size and versatility would later allow a transition from the blueline to a forward role. Public records provided do not list family members or formal education details.
Path to Hockey
Drew entered the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Charlottetown Islanders in 2016 and played three seasons in Charlottetown through 2019. Over that span he established himself as a productive two-way player in the QMJHL, recording 92 points in 167 games across his major junior career and demonstrating offensive ability from the defensive position in his final season.
His performance in the QMJHL led to selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft when the Anaheim Ducks chose him 178th overall in the sixth round. Drew parlayed his junior production and draft status into a first professional contract opportunity with the Ducks organization in 2019, setting the stage for his transition to pro hockey in North America.
Hunter Drew Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Hunter Drew signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Gulls, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, ahead of the 2019–20 season. In his first professional season he split time between the San Diego Gulls in the AHL and the Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL.
During the 2019–20 campaign Drew totaled two goals and seven points in 29 regular-season games with the San Diego Gulls before that season was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 31, 2020, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Anaheim Ducks organization.
AHL and European Loan Breakthrough (2020–2022)
With the delayed start to the 2020–21 North American season, Drew continued his development overseas on loan with Slovakian club HC ’05 Banská Bystrica beginning in September 2020. He responded well in Europe, collecting nine goals and 16 points in 20 games before returning to North America for Anaheim Ducks training camp and reassignment to the San Diego Gulls.
During the shortened 2020–21 season, Drew split his work between the blueline and spot duty at forward while with the Gulls as roster arrangements fluctuated. Entering the 2021–22 season Drew made a permanent positional switch from defense to wing. The move unlocked his offensive potential: he finished second among team forwards with 17 goals and 38 points in 64 regular-season games for the San Diego Gulls.
The 2021–22 campaign earned Drew his first NHL recall from the Anaheim Ducks late in the season. He made his NHL debut on April 26, 2022, against the San Jose Sharks and was involved in his first NHL fight that night in a 5–2 Ducks victory. He went scoreless over his two NHL regular-season appearances that season.
Rockford and Tucson Eras (2022–2025)
During the 2022–23 season Drew spent the majority of his time with the San Diego Gulls before being traded by the Anaheim Ducks to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Josiah Slavin on February 23, 2023. He completed the remainder of that contract with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, appearing in 16 games during that stint.
Following free agency, Drew signed a one-year contract with the Tucson Roadrunners on July 18, 2023, where he continued in the American Hockey League. After two seasons in Tucson, Drew signed a one-year deal with the Bridgeport Islanders on July 1, 2025, joining the Islanders’ AHL roster for the upcoming season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hunter Drew combines size—listed at 6 ft 2 in and 213 lb—with a right-hand shot and the skating ability to play both defense and forward. His transition from defense to right wing highlighted offensive instincts, puck-carrying and net-front presence, while his prior defensive experience contributes to responsible two-way play and versatility in lineup deployment.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Drew’s career include his selection by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the positional change to full-time forward for the 2021–22 season that produced a breakout AHL scoring year, his first NHL recall and debut in April 2022, and his international loan stint in Slovakia where he registered nine goals in 20 games.
Hunter Drew Career Wins
Across major junior, European play and the AHL, verified scoring tallies document Drew’s offensive contributions at each level. In the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders he totaled 92 points in 167 games. In Slovakia with HC ’05 Banská Bystrica he produced nine goals and 16 points in 20 games. In the AHL his 2021–22 season produced 17 goals and 38 points in 64 games, and his initial 2019–20 AHL season included two goals and seven points in 29 games.
QMJHL Highlights
Hunter Drew spent 2016–2019 with the Charlottetown Islanders in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he compiled 92 points across 167 games. In his final junior season he posted 50 points in 61 regular-season games playing from the blueline, a performance that helped raise his draft profile entering the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In professional play Drew split his rookie 2019–20 season between the AHL’s San Diego Gulls and the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers. He later adapted to North American pro and European competition, recording a productive loan with HC ’05 Banská Bystrica before returning to produce his strongest AHL scoring season in 2021–22 and earn an NHL debut.
Hunter Drew Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hunter Drew was born in Kingston, Ontario, and holds Canadian nationality. No public family lineage or parental details are provided in the available records.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Hunter Drew is under contract with the Bridgeport Islanders after signing a one-year deal on July 1, 2025. He arrives in Bridgeport with multiple seasons of AHL experience, the ability to play on the wing and prior NHL exposure, positioning him as a depth scoring option and a versatile roster piece for the Islanders’ AHL club.
Drew’s recent seasons show a player capable of contributing offensively while offering positional flexibility. For 2025 he is expected to bring his physical frame, right-handed shot and AHL experience to a Bridgeport lineup that will utilize his two-way background and prior scoring at the AHL level.