Hunter Jones is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL while under contract to the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the second round, 59th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL entry draft. Jones came up through the Ontario Hockey League with the Peterborough Petes, where he earned recognition as OHL Goaltender of the Month in October 2019 and was selected to the 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He helped guide the Trois-Rivières Lions to the franchise’s first Kelly Cup championship during the 2024-25 season. Internationally, Jones represented Hockey Canada and captured silver medals at both the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the World Junior A Challenge.
Hunter Jones Bio
Hunter Jones was born on September 21, 2000 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He grew up playing hockey in the minor hockey system and developed through the Greater Toronto Hockey League as a member of the Mississauga Reps U15 AAA team. Jones began his junior hockey career with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2016-17 season, appearing in 16 games and posting a 2.74 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. His performance with the Spirit drew attention from Ontario Hockey League scouts, and the Peterborough Petes drafted him shortly after his first junior season.
Jones joined the Peterborough Petes for the 2017-18 OHL season, marking his transition to one of the top major junior leagues in North America. He appeared in 15 games as a young goaltender adjusting to a higher level of competition, finishing with a 5.14 goals against average and a .866 save percentage. The following season proved to be a turning point in his development, as he appeared in 57 games and posted a 3.31 goals against average and a .902 save percentage. His significant improvement earned him the Peterborough Petes most improved player award and a selection to the 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, a prestigious event showcasing the top draft-eligible players in the Canadian Hockey League.
Path to Professional Hockey
Jones built on his breakthrough 2018-19 campaign during his final major junior season with the Petes in 2019-20. He recorded an 8-1-0-0 record over nine games in October 2019 with a 2.34 goals against average, a .923 save percentage, and one shutout, earning OHL Goaltender of the Month honors. That strong play throughout the season solidified his standing as one of the top goaltending prospects available heading into the 2019 NHL entry draft. The Minnesota Wild selected him in the second round, 59th overall, confirming the goaltending potential he had displayed through two seasons with the Petes.
Shortly after being drafted, Jones signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild on March 26, 2020. He made the transition to professional hockey during the 2020-21 season, debuting with the Iowa Wild of the AHL. He appeared in 19 games in his first professional season, finishing with a 3.50 goals against average and an .886 save percentage. During the Stanley Cup playoffs of the 2022-23 season, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin announced that Jones had been recalled to serve as the team’s third goaltender on April 17, 2023, giving him valuable exposure to NHL playoff competition. After four seasons within the Wild organization, Jones entered the 2024 offseason as a free agent and signed a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket, affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, on July 1, 2024.
Hunter Jones Career
Junior Career (2016-2020)
Jones began his junior hockey career with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League in 2016-17, appearing in 16 games and posting a 2.74 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. The Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League drafted him following that season, and he joined the Petes for the 2017-18 campaign. His first OHL season presented challenges as he adjusted to the increased speed and skill level of major junior hockey, appearing in 15 games with a 5.14 goals against average and an .866 save percentage.
Jones rebounded strongly in 2018-19, appearing in 57 games and posting a 3.31 goals against average and a .902 save percentage. He was named the Petes most improved player and selected to play in the 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. In his final major junior season with the Petes in 2019-20, Jones was named OHL Goaltender of the Month in October 2019 after recording an 8-1-0-0 record with a 2.34 goals against average, a .923 save percentage, and one shutout over nine games.
Professional Development (2020-2024)
Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round, 59th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the organization on March 26, 2020. He made his American Hockey League debut with the Iowa Wild during the 2020-21 season, playing 19 games and posting a 3.50 goals against average and an .886 save percentage. Jones spent several seasons developing in the AHL, serving as a depth goaltender for the Iowa Wild and gaining professional experience at the highest minor league level in North American hockey.
During the Stanley Cup playoffs of the 2022-23 season, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin announced that Jones was recalled to serve as Minnesota’s third goaltender on April 17, 2023. On July 1, 2024, Jones signed a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket, affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, marking the start of a new chapter in his professional career following his time with the Wild organization.
Laval Rocket Era (2024-Present)
Jones signed a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket, affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, on July 1, 2024. Prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 season, he was reassigned to the Trois-Rivières Lions, the Canadiens ECHL affiliate, on October 7, 2024. Jones helped guide the Trois-Rivières Lions to the franchise first Kelly Cup championship during the 2024-25 season, delivering standout goaltending performances throughout the ECHL playoffs.
Entering the ensuing offseason as an unrestricted free agent, Jones agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Rocket organization on July 5, 2025. He once again rejoined Trois-Rivières that October ahead of the 2025-26 season, returning to the ECHL affiliate to continue his development with a championship-caliber team.
Goaltending Style and Strengths
Standing six-foot-four with a broad frame, Jones uses his size effectively in the crease to control rebounds and limit second-chance opportunities. His positioning and puck-tracking fundamentals are among his greatest strengths, and he plays with a calm, patient approach that allows him to read plays and react rather than overcommitting to shots. His experience in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes helped him develop the ability to handle heavy workloads, and his chemistry with coaches in the Trois-Rivières organization has allowed him to refine his technique and mental approach at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
The most significant milestone of Jones career to date came during the 2024-25 season when he backstopped the Trois-Rivières Lions to the first Kelly Cup championship in franchise history. That championship run validated years of development across multiple leagues and organizations, and it established Jones as a proven winner at the professional level.
Hunter Jones International Play
Jones represented Hockey Canada as part of Team Canada Black at the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he earned a silver medal. He then became the first ever 16-year-old goaltender to be named to the annual World Junior A Challenge, capturing a silver medal alongside Team Canada East. These international appearances at a young age demonstrated the high regard in which Hockey Canada held Jones goaltending abilities early in his career.
Hunter Jones Personal Life
Jones was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and developed through the local minor hockey system before advancing to competitive junior hockey. No further verifiable personal life details are available from the sources reviewed.
2025 Season Performance
Jones entered the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent and agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Laval Rocket organization on July 5, 2025. He returned to the Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL in October 2025, re-joining the team he helped guide to the first Kelly Cup championship in franchise history during the 2024-25 season. As one of the most accomplished goaltenders in the ECHL following his championship run, Jones enters the 2025-26 campaign looking to build on that success and continue positioning himself for potential advancement within the Montreal Canadiens organization.