“He loved watching hockey and of course he had those mini-sticks like everyone does,” his mom Nikki recalls, “so he used to pull his little brother over in his car seat and use him as the goalie to shoot at him.”

When Garlent was about four he traded the mini-stick for a regular size one and began playing organized hockey in his hometown of St. Catharines.

He also became quite an accomplished lacrosse player, eventually playing for Team Ontario alongside current Storm teammate Brody Milne.

Nikki Garlent recalls the day her son decided which sport would get his full attention.

“He asked us to use the money we would be spending on lacrosse to get him a gym membership instead, because he wanted to focus on hockey and getting strong,” she says.

“It seemed I might have a chance if I really focused on hockey to get into the OHL,” Hunter recalls. “My parents were spending a lot of money on lacrosse so I asked them if I could get a personal trainer instead. I’m really thankful for all the support they gave me.”

Garlent is passing that support on to younger brother Holden, who is playing Jr. A lacrosse in St. Catharines.

“I carry on like a cheerleader for him, kind of wishing I was out there a little bit.”

Garlent notched 73 points through 110 games in his first two years with the Storm, but admits to a disappointing sophomore season, during which he broke his ankle during a late-October game in Sault Ste. Marie and never quite recovered.

“I wasn’t thrilled with my year last year with injuries and so on and I really want to bounce back this year,” Garlent says.

He’s done so through the first dozen games of this season with 14 points, including a four-point game against Ottawa last Sunday in which he notched a goal and three assists and was a +4.

Garlent admits being passed over at last year’s NHL draft was obviously tough, but he’s setting his sights on this year’s draft.

“I worked really hard in the off-season,” he says. “I put a bit of fire in my belly not being picked last year so I’m hoping to attract some attention this year.”

Garlent joined the Carolina Hurricanes prospect camp last month as a free agent invitee.

But he said he is excited to be back in Storm City.

“It’s always good to be back with the guys,” Garlent adds. “I love Guelph and a lot of us have been together for all my three years here. We’re a veteran team with a lot of hype this year and I think it’s going to be a great season.”

Off the ice Garlent keeps busy fishing with his dad and brothers, and taking University of Guelph sociology courses through distance education.

He said whatever the future holds “I’d love to remain involved with this sport I’ve loved since I was in diapers.”

His mom is sure that will happen.

“I think he’ll always be involved with hockey somehow because it really is his passion,” Nikki Garlent says.

 

Scott Tracey is a Guelph-based writer. He can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @scottjtracey