HunterGarlent-2011-12Rookie of the Year is only gettng better
Storm Stories is a Guelph Storm original weekly feature for the 2012-13 season spotlighting current Storm Players and giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at the player’s lives on and off the ice.
If you’ve visited the Sleeman Centre in the past two years to watch the Guelph Storm play, then you’ve noticed Hunter Garlent. He’s the shifty 5’9, 165lb scoring center who throws his body around like a 6’2, 200lb power forward.
Its one month into the new season, and Garlent is starting to hit his stride. The popular native of Thorold, Ontario has been leading the charge during his sophomore season with the Storm, centering a line between Jason Dickinson and Brock McGinn.
“Playing with those two guys has been great; we’re good buddies off the ice, and we have great chemistry on the ice.” Garlent says.
“We’ve started to pick up some momentum, just like the team has.”
Watching the skilled forward play the game, it’s no surprise that Garlent has had hockey on his mind from the very beginning.
“We used to tape TSN Sports Desk (the hockey only) and Hunter would watch it all day long,” Hunter’s mother Nikki says. “He was never into kid’s shows. He spoke and walked at a very young age and people were amazed at how he knew players in the NHL by their numbers. We believe he learned to read and learned his numbers because of it.”
It didn’t take long before studying hockey highlights for Hunter Garlent turned into playing minor for the Welland Tigers.
“Early practices were tough, but hanging out with him and watching him play was so much fun,” Nikki says. “He was always so intense, even at 4 years old. We always wondered if he was even having fun! But he always assured us that he loved it and would even sleep with some of his equipment on back then.”
If all goes to plan, Garlent will hear his name called next summer at the annual NHL entry draft.
“It’s always been my dream – 100%,” Garlent says. “That’s been on my mind for a long time. I spent the entire summer working hard to get stronger and faster and I hope it all pays off.”
It’s true. He spent the summer months working out back home in Thorold with a small group that of trainers and other top prospects, rounding out his game and getting ready for the upcoming season where he hopes to find himself scoring at a point-per-game pace.
“Everyone knows that I’m an offensive-minded hockey player,” he says. “I try to use my speed and smarts to the best of my ability but I don’t shy away from the rough stuff, either. I like to hit.”
While Garlent draws comparisons to Tampa Bay Lightning star Martin St. Louis from coaches and teammates, he models his playing style after a select group of hockey’s best – past and present.
“I like to think that I play like Patrick Kane, but I’ve also always looked up to guys like Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic at center”.
Many if not most young hockey players from Southern Ontario dream of playing for the nearby Toronto Maple Leafs, but Garlent has other ideas.
“I’d be happy to play anywhere, but honestly I would love to play for the New York Rangers,” he says. “It’s a great, original six hockey city and playing in front of that New York crowd at Madison Square Garden would just be unreal.”
And Garlent has plenty of motivation to help get him there.
“When I need a little push or some inspiration I just think of my grandfather,” Garlent says. “He was my biggest fan; he always called me and talked to me after my games. He never got to see me play a game in the OHL, but I know that he’d be proud of me.”
“I still write ‘Papa’ on the knob of my stick every game.”
One of Guelph’s top forwards, Garlent sees himself as a work in progress and one that is always improving.
“After doing the training that I did this past summer, I can really notice a difference out there. I feel better and stronger than I did last year. I just want to play every shift like it’s my last and leave everything on the ice.”
It’s obvious that a determined, improved Hunter Garlent is going to make an impact every time he steps out on the ice and may evolve into a true game-breaker this season. If and when Garlent reaches his full potential, it will only mean good things for the Guelph Storm.
The same can’t be said for the opposition.
Rich Davidson is a freelance hockey writer covering the Guelph Storm this season. Follow Rich’s work at:
www.rdsportswriter.com
