Final Chapter for Hunt, McNulty, & Faith
(Courtesy Marc Smith, www.DiscoverMooseJaw.com) All three of the Moose Jaw Warriors’ overage players joined the team this season, but all three of them played a big role in the team’s success.
Dryden Hunt, Tanner Faith and Marc McNulty wrapped up their WHL careers last Friday when the Warriors lost of the WHL Playoffs in five games to the Brandon Wheat Kings.
It was an emotional end to a long run for all three players as they move onto the next stage of their hockey careers.
“This is always a tough time of the year, a lot of mixed emotions,” said Hunt. “It’s been lots of fun playing with (Brayden Point) all year, Tim (Hunter) gave me a lot of opportunity to succeed, and pretty happy with how the season went, personally and team-wise, so pretty emotional to end it off right now.”
The Warriors were the third team during his five-year WHL career for Hunt after he was traded from Regina to Medicine Hat at the deadline in 2015. He came to Moose Jaw just before the regular season and was named co-Player of the Year for the team along with Point.
Hunt’s impact was immense as he led the Canadian Hockey League in goals with 58 and finished second in the WHL in points with 116. He is also the Eastern Conference Nominee for WHL Player of the Year.
“Dryden Hunt has been a treat to coach, another guy that was a pro every day, great with the young guys, great in the room, great in practice and taught everyone a lot of good things and he’s going to be a pro,” said Hunt. “He played junior hockey as a professional and didn’t just show up and go through the motions.”
After an up-and-down start to his career, which included missing his entire 17-year-old season, Hunt has thrived over the past two seasons.
“Missing that full year was tough, but it gave me that chip on my shoulder to work through that, work hard and see where things fell,” said Hunt. “I didn’t know where I was going to end up this year and very happy with ending up in Moose Jaw and finishing my career off here, great organization and a lot of great guys on this team.”
Hunt finishes his WHL career with 117 goals and 249 points in 269 games with Regina, Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw.
After signing a three-year entry level contract with the Florida Panthers at the end of February, Hunt will now join the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, who open the Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday.
McNulty came to the Warriors a few weeks into the season and it served as a homecoming after he was born in Moose Jaw and spent his younger years in the Friendly City.
The six-foot-six defencemen said he couldn’t have thought of a better way to finish off his career in the WHL.
“It was unreal to finish off this year here,” McNulty said. “Going to Warrior games when I was a kid with my dad and to get to play for the Warriors was really special for me and I’m glad my last year ended here.”
McNulty finishes his WHL career with 43 goals and 136 points in 264 games. He set career-highs in assists (42) and points (51) this season with Moose Jaw.
Faith didn’t get to finish his career the way that he had hoped as he was injured for the Warriors’ playoff run, missing all ten playoff games, as well as the final 13 regular season games.
The Wilcox product was a force for the Warriors during his final season, posting three goals and 24 points — both career-highs — while accumulating 54 penalty minutes in 59 games.
