Hunter Miska

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Hunter Miska
2022-12-02 Eisbaren Berlin gegen Straubing Tigers (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2022-23) by Sandro Halank-112.jpg
Miska with the Straubing Tigers in 2022
Born (1995-07-07) July 7, 1995 (age 29)
Stacy, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 174 lb (79 kg; 12 st 6 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
AHL team
Former teams
Bridgeport Islanders
Arizona Coyotes
Colorado Avalanche
Straubing Tigers
Dynamo Moscow
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2017present

Hunter Miska (born July 7, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with Bridgeport Islanders in the American Hockey League (AHL). He has formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche.

Contents

Playing career

Amateur

Undrafted, Miska played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League and British Columbia Hockey League before embarking on collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota at Duluth in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. [1]

In his freshman year with the Bulldogs in the 2016–17 season, Miska posted a 27–5–5 record with a .920 save percentage and a 2.20 goals against average with five shutouts. He helped lead the Bulldogs to the Frozen Four Championship game before falling 3–2 to the University of Denver. Miska was named as a finalist for the Mike Richter award, given annually to the goaltender voted to be the most outstanding in Division I NCAA hockey during the regular season. [2]

Professional

Following an impressive debut season, Miska left Duluth to turn professional in signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes on April 15, 2017. [3] After attending his first training camp with the Coyotes, Miska was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, for the duration of the 2017–18 season. [4]

In the 2018–19 season, Miska began the season continuing his tenure in the AHL with the Roadrunners. On November 6, 2018, Miska received his first recall to the NHL by the Coyotes, providing cover for the injured Antti Raanta. He made his NHL debut with the Coyotes in relief of Darcy Kuemper in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on November 13, 2018. [5] On November 23, Miska was returned to the Roadrunners. [6] Miska was used as an emergency recall for the Coyotes; however, he was shortly returned again to the AHL on November 30, 2018. Remaining with Tucson for the remainder of the season, Miska split duties between the pipes with Adin Hill, collecting just 10 wins in 25 games.

Having concluded his entry-level contract and as an impending restricted free agent, Miska was not tendered a qualifying offer to remain with the Coyotes, and was released to be a free agent on June 25, 2019. [7] On July 12, 2019, Miska agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles, affiliate to the Colorado Avalanche. [8] He began the 2019–20 season with the Eagles, before he was briefly assigned to ECHL affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies for 3 games. Upon his return to the AHL, with injury to fellow goaltender Antoine Bibeau, Miska remained with the Eagles posting 11 wins and tied fourth among all AHL goaltenders in save percentage through 19 games, before signing a one-year NHL contract for the remainder of the season with the Avalanche on February 10, 2020. [9]

Having recorded his best season statistics in the AHL in his first year with the Eagles, Miska was re-signed by the Avalanche to a two-year, two-way contract extension on October 20, 2020. [10] With an injury to fellow Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz, Miska remained on the opening night roster for the pandemic shortened 2020–21 season. Serving as the backup, on January 21, 2021, Miska made his first career NHL start; he made 23 saves in a 4–2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. [11] On February 26, Miska recorded his first career NHL win in a 3–2 victory over the Coyotes. [12] Unable to solidify his role through 5 appearances, Miska was returned to the AHL after he was relieved from the net in a 8–4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on March 16, 2021. [13]

In the final season of his contract with the Avalanche in 2021–22, Miska was unable to replicate his earlier success with the Eagles, however collected 10 wins through 17 games and featured in 2 regular season contests with the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

As a free agent after three seasons within the Avalanche organization, Miska agreed to sign his first European contract by committing to a one-year deal with German club, Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), on July 9, 2022. [14]

After two successful seasons with Straubing, Miska left the DEL as a free agent and secured a one-year contract with prominent Russian club, HC Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), on July 23, 2024. [15] In the 2024–25 season, Miska made 14 apperances with Dynamo and secured 5 wins before leaving the club through the mid-point of the season. In returning to North America as a free agent, Miska was signed to a AHL for the remainder of the season with the Bridgeport Islanders, the primary affiliate to the New York Islanders, on January 12, 2025. [16]

Personal life

Miska is a cousin of professional soccer player Khyah Harper. [17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2009–10North Branch High USHS 223.85.88628.50.866
2010–11North Branch HighUSHS254.50.89517.00.889
2011–12 U.S. National Development Team USHL 25101301,3057803.59.8542021191206.06.824
2012–13 U.S. National Development TeamUSHL133727453803.06.881
2013–14 Penticton Vees BCHL 34191221,9887422.23.9166322841603.38.866
2014–15 Penticton VeesBCHL4634932,7758751.88.931211561,3655222.29.923
2015–16 Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL46321312,76111312.46.91312657502812.24.921
2016–17 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 3927552,3218552.20.920
2017–18 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 3622901,9418512.63.901
2018–19 Tucson RoadrunnersAHL2510841,3076703.08.895
2018–19 Arizona Coyotes NHL 100019103.33.889
2019–20 Utah Grizzlies ECHL 3210186501.62.947
2019–20 Colorado Eagles AHL2616631,5226322.48.924
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL51122601804.16.838
2020–21 Colorado EaglesAHL95405372602.91.909
2021–22 Colorado EaglesAHL1710508294213.04.889
2021–22 Utah GrizzliesECHL2110120703.51.875
2022–23 Straubing Tigers DEL 311614017938702.91.8937344151512.17.915
2023–24 Straubing TigersDEL291712017077022.46.9098444601702.22.907
2024–25 Dynamo Moscow KHL 145538133812.81.908
NHL totals61122791904.10.842

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%
2012 United States U17 Silver medal icon.svg42.41.879
Junior totals42.41.879

Awards and honors

AwardYear
BCHL
Best goalie duo with lowest GAA 2014, 2015
Second All-Star Team2014
Best SVS % (.931)2015
Best GAA (1.88)2015
First All-Star Team2015
Top Goaltender2015
College
NCHC All-Tournament Team 2017
NCHC Second All-Star Team2017

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References

  1. "Coyotes sign Minnesota-Duluth goalie Hunter Miska". AZ Central. April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  2. "Finalists for 2017 Mike Richter Award announced". NCAA.com. March 23, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  3. "Coyotes sign Miska to entry-level contract". Arizona Coyotes. April 15, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  4. "Coyotes Reduce Training Camp Roster, Assign Two To Tucson". tucsonroadrunners.com. September 29, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  5. "Red Wings cruise past Coyotes, win fourth straight". NHL.com. November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  6. "Coyotes Assign Miska to AHL". NHL.com. November 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  7. "Hunter Miska dumped by Arizona". CBS Sports . June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  8. "Eagles sign Goaltender Hunter Miska". Colorado Eagles. July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  9. "Avalanche signs Hunter Miska". Colorado Avalanche. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  10. "Avalanche re-sign Tyson Jost, Hunter Miska". Colorado Avalanche. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  11. Chambers, Mike. "Avalanche blows 2-0 lead as Kings salvage split of two-game series". The Denver Post . Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  12. Knabenbauer, Rob. "Hunter Miska Defeats Former Team For First Win". Colorado Avalanche . Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  13. "Avalanche score last 6 goals in 8-4 win over Ducks". ESPN. March 16, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  14. "Hunter Miska moves to Tigers" (in German). Straubing Tigers. July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  15. "Hunter Miska becomes a Moscow Dynamo player" (in Russian). HC Dynamo Moscow. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  16. Bridgeport Islanders (January 12, 2025). "Bridgeport sign Hunter Miska to SPC". X . Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  17. "Khyah Harper". Minnesota Golden Gophers . Retrieved January 8, 2025.