Hunter Shinkaruk

Hunter Shinkaruk
Shinkaruk in 2016
Born (1994-10-13) October 13, 1994 (age 29)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
Position Winger
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Free agent
Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames
Kunlun Red Star
Dinamo Riga
HV71
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
NHL Draft 24th overall, 2013
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2014–present

Hunter Shinkaruk (born October 13, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Shinkaruk was originally selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1st round (24th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Shinkaruk played junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) before turning pro with the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) within the Vancouver Canucks organization.

Playing career

Minor

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Shinkaruk played minor hockey for the Calgary Royals. After scoring 32 goals and 63 points over 27 games in his second year of major bantam, Shinkaruk was selected 14th overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2009 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft. Advancing to the midget level the following season, Shinkaruk broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg,[1] causing him to miss the entire 2009–10 campaign with the exception of three games.

Junior

Following his rehabilitation, Shinkaruk joined the Tigers for his first junior season. He scored his first WHL goal in his fifth game, a 6–4 win against the Edmonton Oil Kings on October 16, 2010.[2] Scoring 42 points (14 goals and 28 assists) over 63 games in 2010–11, he ranked 10th among league rookies.[3] He added 9 points in 14 games as Medicine Hat advanced to the WHL semifinals.

In his second WHL season, Shinkaruk improved to a career-high 49 goals and 91 points in 66 games, ranking 12th in league scoring.[4] Playing in 8 post-season games, he recorded 2 goals and 11 points. The following season, Shinkaruk was named team captain for the Tigers and went on to record 37 goals and 86 points in 64 games, ranking 14th among WHL scorers.[5]

Playing in his draft-eligible year, Shinkaruk was ranked the sixth-best prospect among skaters playing in North America.[6] He was selected 24th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Following his draft, Shinkaruk attended his first NHL training camp with the Canucks and was among the team's final cuts. Despite being on the roster after the team's final preseason game, the subsequent acquisitions of Jeremy Welsh and Zac Dalpe resulted in him being returned to junior.

Early in the 2013–14 season, Shinkaruk sustained a torn labrum in his hip,[7] but played through it in hopes of competing in the 2014 World Junior Championships. After being cut from Team Canada's selection camp, Shinkaruk underwent hip surgery on January 7, 2014, ending his season.[8] He had recorded 16 points in 18 games. In July 2014, news was revealed that Shinkaruk's hip was injured for much of his junior career and that he had simply delayed the healing process until his surgery in early 2014.[9]

During his rehabilitation period, Shinkaruk made a conscious decision to address his strength concerns, appearing at the Canucks' 2014 training camp with much greater physical strength after reportedly gaining 15 lbs during that off-season.[10][11]

Professional

Shinkaruk with the Utica Comets in 2015

Shinkaruk made his on-ice return at the Canucks' Young Stars Tournament in September 2014 and was later assigned to the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets for the 2014–15 season. After a slow start, in which he scored six goals in his first 42 games, Shinkaruk finished his rookie season with nine goals in the last 16 games of the regular season. He then added four goals in 23 playoff games, as the Comets lost in the Calder Cup Finals.[12]

After an impressive first 12 games in Utica in the 2015–16 season; which included 10 goals and two hat tricks, Shinkaruk was called up by the Canucks.[13] He made his NHL debut on November 16, 2015 in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens.[14] He was returned to the Comets the following day. Shinkaruk was leading the Comets offensively with 39 points in 45 games when he was traded by the Canucks to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Markus Granlund on February 22, 2016. He was immediately assigned to the Flames AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat.[15]

Shinkaruk made his debut with the Flames on March 28, 2016 against the Arizona Coyotes, in which he got his first NHL point.[16] He scored his first NHL goal as a Calgary Flame against the Anaheim Ducks in a 5–4 loss on March 30, 2016.[17]

On August 20, 2018, Shinkaruk was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Kerby Rychel.[18] As a restricted free agent, Shinkaruk immediately signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level.[19] In the 2018–19 season, Shinkaruk was assigned by the Canadiens to the Laval Rocket for the duration of the year, posting just 5 goals and 10 points in 54 games.

As an impending restricted free agent, Shinkaruk was not tendered qualifying offer by the Canadiens, releasing him as a free agent on June 25, 2019. Unable to attract an NHL contract, Shinkaruk agreed to a one-year AHL contract with reigning Calder Cup champions, the Charlotte Checkers, on July 18, 2019.[20] In the 2019–20 season, Shinkaruk was slow to produce with the Checkers, collecting 7 points through 20 games, before opting to end his contract in the AHL in order to sign his first contract abroad with Chinese club, HC Kunlun Red Star of the KHL on December 23, 2019.[21]

Shinkaruk in 2023 playing for Iserlohn Roosters

Shinkaruk played two seasons with Kunlun before leaving to sign as a free agent with Latvian based KHL club, Dinamo Riga, on June 2, 2021.[22]

International play

He played at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and was rewarded for his stand-out performance by being named to the WHC's All-Tournament team.[23]

Shinkaruk competed at the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships where he won a Bronze Medal with Team Canada, scoring the winning goal in the overtime of the bronze medal game.[24]

In December 2012, Shinkaruk received an invite to Team Canada's national junior selection camp for the 2013 World Junior Championships, but did not make the final roster.[1] The next year, he received another invite. Playing with an injured hip, he was the team's final cut prior to the 2014 World Juniors.[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 63 14 28 42 24 14 4 5 9 0
2011–12 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 66 49 42 91 38 8 2 9 11 6
2012–13 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 64 37 49 86 44 8 3 3 6 8
2013–14 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 18 5 11 16 29 — — — — —
2014–15 Utica Comets AHL 74 16 15 31 28 23 4 2 6 4
2015–16 Utica Comets AHL 45 21 18 39 18 — — — — —
2015–16 Vancouver Canucks NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 17 6 6 12 2 — — — — —
2015–16 Calgary Flames NHL 7 2 1 3 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Stockton Heat AHL 52 15 20 35 20 5 2 1 3 4
2016–17 Calgary Flames NHL 7 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2017–18 Stockton Heat AHL 63 17 15 32 30 — — — — —
2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 54 5 5 10 20 — — — — —
2019–20 Charlotte Checkers AHL 20 4 3 7 4 — — — — —
2019–20 Kunlun Red Star KHL 19 3 6 9 16 — — — — —
2020–21 Kunlun Red Star KHL 47 12 18 30 10 — — — — —
2021–22 Dinamo Riga KHL 39 5 8 13 14 — — — — —
2021–22 HV71 Allsv 8 0 3 3 0 15 3 8 11 6
2022–23 Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk KHL 19 2 3 5 4 — — — — —
NHL totals 15 2 2 4 4 — — — — —
KHL totals 124 22 35 57 44 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Canada Pacific U17 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 5 4 9 2
2011 Canada IH18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 1 1 2 4
2012 Canada WJC18 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 4 4 8 6
Junior totals 17 10 9 19 12

Awards and honours

Honours Year
World U-17 Hockey Challenge Bronze Medal 2010 [26]
World U-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team 2010 [23]
IIHF World U18 Championship Bronze Medal 2012 [27]

References

  1. ^ a b Esplen, Ian (June 14, 2013). "18-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers' left winger hopes dedication and hard work will pay off". Calgary Journal. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  2. ^ "Hunter Shinkaruk (LW) – 2010–11". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  3. ^ "2010–11 Regular Season – Rookies". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  4. ^ "2011–12 Regular Season – Top Scorers". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  5. ^ "2012–13 Regular Season – Top Scorers". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  6. ^ "Seth Jones tops Central Scouting final 2013 draft rankings". National Hockey League. April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  7. ^ "Canucks' first-round draft pick Hunter Shinkaruk to undergo hip surgery". The Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. December 27, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  8. ^ Pap, Elliott (March 20, 2014). "Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk hip to team's future while recovering from surgery". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  9. ^ Botchford, Jason (July 13, 2014). "Botchford: Finally on ice again after hip surgery, Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk can't stop smiling". The Province. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  10. ^ Tucker, Cam (September 12, 2014). "Canucks news and notes: Hunter Shinkaruk has high expectations at Young Stars Tournament". MetroNews. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  11. ^ Jamieson, Jim (September 12, 2014). "Five things we've learned from the Canucks prospects' 4–3 OT loss to the Oilers". The Province. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  12. ^ Vickers, Aaron (September 14, 2015). "Canucks' Shinkaruk ready to handle high expectations". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  13. ^ "Vancouver recalls Hunter Shinkaruk". Vancouver Canucks. November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  14. ^ "Canucks fall to Canadiens in overtime". Vancouver Canucks. November 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  15. ^ "Calgary Flames acquire Hunter Shinkaruk". Calgary Flames. February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  16. ^ "Flames down Coyotes in Arizona". Calgary Flames. March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  17. ^ Gilbertson, Wes (March 30, 2016). "Flames make history with 23rd straight loss in Anaheim". Calgary Herald. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  18. ^ Cudzinowski, Matt (August 20, 2018). "Forward Hunter Shinkaruk acquired from Calgary in return for Kerby Rychel". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  19. ^ Cudzinowski, Matt. "Canadiens agree to terms with Hunter Shinkaruk". NHL.com. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  20. ^ "Checkers sign Sheppard, Shinkaruk and Markison to AHL deals". Charlotte Checkers. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  21. ^ "Kunlun agree to terms with Hunter Shinkaruk". Instagram. December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  22. ^ "Dinamo Riga add Canadian Hunter Shinkaruk" (in Latvian). Dinamo Riga. June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Hunter Shinkaruk prospect profile". HockeysFuture.com. March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  24. ^ "Hunter Shinkaruk: 2013 NHL Draft Player Profile #11". LastWordOnSports.com. April 20, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  25. ^ Odland, Kristen. "Shinkaruk is Forced to be a Spectator". Retrieved March 13, 2017 – via PressReader.
  26. ^ Hunter Shinkaruk: 2013 NHL Draft Prospect Profile – In Lou We Trust
  27. ^ Hunter is the hunted: Medicine Hat Tigers sniper Shinkaruk ready for hype of 2013 NHL entry draft | The Province

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick
2013 		Succeeded by