He’s one of those guys you’d rather have on your team than play against.
That’s how Corner Brook Royals coach Darren Colbourne summed up his thoughts on left winger Tyler Hunt.
“He’s a shit disturber and he knows how to get under people’s skin, and he doesn’t back down from anyone,” Colbourne said earlier this week.
Colbourne coached Hunt all the way up through the Corner Brook minor hockey system so he’s built a good relationship with the five-foot-10, 180-pound forward.
Hunt chuckled when he was asked about being an agitator on the ice, but he admitted coach Colbourne got a pretty good read on him for sure.
He said he’s always been an energy guy who liked to crash and bang coming up through minor hockey so he never changed a thing about his game when it came to making the transition to senior hockey.
“That’s my favourite part of it,” he said when asked about throwing opposing players off their game. “I love it when they get pissed off with me.”
Hunt is a smooth skater who shows no fear, going to the tough areas of the ice in an effort to create offensive opportunities but, like most young players trying to find their way, coach Colbourne believes Hunt has taken some ‘silly or dumb’ penalties on occasion and is also guilty of taking shifts off from time to time.
Colbourne believes Hunt can be one of the top forwards in the league if he can be consistent in coming to the rink prepared to play.
“If Tyler is mentally prepared and ready to play he can be your biggest asset and he knows that because I’ve told him that a thousand times,” Colbourne said.
Hunt, who works as an electrician, knows his coach is right about him not being totally engaged on a consistent basis and that’s something he’s going to try and correct in the second half of the season.
The Royals will be back on the ice tonight when they clash with the Port aux Basques Mariners 8 p.m. at the Corner Brook Civic Centre on a special night for the organization as the No. 24 jersey of the late Shawn Neary will be retired before the start of the game.
