However, the 23-year-old Corner Brook native still has a thirst for curling so he continues to throw stones with a trio of friends he hopes will one day win a Travelers Curling Club Championship.
Hunt, a graduate of the junior program at the Corner Brook Curling Club, is in his third year as third on the Matthew Smith foursome out of the Bally Haly Curling Club in St. John’s. The rink also includes townies Glenn Williams at second and John Picco at lead.
Hunt admits he’s not immersed in the game like he was when he was climbing up the junior ranks. His education is too important to ignore so he now just puts as much time as his studies will allow.
Still, he loves to compete and winning is his focus with every stone thrown.
“I enjoy it win, lose or draw,” Hunt said of the sport he has enjoyed for years now. “I enjoy getting on the ice and throwing rocks.”
Hunt was the latest guy to be added to the mix for the Smith rink. Hunt was buddies with Smith when the two played on the same team in a St. John’s Superleague a few years back. Hunt contacted Smith when he heard the trio was looking for a fourth player and he was brought on board.
Smith is the skip, but Hunt actually throws fourth stones for the team, a foursome that hasn’t been able to win the Travelers tournament for club teams in two previous attempts. The foursome had a rough time last year posting a 2-5 record at the provincial tournament in Gander, while one year earlier in Corner Brook the team had a 5-2 record and eliminated from title contention after a loss in the semifinal round.
“So we kind of got the Randy Ferbey thing on the go,” he said with a hearty chuckle, making reference to retired world champion Ferbey who had Dave Nedohin throw last stone for the team when he dominated.
Hunt and company posted a 2-2 record at the Bally Haly Cashspiel last weekend and will be competing in a number of events over the next few months.
His goal is to win the right to represent the province on the national stage. That chance will come when the Smith rink represents Bally Haly at the provincial Travelers tournament being held at the Re/Max Centre in St. John’s in March.
He believes the key moving forward is throwing stones on a regular basis and finding some consistency.
He likes how the team is meshing together so he’s optimistic about being a contender.
“We seem to be rolling along pretty good and having lots of fun that’s the main thing,” he said.
Yes, having fun is certainly important when he considers the heavy workload he faces as he pursues his education. When he does need a break from the books he knows where to find his peace.
He just throws stones for fun and it works.
“It keeps me active and gives me something to else to focus on besides school to give me a little break,” he said.