MOKENA, ILL – Hunter McCurdy is currently the all-time leader in games played for the Danbury Hat Tricks of the NAHL. Over two seasons he has amassed 77 games for the orange and black.
If you include the 47 games he played in Springfield before coming to Danbury, the number of games he has played sits at 124.
“I haven’t had time to appreciate it yet,” said McCurdy of his growing number of games in the NAHL. “But I have played a lot of games in this league, which is definitely a proud feeling.”
While the Hat Tricks are on Christmas break, McCurdy is getting some rest, relaxation, and family time in his hometown of Mokena, Illinois.
“I have been spending time with family, working out and skating, and also spending a lot of time with my little brother,” continued McCurdy.
McCurdy’s brother, who is currently five years old, has impressed him on the rink so far. “The kid is a stud,” raved McCurdy. “He’s only five but he is big for his age and can skate very well. He is going to be hard to shut down somewhere down the line.”
McCurdy burst onto the scene in Danbury last year and was awarded an ‘A’ before earning the Captain’s ‘C’ this season.
“It was a great feeling, seeing the C on the jersey,” said McCurdy. “I was proud that the coaches believed in me. And I was grateful and appreciative for the chance, and I have loved every second of it.”
McCurdy has a different brand of leadership than his co-captain Josh Seeley, but he says that his brand of leadership is what he responded to as a player.
“I think that I responded more to silent leaders who led by example,” said McCurdy when asked about his leadership style. “So, I try to work hard and help some of the younger guys that way.”
That level of maturity wouldn’t have been possible without the tutelage of Billy McCreery in his first year in Danbury.
“Billy has taught me a ton about the mental and team aspect of the game,” commented McCurdy on the role McCreery has played in his development. “Billy is big on the little details of a game, and he knows them well. Him passing that on to me and the rest of the team has helped out a ton.”
“Hunter is hard to play against and does all the simple things well,” said head coach Billy McCreery of McCurdy’s game. “He isn’t detoured no matter the adversity, and we need that with our team.”
With time winding down in Danbury, McCurdy recognizes that the process is coming to a close soon.
“It’s a special process, playing junior hockey has taught me a ton,” continued McCurdy. “You go through the ups and downs. Especially with the quarantine last year, I have a bond with these guys like no team before. We spent months and months in a hotel, that’ll make you incredibly close.”
The second half of McCurdy’s final junior season kicks off on New Year’s Eve in Maine, where the Hat Tricks set sail and aim to right the ship for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.