Hunter Shinkaruk

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Hunter Shinkaruk

| image = Hunter Shinkaruk (27551606713).jpg

| image_size = 225px

| caption = Shinkaruk in 2016

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|10|13}}

| birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 186

| position = Forward

| shoots = Left

| league = EIHL

| team = Cardiff Devils

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| former_teams = Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames
Kunlun Red Star
Dinamo Riga
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Iserlohn Roosters

| draft = 24th overall

| draft_team = Vancouver Canucks

| draft_year = 2013

| career_start = 2014

| career_end =

}}

Hunter Shinkaruk (born October 13, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently signed to UK Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) side Cardiff Devils. He was selected in the first round, 24th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, and has also played for the Calgary Flames.

Shinkaruk played junior ice hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) before turning professional 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,{{cite news|title=18-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers' left winger hopes dedication and hard work will pay off|url=http://calgaryjournal.ca/index.php/sports/1751-hunter-shinkaruk|accessdate=2014-04-26|date=2013-06-14|work=Calgary Journal|author=Esplen, Ian|archive-date=April 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427081300/http://calgaryjournal.ca/index.php/sports/1751-hunter-shinkaruk|url-status=dead}} causing him to miss the entire 2009–10 campaign except for 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.{{cite web|title=Hunter Shinkaruk (LW) – 2010–11 |url=http://whl.ca/roster/gameByGame/id/7450/ls_season/236 |accessdate=2014-04-27 |publisher=Western Hockey League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427084742/http://whl.ca/roster/gameByGame/id/7450/ls_season/236 |archivedate=April 27, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} Scoring 42 points (14 goals and 28 assists) over 63 games in 2010–11, he ranked 10th among league rookies.{{cite web|title=2010–11 Regular Season – Rookies |url=http://whl.ca/stats/show/type/top_scorers/ls_season/236/subtype/4 |accessdate=2014-04-26 |publisher=Western Hockey League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427142954/http://whl.ca/stats/show/type/top_scorers/ls_season/236/subtype/4 |archivedate=April 27, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} 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.{{cite web|title=2011–12 Regular Season – Top Scorers |url=http://whl.ca/stats/show/type/top_scorers/ls_season/238 |accessdate=2014-06-26 |publisher=Western Hockey League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427070308/http://whl.ca/stats/show/type/top_scorers/ls_season/238 |archivedate=April 27, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} 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.{{cite web|title=2012–13 Regular Season – Top Scorers |url=http://whl.ca/stats/show/type/top_scorers/ls_season/242 |accessdate=2014-04-26 |publisher=Western Hockey League |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221222123/http://www.whl.ca/stats/show/type/top_scorers/ls_season/242 |archivedate=December 21, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}

Playing in his draft-eligible year, Shinkaruk was ranked the sixth-best prospect among skaters playing in North America.{{cite news|title=Seth Jones tops Central Scouting final 2013 draft rankings|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=667161|date=2013-04-24|accessdate=2014-04-27|publisher=National Hockey League}} 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,{{cite news|title=Canucks' first-round draft pick Hunter Shinkaruk to undergo hip surgery|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/canucks-first-round-draft-pick-hunter-shinkaruk-to-undergo-hip-surgery/article16112325/|accessdate=2014-04-27|date=2013-12-27|work=The Globe and Mail|agency=Canadian Press}} 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.{{Cite news|title=Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk hip to team's future while recovering from surgery|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Canucks+prospect+Hunter+Shinkaruk+team+future+while+recovering+from+surgery/9637636/story.html|accessdate=2014-04-27|date=2014-03-20|work=Vancouver Sun|author=Pap, Elliott|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804130945/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canucks+prospect+Hunter+Shinkaruk+team+future+while+recovering+from+surgery/9637636/story.html|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite news|title=Botchford: Finally on ice again after hip surgery, Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk can't stop smiling |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/Botchford+Finally+again+after+surgery+Canucks+prospect+Hunter+Shinkaruk+stop+smiling/10025300/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715014743/http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Botchford+Finally+again+after+surgery+Canucks+prospect+Hunter+Shinkaruk+stop+smiling/10025300/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-07-15 |accessdate=2014-09-12 |date=2014-07-13 |work=The Province |author=Botchford, Jason }}

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.{{cite news|title=Canucks news and notes: Hunter Shinkaruk has high expectations at Young Stars Tournament|url=http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/1153454/canucks-news-and-notes-hunter-shinkaruk-has-high-expectations-at-young-stars-tournament/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913102752/http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/1153454/canucks-news-and-notes-hunter-shinkaruk-has-high-expectations-at-young-stars-tournament/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 13, 2014|accessdate=2014-09-12|date=2014-09-12|work=MetroNews|author=Tucker, Cam}}{{cite news|title=Five things we've learned from the Canucks prospects' 4–3 OT loss to the Oilers |url=https://theprovince.com/Five+things+learned+from+Canucks+prospects+loss+Oilers/10200239/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140913070413/http://www.theprovince.com/Five+things+learned+from+Canucks+prospects+loss+Oilers/10200239/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-09-13 |accessdate=2014-09-13 |date=2014-09-12 |work=The Province |author=Jamieson, Jim }}

=Professional=

File:Hunter Shinkaruk 2015-3-14.jpg 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.{{Cite news|title=Canucks' Shinkaruk ready to handle high expectations|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=779026|accessdate=2015-11-14|date=2015-09-14|publisher=National Hockey League|author=Vickers, Aaron}}

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.{{cite web| url = http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=787956 | title = Vancouver recalls Hunter Shinkaruk | work = Vancouver Canucks | date = 2015-11-14 | accessdate = 2015-11-14}} He made his NHL debut on November 16, 2015 in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens.{{cite web| url = http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=788219 | title = Canucks fall to Canadiens in overtime | work = Vancouver Canucks | date = 2015-11-16 | accessdate = 2015-11-16}} 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.{{cite web| url = http://flames.nhl.com/club/m_news.htm?id=870059 | title = Calgary Flames acquire Hunter Shinkaruk | work = Calgary Flames | date = 2016-02-22 | accessdate = 2016-02-22}}

Shinkaruk made his debut with the Flames on March 28, 2016, against the Arizona Coyotes, in which he got his first NHL point.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ari-vs-cgy/2016/03/28/2015021138 | title = Flames down Coyotes in Arizona | work = Calgary Flames | date = 2016-03-28 | access-date = 2016-03-28}} He scored his first NHL goal as a Calgary Flame against the Anaheim Ducks in a 5–4 loss on March 30, 2016.{{cite news|last1=Gilbertson|first1=Wes|title=Flames make history with 23rd straight loss in Anaheim|url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-make-history-with-23rd-straight-loss-in-anaheim|accessdate=14 December 2017|publisher=Calgary Herald|date=30 March 2016}}

On August 20, 2018, Shinkaruk was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Kerby Rychel.{{cite web |last1=Cudzinowski |first1=Matt |title=Forward Hunter Shinkaruk acquired from Calgary in return for Kerby Rychel |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-acquire-hunter-shinkaruk-from-flames/c-299804590 |website= Montreal Canadiens |accessdate=August 20, 2018 |date=August 20, 2018}} As a restricted free agent, Shinkaruk immediately signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level.{{cite web |last1=Cudzinowski |first1=Matt |title=Canadiens agree to terms with Hunter Shinkaruk |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-agree-to-terms-with-hunter-shinkaruk/c-299806296 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=August 20, 2018}} In the 2018–19 season, Shinkaruk was assigned by the Canadiens to the Laval Rocket for the year, posting just 5 goals and 10 points in 54 games.

As an impending restricted free agent, Shinkaruk was not tendered a 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.{{cite web| url = http://gocheckers.com/articles/transactions/checkers-sign-derek-sheppard-hunter-shinkurak-and-colin-markison-to-ahl-deals | title = Checkers sign Sheppard, Shinkaruk and Markison to AHL deals | work = Charlotte Checkers | date = July 18, 2019 | accessdate = July 18, 2019}} 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 to sign his first contract abroad with Chinese club, HC Kunlun Red Star of the KHL on December 23, 2019.{{cite web| url = https://www.instagram.com/p/B6Yz9SFhbZ5/ | title = Kunlun agree to terms with Hunter Shinkaruk | publisher = Instagram | date = December 23, 2019 | accessdate = December 23, 2019}}

File:2023-11-26 Eisbären Berlin gegen Iserlohn Roosters (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2023-24) by Sandro Halank–038.jpg

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.{{cite web | url = https://www.dinamoriga.lv/lv/zinas/kluba-zinas/dinamo-riga-sastavu-papildina-kanadiesu-uzbrucejs-hunter-shinkaruk | title = Dinamo Riga add Canadian Hunter Shinkaruk | publisher = Dinamo Riga | date = June 2, 2021 | accessdate = June 2, 2021 | language = Latvian | archive-date = December 1, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211201171029/https://www.dinamoriga.lv/lv/zinas/kluba-zinas/dinamo-riga-sastavu-papildina-kanadiesu-uzbrucejs-hunter-shinkaruk | url-status = dead }}

In July 2024, Shinkaruk agreed terms to join UK EIHL side Cardiff Devils.{{Cite web | url = https://www.cardiffdevils.com/news/devils-complete-2024-25-roster-final-four-signings/ | title = Devils complete 2024/25 roster}}

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.{{cite web| url = http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/hunter-shinkaruk/ | work = HockeysFuture.com | title = Hunter Shinkaruk prospect profile | date =March 14, 2012| accessdate=March 14, 2012}}

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.{{cite web| url = http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/04/20/hunter-shinkaruk-2013-nhl-draft-player-profile-11/ | title = Hunter Shinkaruk: 2013 NHL Draft Player Profile #11 | work = LastWordOnSports.com | date = 2013-04-20 | accessdate = 2013-04-20}}

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. The next year, he received another invite. Playing with an injured hip, he was the team's final cut before the 2014 World Juniors.{{cite news |last1=Odland |first1=Kristen |title=Shinkaruk is Forced to be a Spectator|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-province/20140402/282007555359585|via=PressReader|accessdate=March 13, 2017}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;"
style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" style="background:#fff;"\| ! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"\| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"\| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! 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
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 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
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 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
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 2015–16 \| Utica Comets \| AHL \| 45	21	18	39	18 \| —	—	—	—	—
2015–16 \| Vancouver Canucks \| NHL \| 1	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 2015–16 \| Stockton Heat \| AHL \| 17	6	6	12	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
2015–16 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 7	2	1	3	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 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 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 2017–18 \| Stockton Heat \| AHL \| 63	17	15	32	30 \| —	—	—	—	—
2018–19 \| Laval Rocket \| AHL \| 54	5	5	10	20 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 2019–20 \| Charlotte Checkers \| AHL \| 20	4	3	7	4 \| —	—	—	—	—
2019–20 \| Kunlun Red Star \| KHL \| 19	3	6	9	16 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 2020–21 \| Kunlun Red Star \| KHL \| 47	12	18	30	10 \| —	—	—	—	—
2021–22 \| Dinamo Riga \| KHL \| 39	5	8	13	14 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 2021–22 \| HV71 \| Allsv \| 8	0	3	3	0 \| 15	3	8	11	6
2022–23 \| Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk \| KHL \| 19	2	3	5	4 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#f0f0f0;" \| 2023–24 \| Iserlohn Roosters \| DEL \| 28	5	9	14	12 \| —	—	—	—	—
style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" \| NHL totals ! 15 !! 2 !! 2 !! 4!! 4 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! —
style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" \| KHL totals ! 124 !! 22 !! 35 !! 57 !! 44 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! —

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

style="text-align:center; background:#e0e0e0;"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"|

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2010

| Canada Pacific

| U17

| {{bronze3}}

| 6

| 5

| 4

| 9

| 2

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2011

| Canada

| IH18

| {{gold1}}

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 4

2012

| Canada

| WJC18

| {{bronze3}}

| 6

| 4

| 8

| 6

style="background:#e0e0e0;"

| colspan=4| Junior totals

! 17

! 10

! 9

! 19

! 12

Awards and honours

class="wikitable"
Honours ! Year ! Ref
World U-17 Hockey Challenge bronze medal \| 2010 \| [http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/5/13/4324348/hunter-shinkaruk-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile Hunter Shinkaruk: 2013 NHL Draft Prospect Profile – In Lou We Trust]
World U-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team \| 2010 \|
IIHF World U18 Championship bronze medal \| 2012 \| {{Cite web \|url=http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/03/hunter-is-the-hunted-medicine-hat-tigers-sniper-shinkaruk-ready-for-hype-of-2013-nhl-entry-draft/ \|title=Hunter is the hunted: Medicine Hat Tigers sniper Shinkaruk ready for hype of 2013 NHL entry draft {{!}} The Province \|access-date=May 28, 2013 \|archive-date=November 22, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122165555/http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/03/hunter-is-the-hunted-medicine-hat-tigers-sniper-shinkaruk-ready-for-hype-of-2013-nhl-entry-draft/ \|url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable"

Honours

! Year

! Ref

World U-17 Hockey Challenge bronze medal

| 2010

| [http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/5/13/4324348/hunter-shinkaruk-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile Hunter Shinkaruk: 2013 NHL Draft Prospect Profile – In Lou We Trust]

World U-17 Hockey Challenge All-Star Team

| 2010

IIHF World U18 Championship bronze medal

| 2012

| {{Cite web |url=http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/03/hunter-is-the-hunted-medicine-hat-tigers-sniper-shinkaruk-ready-for-hype-of-2013-nhl-entry-draft/ |title=Hunter is the hunted: Medicine Hat Tigers sniper Shinkaruk ready for hype of 2013 NHL entry draft {{!}} The Province |access-date=May 28, 2013 |archive-date=November 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122165555/http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/10/03/hunter-is-the-hunted-medicine-hat-tigers-sniper-shinkaruk-ready-for-hype-of-2013-nhl-entry-draft/ |url-status=dead }}