CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Hunter Drew will end his major junior career where it began.
The Charlottetown Islanders overage defenceman heard his name in the rumour mill during the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League trade period, which closed Sunday. He said the coaching staff was upfront with him and while he didn’t expect to be moved, he knew it was a possibility.
“It’s good that it’s over,” he said before Tuesday’s practice. “You’re uncertain everyday coming to the rink.”
The rugged blue-liner said he spoke to his parents the other day, and they asked him about his three years with the Islanders. They are planning a trip to Charlottetown for his final home game on March 15. It was during that conversation that it hit him his junior career was winding down.
“I can’t even imagine how I’m going to feel in March,” he said.
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Drew’s story inspired a lot of people during the past year. He went from a walk-on who played the wing and was scratched down the stretch in 2016-17 to an integral part of the 2017-18 team’s success as a defenceman. It led the Anaheim Ducks to drafting him in the sixth round in June.
“It’s unbelievable,” Drew said, reflecting back on his past 2 ½ seasons, “the path I’ve taken to get to where I am. It’s kind of nice to watch some of the younger guys go through the same thing, and I am trying to help them a little bit along the way.”
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Islanders head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said the trade period is always difficult for veterans, particularly when teams trade experienced guys like Charlottetown did early in the trade period.
“The rest of the room starts to walk around on pins and needles and (are) not sure what’s happening. Hunter is smart enough to know that a guy of his stature is probably in demand,” he said. “For us to move him, the price was extremely high because of what he brings to our room.”
The Islanders never received that offer and decided to hold on to their key piece.
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Drew has always played with a physical edge to his game. He led the league in penalty minutes last season, but it’s more than that.
Earlier this season, rookie Lukas Cormier got hit in front of the benches. Drew made it be known – without dropping the mitts – that wasn’t going to happen again or they would answer to him.
“That’s one thing I learned in Anaheim when I talked to the front office there. You don't always have to be the guy that’s fighting everyone, you just kind of have to make it known that you’re there,” Drew said.
He said he sees it as part of his role as a veteran with a team with some up-and-coming youngsters.
“I kind of want to take care of them. They’re all going to have bright futures.”
Hulton said the Islanders don’t have a lot of guys who play with the “fire and brimstone” Drew does.
“He is a leader on our team because of that. He makes guys bigger and taller and that element of the game has always been effective and always will be,” he said. “We didn't think we could necessarily replace that and especially come playoff time.”
Veterans usually take their game up a notch during the second half of the season. For Hulton, he’s looking for Drew to be a “rock-solid”, defence-first guy. He said Drew had two of his better defensive games during the weekend.
Drew has heard the whispers around town and on social media about the team not going to be good for the second half.
While sad to see some of his teammates go, he politely disagrees.
“I think we’re going to continue to surprise teams like we’ve done for the past 18 months,” he said. “It’s an exciting time to be in Charlottetown.”
Need to know
Hunter Drew
Who – A member of the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Personal – Drew is a 20-year-old Kingston, Ont., native.
Size, position – He is six-foot-one, 191-pound defenceman.
Statistics
Regular season
Season GP G A Pts. PIM
2016-17 42 0 3 3 69
2017-18 64 8 31 39 159
2018-19 31 8 17 24 70
Playoffs
2017 1 0 0 0 2
2018 18 2 9 11 30
