Hunter Hatcher (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — Free Agent) Defense
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran, July 2020: I really like Hunter’s brain, feet and willingness to compete, but he doesn’t just compete…. he wins his one on one battles. He has very clean hips and maintains excellent balance while playing through contact or initiating it. He wins battles in the scoring area by arriving before his opponents and establishing body positioning. He controls sticks as well as any sub 6′ defender I saw last year. While defending line rushes Hunter surveys the entire sheet looking for the late attackers and he has the confidence to direct his back checkers to the areas or players that he wants covered. He communicates well and works to be an outlet for his partner in transition. Although he historically hasn’t been a point producer Hunter has good puck skills. He has a clean first touch, makes hard flat tape to tape passes and has a hard accurate shot from the point. He understands that his job is to get the puck into the forwards hands quickly and he does it very well. I love the fact that he plays with an edge and does not take crap. He fights and battles…. and he’s smart about it. I’ve see him yap and he has the ability to suck opponents into stupid penalties. To me he’s a kid who will thrive as he plays against older and smarter competition. I’m not sure where he’s going to end up this year, but I have no doubt that he will have a positive impact. He is on my long term watch list because he has excellent feet and in today’s game he has the makings of an ideal team first defender.
U18 Michigan States, April 2020: Hunter is a strong, quick player who will lead the rush and create scoring opportunities on the entry. He is a feisty player who will step up and close the gap on the opponent and take the body. He is effective on the penalty kill as he takes away the passing lanes and will pressure the opponent to create turnover. He is active in the offensive zone as he moves his feet to get open and will get the puck on net or set up his teammate on the back door.
USHL Showcase U18, November 2019: Hunter was playing up by a year and did well to compete at this level. He is a lean skater but mobile and remains active at all times when on the ice. We like his willingness to take space and play aggressively, especially in the offensive end. He knows when there’s a gap that opens and he looks to exploit it whenever he has possession of the puck. His team struggled to have offensive success in the action that we watched near the end of the tournament but he was trying to kick start that offense by gaining the blue line with authority and putting the pressure on the opposing D with his speed. He had the right idea but not a lot of help in this particular game. Grade: B-
MAHA U18 Showcase, September 2019: Hunter is a speedy player who likes to skate with the puck up ice and set up his teammates for scoring opportunities. He does a great job of closing the gap while stick angling and finishing his check, which makes it easier with his speed. He is a smart player who reads the ice very well and makes the right choice with the puck. Grade: A
2002 United States National Festival, July 2019 (Ian Moran’s Comments):
| Team Grey | Hunter Hatcher 6/29/02 | LD | Long smooth stride, great agility & lateral movement, strong edges & powerful out of turns / escapes, quick tape to tape outlets, simple & effective | Physical maturity & strength, Survives through brains & quickness, Weight room should be his biggest friend over next 12-18 months |
Michigan (MAHA) Festival 2002s, May 2019: Hunter is probably the fastest player at camp as he will skate the puck up ice and be the first one back in the defensive zone. He plays a physical game and is not afraid to stir things up. He reads the play and he anticipates when he needs to step up on the opposition and catch them off guard. He makes hard, accurate passes on the breakout and then he will join the rush. Grade: A
T1EHL U16 Showcase Michigan, December 2018: Hunter was very good with the puck on his stick and uses his speed well. He was rushing the puck up the ice with ease and very creative in the offensive zone. He loses himself defensively a bit and has a tendency to wander in his own zone but he can often recover well with his speed and get back into position. Excellent feet and offensive abilities. Grade: A-
Pro-Am Junior Chowder Cup, August 2018: Hunter is athletic and mobile. He has a strong stride and quick feet which let him keep good gaps through the neutral zone. He looks to activate in the offense whenever possible. He sees the ice well and made some nice passes through seams that created efficient zone entries. Solid in his own zone and takes good angles to keep forwards to the outside. Could use some snarl to his game to make it harder to play against him in his own zone. Weekend Grade: B
USA Select Festival Michigan 2002s, May 2018: Hunter is a strong, quick skater who is aggressive with his step ups but is also smart about it. He moves the puck very well up the ice and will join the rush and be an option in the offensive zone. He is also very active in the offensive by constantly moving his feet and being available for his teammates. Grade: A
Tier 1 Elite Playoffs, March 2018: Hunter received “All Tournament Honorable Mention”
NTDP & USHL Futures Draft Top 115 American 2002’s, March 2018: Hunter had a 3.75 Neutral Zone star rating and was our 29th highest rated defenseman eligible for the USHL Draft.
Mid Term NTDP Bound Rankings, December 2017: Hunter had a 3.75 Neutral Zone star rating and was our 27th highest ranked defenseman in the United States 2002 age group.
T1EHL U16 October Showcase, November 2017: Undersized defender with good hockey sense from the back end. He was aggressive in using his feet to get out of his end and up in the play. Moved pucks well and started the offense. Defensively used his feet and stick to limit opponents time and space. Has potential as he grows and gets stronger.
Motor City Cup U16, September 2017: Hunter is a smooth skating defenseman who makes great passes all over the ice while using vision and patience. He isn’t shy in the physical department and stepped up on several prospects coming through the neutral zone with their head down. A multi-dimensional defender who can make fluid passes out of his end, take the body in the defensive zone and hold the offensive blue line.
2002 Michigan Bantam Fest, July 2017: Hatcher is a strong skater with a good reach. He has the ability to step up and make good hits. He never seems to be out of position and he is not afraid to join the rush and be a force. Grade: A