Hunter Miska

Playing career

Hunter Miska went undrafted and played junior hockey in the USHL and BCHL before moving on to college hockey with the University of Minnesota Duluth in the NCHC. As a freshman in 2016–17, he put up a 27-5-5 record, a .920 save percentage, a 2.20 goals-against average, and five shutouts. He guided the Bulldogs to the Frozen Four championship game, where they lost 3-2 to Denver. That season, Miska was a finalist for the Mike Richter Award, which honors the top goaltender in Division I NCAA hockey. After that strong debut, he left Duluth to turn pro, signing a two-year entry-level deal with the Arizona Coyotes on April 15, 2017. Following his first training camp with the Coyotes, he was sent to their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, for the entire 2017–18 season. The next season, he started back with the Roadrunners. On November 6, 2018, the Coyotes called him up for the first time to cover for an injured Antti Raanta. He made his NHL debut on November 13, 2018, relieving Darcy Kuemper against the Detroit Red Wings. He was sent back to Tucson on November 23, then recalled again as an emergency option, only to be returned to the AHL on November 30. He stayed with Tucson for the rest of the year, sharing goaltending duties with Adin Hill and earning 10 wins in 25 games. When his entry-level contract ended, the Coyotes did not give him a qualifying offer, making him a free agent on June 25, 2019. On July 12, 2019, he signed a one-year AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles, the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. He began the 2019–20 season with the Eagles, then had a brief three-game stint with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. After returning to the AHL, an injury to fellow goalie Antoine Bibeau kept Miska with the Eagles, where he posted 11 wins and tied for fourth among all AHL goaltenders in save percentage over 19 games. On February 10, 2020, he signed a one-year NHL contract with the Avalanche for the rest of the season.