REGINA PATS COACH - CURTIS HUNT DOES NOT FORGET HIS TIME AS A PRINCE ALBERT RAIDER

By Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader Post

September 30, 2009

Hunt won't forget time as a Raider

Another "Wednesday night at the 'Plex'' looms for Curtis Hunt, although times and affiliations have changed.

The Prince Albert Raiders' home rink, known as the Comuniplex when Hunt played for that WHL team, is now the Art Hauser Centre.

Hunt is now a member of the opposition in his capacity as the head coach of the Regina Pats, who are to visit Prince Albert tonight (7 p.m., CKRM).

"When we make the turn on to 6th Avenue towards the rink, I always think of 'Friday night at the 'Plex' or 'Wednesday night at the 'Plex,' '' Hunt said on Tuesday. "That's what we used to say as players.''

Hunt played defence for the Raiders from 1984 to 1987, helping the team win its only Memorial Cup in the spring of 1985. At the time, the Raiders were coached by Terry Simpson, whose contributions are still widely celebrated in Prince Albert.

"Turning into the parking lot, it's called Terry Simpson Way,'' said Hunt, 42. "You see the banners, especially when you first get there. Then you get consumed with the task at hand.''
Hunt is consumed with turning the Pats into a contender for the Memorial Cup and celebrating a CHL title for a second time.

"When you're part of a championship, you walk together forever,'' he said. "That's just part of it. When we compete head to head, or when we're watching scores around the league, obviously there's no part of (an allegiance to the Raiders).

"I'm not really sentimental that way, other than the fact that it's junior hockey and it's a great time in your life. You're responsible to do one thing only, and that's just play. We had a lot of fun and obviously we won. That probably made it a lot of fun. After that, it's just a smile ... and a memory.''

Hunt treasures the memories, but prefers to live in the present. "I've found that I'm not a very nostalgic person,'' he said with a chuckle. "I've kept a few hockey jerseys, but they're in a box somewhere. I couldn't tell you where.''

His collection of hockey mementoes also includes two world junior hockey championship gold medals. He was an assistant coach with the Canadian squads that struck gold in 2007 and 2008.
Those medals, along with keepsakes resulting from the Raiders' Memorial Cup title, are the most tangible rewards he has received while involved with junior hockey.

"As a player, I lost an American league championship in seven games,'' recalled Hunt, a ninth-round draft choice of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks in 1985.

"I lost an International league championship in six games. You remember those, but I have rings for everything else. Nothing really rivals those, except for the little personal things like when you get drafted and your first camp and all that stuff. You remember little pieces.'' When visiting the 'Plex, Hunt occasionally takes time to remember his time in the city. "I walk around the building and look at the pictures now and again if we get there early, but it's nothing that gets you beyond what you're there to do,'' he said. "When we go in there, we're there to get our points and get out.''

But given more time for reflection, he does appreciate the major-junior journey that began so auspiciously in Prince Albert a quarter-century ago. "Wow,'' Hunt marvelled, "that was a long time ago.''