Penticton Vees alumni Hunter Miska has signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.
“We are very pleased to sign Hunter to an entry level contract,” said Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka. “Hunter was one of the top goalies in the NCAA last year and he was highly coveted by numerous NHL teams. We are excited to have him join our organization and look forward to watching him develop.”
Related: Former Vees meet in NCAA playoffs
The 21-year-old Miska posted a 27-5-5 record with a .920 save percentage and a 2.20 goals against average with five shutouts for University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC). The 6-foot-1, 172-pound goaltender helped lead the University of Minnesota-Duluth to the Frozen Four Championship game before falling 3-2 to the University of Denver. Miska was named as a finalist for the Mike Richter award, given annually to the goaltender voted to be the most outstanding in Division I NCAA hockey during the regular season.
Miska helped lead the Vees to a BCHL and Western Canada Cup championship. He was also named the BCHL’s top goaltender and along with teammate Brendan Barry, they won the Wally Forslund Memorial Trophy for top goaltending duo. Miska played with the Vees for two seasons (2013-2015), before departing to play in the USHL then on to college hockey.
The terms of his contract with the Coyotes were not disclosed, as per club policy.