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Hunter Shepard
Hunter Shepard
Hunter Shepard
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Hunter Markus Shepard (born November 7, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Key Information

Growing up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Shepard attended Grand Rapids High School where he played prep school hockey and baseball. In his senior year, he received a Minnesota Minute Men Mr. Hockey Award and joined the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). After two seasons with the Bobcats, during which he won their Goaltender of the Year award, he was approached by the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey (UMD) team to be their third goaltender.

Shepard played four seasons of NCAA Division I collegiate hockey with the Bulldogs, setting various records as the team's co-captain. He became the first goaltender captain since Rick Heinz in 1976 and received the 2018 Keith Christiansen Award as UMD's Most Valuable Player. Shepard started in over 105 consecutive games for the Bulldogs, setting a new NCAA record, and became the first netminder in a half century to lead his club to two consecutive NCAA titles. As a result of his achievements, he was selected as an AHCA All-American twice, received the NCHC Goaltender of the Year Award twice, was named NCHC Tournament MVP and a finalist for the Mike Richter Award.

Early life

[edit]

Shepard was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota to parents Mark and Terri Shepard[1] on November 7, 1995.[2] Growing up, he was placed in a daycare run by the mother of Adam Hauser, the University of Minnesota's Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team's starting goaltender. He would use a goaltending glove to catch softballs in the Hausers’ living room and credits Hauser for encouraging him to become a goalie.[3] Since no one in his family played hockey, his father and uncle coached him in baseball.[4] He began playing competitive hockey at the age of five or six.[5]

Playing career

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

While attending Grand Rapids High School, Shepard played prep school hockey as a goaltender and baseball as an infielder and pitcher.[1] In his final year at the school, Shepard and teammate Avery Peterson became the first pair from the same school to receive Minnesota Minute Men Mr Hockey awards in the same season.[6] Upon graduating, he remained undrafted into the NHL and was not awarded any scholarships to play collegiate hockey.[7] He had been drafted by the Lincoln Stars in the third round of the Tier 1 United States Hockey League draft but chose not to play with the team for he was not given a goaltending coach. Upon choosing to leave the team, he called head coach Layne Sedevie of the Bismarck Bobcats in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) to see if there was a spot for him on their roster.[8]

Shepard made his debut with the Bobcats during the 2014–15 season, where he let in seven goals on 25 shots including three on his first four shots.[8] At the end of his first year with the Bobcats, Shepard played in 31 games and yielded a 14-14-1 record, a 3.28 goals-against average (GAA) and a .878 saves percentage.[9] In his second season with the team, Shepard improved to a 34–11–3 record, setting a new franchise record in wins, with a 1.90 GAA and a .926 save percentage.[10] As a result, he was selected to Team Central at the 2016 Top Prospects Tournament where he recorded a 1.99 GAA[10] and named NAHL's January Goaltender of the Month. During the month of January, Shepard led the Bobcats into 1st place in the Central Division by winning all eight games he started while facing 241 shots during the month.[11] Following his second season with the Bobcats, and his last year of junior hockey eligibility, Shepard was approached by the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey team to be their third goaltender.[7] His signing had been a last-minute move due to sophomore goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo leaving in May to sign a professional contract.[9] When asked later about what would have happened if Minnesota-Duluth had not approach him, Shepard said he would have attended a Division III school and played hockey and baseball.[12]

Collegiate

[edit]

Shepard played for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at the University of Minnesota Duluth while majoring in marketing.[1] He made his collegiate debut in a 3–1 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey team on October 15, 2016, where he stopped 35 shots. His save count was the most by a Bulldog goalie in his first collegiate appearance since October 26, 1991.[13] His second appearance occurred on March 3, 2017, as a reliever to starter Hunter Miska in the second period against the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team.[14] As the team qualified for the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, Shepard dressed for the Bulldogs four NCAA appearances.[1]

Shepard returned to the Bulldogs for his sophomore season where he battled for the starting goaltender position with Ben Patt and Nick Deery following the departure of Miska. Coach Scott Sandelin told each goaltender that they would each have a period to prove themselves during the Bulldogs season opener against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Shepard played during the second period where he stopped all 10 shots he faced.[15] He started with a shared goaltending position but eventually earned the starter spot and became the first UMD goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts in a home series.[16] The Bulldogs began the 2017–18 season at the bottom of the NCHC standings with a record under .500 but Scott Sandelin later credited Shepard's support for bringing the team up in the standings.[17] As the Bulldogs slowly climbed the standings, Shepard set two new UMD records during a February game against the Western Michigan Broncos. He set a new record for most shutouts by a goaltender in a single season with six and most consecutive shutouts with three.[18] By April, Shepard posted a .924 save percentage and 1.95 goals-against average as the team earned a 2018 Frozen Four tournament qualification against the Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey team.[17] The Bulldogs beat the Buckeyes 2–1 and Shepard was selected to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team and named the Most Valuable Player.[1] The Bulldogs then faced Notre Dame in the 2018 National Championship where he made 19 saves in an eventual 2–1 win for their second national title in program history.[19] He ended the season with a 1.91 goals against average and .925 saves percentage with a 25–14–1 record, a new UMD single season record.[1] As a result of his play, Shepard was named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award and received the Keith Christiansen Award as UMD's Most Valuable Player.[20]

During the offseason prior to his junior year at Minnesota-Duluth, Shepard was invited to participate at the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres' development camps.[21] He returned to the Bulldogs for the 2018–19 season unsigned to a professional contract and was named to the six-man Preseason All-NCHC Team.[22] While completing his junior campaign, Shepard posted a 29–11–2 record, ranking first overall in wins and second in shutouts with seven. As a result, he concluded the season having started a program-record 81 consecutive games and earned a spot on the NCAA Frozen Four, the NCAA Midwest Regional and NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Teams.[1] He also earned his first NCHC Goaltender of the Year Award and NCHC Three Stars Award.[23] As the Bulldogs entered the postseason, Shepard was named a AHCA First Team All-American, the first UMD goaltender since Alex Stalock,[24] and a final five finalist for the Mike Richter Award.[25] During the 2019 Frozen Four Tournament, Shepard posted his seventh shutout against the UMass Minutemen ice hockey team, setting a nation-leading 29th win record.[26] He then led the team to their second NCAA National Championship title and received his second Keith "Huffer" Christiansen Award as UMD MVP.[27]

Upon winning their second NCAA National Championship title, Shepard immediately told the team he would return for another season. He later said "most people might have thought that (he would go pro), but it was an easy decision for me. I grew up in Minnesota, my family is here, I love my teammates, the coaching staff. And I made a commitment to come here to play for four years. That means something to me."[12] He returned for his senior year where he was subsequently named co-captain of the Bulldogs with Nick Wolff, thus becoming the Bulldogs' first goaltender captain since Rick Heinz in 1976.[28] His record breaking continued as on November 27, 2019, he set a new UMD record for most wins by a goaltender with his 61st career win against the Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey team.[29] On January 25, 2020, Shepard started his 105th consecutive start for the Bulldogs, setting a new NCAA record for most consecutive starts by a goaltender.[30] The following month, Shepard was named one of 20 goaltenders onto the watch list for the 2020 Mike Richter Award.[31] The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic but Shepard had posted a 22–10–2 record, a 2.18 goals against average, and a .918 saves percentage in 34 games and was selected as an AHCA Second-Team All-American.[32] He also received his second Goaltender of the Year Award[33] and named the University of Minnesota Duluth's Outstanding Male Senior Athlete Award.[34] He left the Bulldogs as one of their most decorated goaltenders in program history.[35]

Professional

[edit]
Shepard playing in the Kelly Cup Finals against the Fort Wayne Komets.

Shepard officially concluded his collegiate career on June 25, 2020, by signing a two-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Hershey Bears.[36] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AHL season did not start until February 5, 2021[37] while the ECHL's began on December 11, 2020.[38] As such, Shepard was re-assigned to the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL on December 2, 2020.[39] Shepard quickly mirrored his collegiate success during the ECHL's opening month, posting a 2–0–1 record with a 1.89 goals-against average and a save percentage of .935 over three appearances.[40] He earned his first professional win on December 18 against the Jacksonville Icemen after the team experienced two consecutive loses. This was the first win for the Stingrays of the 2020–21 season and the first ECHL victory for head coach Ryan Blair.[41] As a result of his success, Shepard was named ECHL Goaltender of the Month of December.[40] Shepard eventually made his AHL debut with the Hershey Bears on May 2, 2021, against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He stopped all 28 shots in his debut to secure a shutout and win for the team.[42] Upon returning to the ECHL, Shepard received the league's Goaltender of the Week honors after going 3–0–0 with a shutout, a 1.33 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage.[43] He played two more games for the Bears, winning both, before returning to the ECHL. He had a 1.00 goals-against average and a 0.969 save percentage over the three victories.[44] Shepard returned to the Stingrays for the 2021 ECHL playoffs, where he helped lead them to the Kelly Cup Finals against the Fort Wayne Komets.[45] Although the Stingrays had evened the series at 1–1,[46] the Komets clinched the Kelly Cup in Game 4 of the best-of-three series.[47] On the back of a successful season in the ECHL, Shepard was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Bears affiliate, the Washington Capitals, on July 28, 2021.[48]

Shepard began the 2021–22 season with the Bears but was scratched for the first two games of the season.[49] He was subsequently re-assigned to the ECHL on October 20, 2021.[50] Upon being re-assigned, Shepard matched his career-high 40 saves en route to a win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the Stingrays season opener.[51] Following the win, Shepard was recalled to the Bears on October 28.[52] He was returned to the ECHL on November 4 and he won his second game of the season before being recalled again on November 10.[53] He made his season debut for the Bears on November 14 in a 5–2 loss to the Charlotte Checkers.[54] Shepard posted a 1–4–2 record with a 3.43 goals against average and .903 save percentage for the Stingrays before being recalled to the AHL on December 21.[55] He won two games over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to bring his save percentage from .808 to .901 and his goals-against average down to 2.34.[49] Shepard played one more game against the Penguins on January 8[56] but spent the majority of the month on the Capitals taxi squad.[49][57] During the month of February, Shepard remained with the Bears as a backup for Zach Fucale while starting goaltender Pheonix Copley stayed up with the Washington Capitals.[49] However, after surrendering three goals in a loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on March 5,[58] Shepard was re-assigned to the ECHL on March 7.[59] In a seven-game stretch with the Stingrays, Shepard posted a 4–3–0 record including a shutout on March 16 against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.[49] He started in 13 of the Stingrays final 18 games and completed the season with a 12–9–2–0 record. After the Stingrays were eliminated from playoff contention, Shepard was recalled to the AHL level on April 21, 2022, to finish out the season with the Bears.[60] On May 7, Shepard earned his first NHL recall hours before the Capitals began Game 3 of their first-round series against the Florida Panthers.[61] He did not make his NHL debut before being replaced with Copley on May 13 as the Capitals third goaltender.[62]

In the final year of his contract, Shepard began the 2022–23 season with the Hershey Bears in the AHL after attending the Capitals training camp.[63] Although Fucale began the season as the Bears' starting goaltender, Shepard earned significantly playing time as he posted a 4–0–2 record through the teams' first 16 games. Across his six games, he also maintained a 1.80 goals against average and .935 save percentage.[64] As he finished the month of November with six wins over six starts, Shepard received the AHL's Goaltender of the Month honor.[65] Following this, Shepard received his first NHL call-up of the season on December 5.[66] He spent seven games serving as backup for Charlie Lindgren while Darcy Kuemper recovered from a concussion[67] but returned to the Bears on December 19 without having made his NHL debut.[68] Shepard and Fucale served a strong goaltending tandem throughout the season as the Bears qualified for the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs. The duo became the first two Hershey goaltenders to both win 20 games in a season since 2018–19.[67] Shepard finished the regular season with a 20–8 record, a 2.18 goals against average, and .916 save percentage.[69]

Shepard holding the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy.

Although Shepard split the goaltending duties with Fucale in the regular season, he played in all 20 games of the playoffs for a total of 1188 minutes.[69] In their second-round series against the Charlotte Checkers, Shepard posted a 3–1–0 record as he made 85 saves and allowed only seven goals over four games.[67] He remained the Bears' starter during their Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Rochester Americans even after being pulled in Game 1 for allowing four goals on 16 shots. He returned to the Bears net for Game 2 and he recorded a shutout to even the series 1–1.[70] Shepard recorded another shutout during their series to help the team capture the Richard F. Canning Trophy as the AHL's Eastern Conference champions.[71] Upon finishing the series, Shepard's playoff record improved to 10–3 with a 1.85 goals against average and .929 save percentage.[72] Shepard and the Bears faced off against the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the Calder Cup Finals en route to their Calder Cup win. He recorded a shutout in Game 5 to give the Bears a 3–2 series lead. He later received the Jack Butterfield Award as the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs after Hershey clinched the Calder Cup championship with a Game 7 overtime win. Following his Calder Cup win, the Capitals re-signed Shepard to another two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.[73]

After participating in the Capitals training camp and preseason, Shepard was reassigned to the Hershey Bears to start the 2023–24 season.[74] He played two games with the Bears, winning both, before being recalled to the NHL level on October 24.[75] Shepard made his NHL debut on October 25, 2023, against the New Jersey Devils. The Capitals won 6–4 to give Shepard his first NHL win. Upon returning to Hershey, Shepard would go on to win another Calder Cup on June 24, 2024.[76]

Having spent five years playing professionally within the Capitals organization, Shepard left the club as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators for the 2025–26 season on July 2, 2025.[77] Shepard was assigned to the Senators' AHL affiliate Belleville Senators. After Ottawa's starter Linus Ullmark took a personal leave of absence from the Senators, Shepard was recalled to Ottawa on December 29.[78] Shepard was the backup for several games and got into his first action with Ottawa on January 5, 2026, against the Detroit Red Wings.[79] He was sent back to Belleville on January 6.[80]

Career statistics

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2011–12 Grand Rapids High USHS 10 8 2 0 — — 1 2.20 .908 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 Grand Rapids High USHS 24 17 14 3 — — 5 1.95 .926 3 2 1 — — 0 2.20 .911
2013–14 Grand Rapids High USHS 25 17 8 0 — — 1 2.64 .918 2 1 1 — — 0 2.71 .914
2014–15 Bismarck Bobcats NAHL 31 14 14 1 1739 95 1 3.28 .878 2 0 2 118 5 0 2.55 .911
2015–16 Bismarck Bobcats NAHL 50 34 11 3 2932 93 8 1.90 .926 11 6 5 633 24 1 2.28 .926
2016–17 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 2 0 2 0 93 4 0 2.58 .922 — — — — — — — —
2017–18 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 41 25 14 1 2393 76 8 1.91 .925 — — — — — — — —
2018–19 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 42 29 11 2 2556 75 7 1.76 .923 — — — — — — — —
2019–20 U. of Minnesota-Duluth NCHC 34 22 10 2 2033 74 2 2.18 .918 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 21 12 6 2 1,222 52 1 2.55 .922 13 7 6 746 42 0 3.38 .883
2020–21 Hershey Bears AHL 3 3 0 0 180 3 1 1.00 .969 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 23 12 9 2 1,397 67 2 2.88 .917 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Hershey Bears AHL 9 5 3 0 494 17 1 2.06 .922 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 Hershey Bears AHL 33 20 8 5 1,930 70 1 2.18 .916 20 14 6 1,188 45 3 2.27 .914
2023–24 Hershey Bears AHL 34 27 4 3 2,076 61 5 1.76 .929 20 14 6 1,205 50 0 2.49 .910
2023–24 Washington Capitals NHL 4 2 1 1 245 13 0 3.19 .894 — — — — — — — —
2024–25 Hershey Bears AHL 39 23 11 4 2,253 105 3 2.80 .891 7 2 5 412 19 1 2.77 .893
2024–25 Washington Capitals NHL 1 0 1 0 60 7 0 7.00 .731 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 5 2 2 1 305 20 0 3.93 .866 — — — — — — — —

Awards and honors

[edit]
Award Year
College
All-NCHC Second Team 2018
NCHC Goaltender of the Year 2019, 2020
All-NCHC First Team 2019, 2020
NCAA West First Team All-American 2019
NCAA West Second Team All-American 2020
AHL
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy 2023 [81]
Calder Cup 2023, 2024 [82][83]
First All-Star Team 2024 [84]
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award 2024 [85]
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award 2024 [86]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Hunter Shepard

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Hunter Shepard (born November 7, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey who plays for the of the (AHL), the primary affiliate of the of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and weighing 225 pounds (102 kg), Shepard catches left-handed and was undrafted into the NHL. Shepard began his hockey career at Grand Rapids High School in before joining the Bismarck Bobcats of the (NAHL), where he earned First honors in 2016. He then attended the (UMD), playing for the Bulldogs from 2016 to 2020 and compiling a 76-37-5 record with a 1.94 goals-against average (GAA), .922 save percentage (SV%), and 16 shutouts over 119 games. During his college tenure, Shepard backstopped UMD to back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first goaltender in 50 years to lead his to consecutive titles; he received NCHC First honors in 2019 and 2020, NCAA (West) First All-American selection in 2019, and NCAA Championship All-Tournament recognition that year. After college, Shepard signed as an undrafted with the on July 28, 2021, and spent four seasons in their organization, primarily with the AHL's , where he appeared in 115 games with a 75-26-12 record, 2.25 GAA, .914 SV%, and 10 shutouts. He made five NHL appearances with the Capitals during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons and helped the Bears win consecutive Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024, earning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP in 2023, the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Award as outstanding in 2024, AHL First All-Star Team honors that year, and the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for fewest goals against in 2024. On July 1, 2025, Shepard signed a one-year, with the as a , transitioning to the for the 2025–26 AHL season, where as of November 2025, he has recorded a 4-4-0 mark with a 3.10 GAA and .911 SV% in 8 games.

Early years

Early life

Hunter Shepard was born Hunter Markus Shepard on November 7, 1995, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, though he grew up in the nearby community of Cohasset. He is the son of Mark and Terri Shepard and has three younger siblings: Tanner and twins Madison and Taylor. Shepard was raised in the region of northern Minnesota, an area renowned for its deep-rooted hockey culture and strong community-based youth programs that foster early involvement in the sport. Grand Rapids, in particular, supports over 500 youth players through organizations like the Grand Rapids Amateur Hockey Association, emphasizing skill development and local pride in the game. His family played a key role in shaping his athletic interests, providing consistent support amid the region's emphasis on . Shepard attended Grand Rapids High School, where he participated in multiple sports, including hockey and . In , he competed as a right-handed and infielder, relying on off-speed pitches and control rather than velocity to compete effectively. During his high school years, he transitioned to the position in hockey, drawing inspiration from former standout Adam Hauser, among other influences like family and . In his senior year of 2013–14, Shepard won the Award as the top senior in high schools. This shift marked his growing focus on hockey while highlighting his early versatility in athletics.

Junior hockey

Hunter Shepard began his junior hockey career with the Bismarck Bobcats of the (NAHL) during the 2014–15 season, following his senior year at Grand Rapids High School in . In his rookie campaign, Shepard split time in net, appearing in 31 games with a 14-14-1 record, a 3.28 goals-against average (GAA), and a .878 save percentage. The Bobcats finished third in the Central Division with a 30-26-4 record and qualified for the , though they were eliminated in the division semifinals by the Minot Minotauros in a three-game sweep. Shepard's development accelerated in the 2015–16 season, where he became the Bobcats' primary , starting 50 games and posting a league-leading 34-11-3 record, a 1.90 GAA, and a .926 save percentage. His strong play helped Bismarck secure first place in the Central Division with a 37-19-4 mark, advancing through the division playoffs by defeating the Brookings 3–1 in the semifinals and the Austin Bruins 3–2 in the finals, claiming the Central Division title with a 4–0 victory over the Bruins in Game 5 of the finals series; the then reached the Robertson Cup national semifinals. For his exceptional performance, Shepard was awarded the NAHL Goaltender of the Year honor and named to the First . Shepard's standout junior tenure drew attention from NCAA programs, leading to his commitment to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), where he arrived as a third-string goaltender for the 2016–17 season.

Collegiate career

2016–18 seasons

As a freshman during the 2016–17 season at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), Hunter Shepard served primarily as the backup goaltender to Hunter Miska on a Bulldogs team that advanced to the NCAA Championship game. He appeared in just two games, posting a 0–2–0 record with a 2.58 goals-against average (GAA) and .922 save percentage over 93 minutes of relief duty, including a debut on October 15 against Alaska Anchorage. This limited role allowed Shepard to adjust to the rigors of NCAA Division I hockey after his junior career in the North American Hockey League, where he had been a high-volume starter. Shepard emerged as UMD's full-time starter in his year of –18, anchoring the Bulldogs' defense en route to their first NCAA national title in 67 years. He started all 41 games, compiling a 25–14–1 record with a 1.91 GAA, .925 save percentage, and eight shutouts, which helped UMD finish with a 28–14–4 overall mark and capture the NCHC regular-season and tournament crowns. His postseason performance was particularly dominant, going 8–0–0 across the NCHC tournament, NCAA Midwest Regional, and Frozen Four with a 0.79 GAA and .967 save percentage, including 19 saves in a 2–1 championship win over Notre Dame on April 7 and 19 saves in a 2–1 semifinal victory against Ohio State. Shepard's efforts earned him a spot on the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team. During the 2017–18 season, Shepard initiated a consecutive starts streak that began on October 21, 2017, against and reached 81 games by season's end, setting a UMD record at the time and establishing his reliability as the team's backbone. His in net contributed to UMD's run, where he demonstrated poise under , such as Notre Dame's late surges in the title game. For his standout play, Shepard earned Second Team All-NCHC honors and received the NCHC Three Stars Award.

2018–20 seasons

In his junior season of 2018–19, Shepard continued his emergence as the unquestioned starter for the (UMD) Bulldogs, appearing in all 42 games with a 29–11–2 record, a 1.76 goals-against average (GAA), and a .923 save percentage. His performance anchored the team's defense throughout the regular season and postseason, where he went a perfect 8–0–0 with a 0.79 GAA and .967 save percentage over eight games, including the NCHC Frozen Faceoff and NCAA Tournament. Shepard's reliability extended his consecutive starts streak well beyond 81 games by season's end, providing stability that propelled UMD to its second straight NCAA championship. In the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Shepard's play was pivotal to UMD's title run, allowing just three goals across four games while posting a .953 save percentage and 0.97 GAA as the starter. He made 30 saves in the regional semifinal victory over and followed with 21 stops against in the regional final, securing s in both to advance to the Frozen Four. In the championship game against on April 13, 2019, Shepard stopped 19 shots for a in a 3–0 victory, helping UMD claim back-to-back national titles for the first time since in 1952–53. As a senior in 2019–20, Shepard served as one of the team's captains alongside defenseman Nick Wolff, emphasizing through consistent performance and on-ice example. He started all 34 games, compiling a 22–10–2 record with a 2.18 GAA and .918 save percentage, leading the NCHC in GAA and minutes played. On January 25, 2020, Shepard made his 105th consecutive start against , surpassing the previous NCAA record for goaltenders set by Michigan's Shawn Hunwick in 2010–12; his streak reached 115 before concluding. The season ended abruptly due to the , with UMD's final game—a 4–3 overtime loss to Nebraska-Omaha on March 7, 2020—marking the end of Shepard's college career without a postseason. The NCHC canceled its tournament on March 12, 2020, and the NCAA followed suit, leaving the Bulldogs as the regular-season conference champions but denying a chance at a third straight title. Shepard's senior year also focused on transitioning to professional hockey, balancing his role as a major with team leadership responsibilities that honed his mental preparation for the next level. As , he mentored younger players and maintained the Bulldogs' competitive culture, drawing on his experience to guide practices and team dynamics. The pandemic-shortened season provided an unexpected closure, allowing Shepard time to reflect on his UMD tenure while preparing for his pro debut.

Professional career

AHL tenure with Hershey Bears

Hunter Shepard signed a professional with the of the (AHL), the primary affiliate of the , on June 25, 2020, as an undrafted following his collegiate career. He later signed a two-year entry-level with the Capitals on July 28, 2021. Assigned to Hershey immediately, his rookie 2020–21 season was severely limited by the , which reduced the AHL schedule to just 24–28 games per team and delayed the start until February 2021. Shepard appeared in only three regular-season games for the Bears, posting a 3–0–0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average (GAA) and .969 save percentage, including one , while spending much of the year adapting to professional play in the with the . This abbreviated debut highlighted the challenges of transitioning to the pro level amid league-wide disruptions, including strict health protocols and roster instability. In the 2021–22 season, Shepard continued to develop as a , appearing in nine regular-season games for Hershey with a 5–3–0 record, 2.06 GAA, and .922 save percentage, while primarily honing his skills in the . His breakout came in 2022–23, when he emerged as the Bears' primary starter, playing 33 regular-season games and recording a 20–8–5 mark with a 2.18 GAA and .916 save percentage. Shepard's performance propelled Hershey to the Finals, where he started all 20 playoff games, achieving a 14–6 record, 2.27 GAA, .914 save percentage, and three shutouts, earning him the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. A highlight was his 45-save effort in Game 7 of the Finals, securing a 3–2 overtime victory against the to clinch Hershey's 12th championship. Shepard solidified his role as Hershey's top goaltender in 2023–24, starting 34 regular-season games with an impressive 27–4–3 record, 1.76 GAA, .929 save percentage, and five shutouts, which earned him the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding . In the playoffs, he again started all 20 games, posting a 14–6 record, 2.49 GAA, and .910 save percentage to lead the Bears to a repeat title, defeating the same Firebirds in six games. Over his Hershey tenure, culminating in the 2024–25 season where he appeared in 39 games with a 23–11–0 record, 2.80 GAA, and .891 save percentage, Shepard progressed from a limited to a two-time champion and franchise cornerstone, benefiting from the endurance built during his collegiate years. Despite occasional injuries, he maintained strong availability as their primary starter.

NHL debut with Washington Capitals

Hunter Shepard was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the (AHL) by the on October 24, 2023, ahead of a back-to-back road trip, providing depth in net as backup goaltender dealt with a lower-body injury. Shepard, who had started his AHL season strongly with a 2-0-0 record, 2.88 goals-against average (GAA), and .885 save percentage in two appearances, made his NHL debut the following day on October 25, 2023, starting against the at in Newark. In that game, Shepard stopped 18 of 22 shots for a .818 save percentage, securing a 6-4 victory and earning his first NHL win after the Capitals built a three-goal lead. Postgame, Shepard reflected on the surreal moment, stating, "It doesn't really feel real. You can't make it up," while noting the supportive atmosphere and his comfort level despite the step up. He added that the three-goal cushion helped, but he did not feel out of place, saying, "If I wasn't going to be ready at this point in my career, I don't know if I ever would be." Shepard was reassigned to Hershey on October 28, 2023, after the Capitals' road trip, but his AHL performance—leading the league with a 1.76 GAA through 34 games—prompted further opportunities amid ongoing goaltending challenges in Washington. He was recalled again on November 10, 2023, as a precautionary measure with Lindgren managing maintenance, and started the next day on November 11 against the , making 36 saves on 37 shots (.973 save percentage) in a 4-1 win, where he was named the game's first star. Shepard was sent back to the Bears shortly after but returned on December 30, 2023, when Lindgren was sidelined for the foreseeable future with another injury. That night, he started versus the , stopping 34 of 36 shots (.944 save percentage) in 64:54 of play, but the Capitals lost 3-2 in a . On January 3, 2024, still with the team, Shepard made his fourth start against the Devils, allowing six goals on 28 shots (.786 save percentage) in a 6-3 loss before being reassigned to Hershey the next day. Throughout his four appearances in the 2023–24 season, Shepard served primarily as a spot starter and emergency backup, filling in during a period of injuries to Lindgren and occasional rest for starter Darcy Kuemper, posting a 2-1-1 record, 3.19 GAA, and .894 save percentage over 244:50 of ice time. His limited NHL exposure introduced him to the league's heightened demands, including extensive travel for road games like the back-to-back in Toronto and New Jersey, and increased media interactions, such as postgame scrums where he discussed adapting to the faster pace and larger arenas. Shepard later described the transition as life-changing, highlighting the professional environment and the milestone of playing alongside veterans like Alex Ovechkin, who presented him with the game puck after his debut. After each stint, he was promptly returned to Hershey to maintain his rhythm in the AHL, where he continued to excel as the Bears' primary goaltender. In the 2024–25 season, Shepard made one additional NHL appearance on April 12, 2025, starting against the . He stopped 19 of 26 shots in a 7-2 loss, posting a 7.00 GAA and .731 SV%.

Move to Ottawa Senators

On July 1, 2025, Hunter Shepard signed a one-year, with the as an unrestricted following his tenure with the Washington Capitals organization, where he had made his NHL debut in 2023. The deal carries an average annual value of $775,000, positioning Shepard as a depth option for the Senators' goaltending tandem. Shepard began the 2025–26 season with the Senators' AHL affiliate, the , after training camp. On October 27, 2025, he was called up to on an emergency basis to provide support amid a demanding early-season schedule, allowing starting Linus additional rest. He was reassigned to Belleville the following day without appearing in an NHL game during the brief stint. As of November 19, 2025, Shepard has appeared in eight games for Belleville, posting a 4-4-0 record with a 3.10 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. A highlight came on November 10, 2025, when he made 43 saves in a 3-2 loss to the , showcasing his ability to handle high-volume shots in competitive AHL matchups. The signing addressed Ottawa's need for experienced goaltending depth, with general manager noting Shepard's two-time AHL championship pedigree as a key factor in bolstering the organization's crease options behind Ullmark and Leevi Meriläinen. This move enhances the Senators' minor-league stability while offering Shepard a pathway to additional NHL exposure in a rebuilding roster seeking reliability in net. On January 5, 2026, Shepard made his first NHL appearance with the Ottawa Senators, entering in relief during a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Replacing Leevi Meriläinen at the start of the second period, he faced 12 shots and allowed two goals over 35:47 of ice time, resulting in a 3.35 goals-against average and .833 save percentage for the appearance. On February 6, 2026, Shepard was loaned to the Belleville Senators during the Olympic break after a brief recall where he served as backup goaltender for a game against the Philadelphia Flyers but did not play.

Career statistics

Amateur statistics

Hunter Shepard's amateur statistics encompass his time in the (NAHL) with the Bismarck Bobcats from 2014 to 2016 and his collegiate career at the (UMD) in the (NCAA) from 2016 to 2020.

NAHL Statistics (Bismarck Bobcats)

Regular Season
SeasonGPWLOTLMinGASOGAASV%
2014–1531141411,7399513.28.878
2015–1650341132,9329381.90.926
Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLMinGASOGAASV%
2014–152020120502.55.911
2015–16116506332402.28.926
Data sourced from HockeyDB for regular season records and minutes; save percentages and playoff goals against from Elite Prospects and Pointstreak.

NCAA Statistics (University of Minnesota Duluth)

Regular Season
SeasonGPWLTMinGASOGAASV%
2016–17202093402.58.922
2017–1841251412,3937681.91.925
2018–1942291122,5567571.76.923
2019–2034221022,0337422.18.918
Total119763757,075229171.94.923
Shepard started 115 consecutive games during his UMD career, setting the NCAA Division I record for most consecutive starts by a goaltender. NCAA Tournament (2017–20 Total)
GPWLTMinGASOGAASV%
8800481810.97.953
These tournament appearances occurred in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, contributing to UMD's back-to-back national championships. No NCAA tournament games were played in 2019–20 due to the season's cancellation. Shepard did not appear in international amateur competitions. NCHC Conference Tournament (2017–20 Total, Estimated from Postseason Runs) Specific per-game breakdowns for conference tournaments are integrated into overall postseason performances, where Shepard contributed to three NCHC titles (2017, 2018, 2019). In the 2017–18 postseason (including NCHC tournament and NCAA), he went 8–0–0 with a 0.79 GAA and .967 SV%. Similar dominance marked the 2018–19 run leading to another title.

Professional statistics

Hunter Shepard's professional career statistics encompass his performances in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) with the , the (AHL) with the and , as well as his appearances in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the . In his NHL debut on October 25, 2023, against the , Shepard earned a win, stopping 18 of 22 shots faced.

ECHL Regular Season Statistics

SeasonTeamGPW-L-OTGAASV%SO
2020–21South Carolina Stingrays2112-6-22.55.9221
2021–22South Carolina Stingrays2312-9-22.88.9172

ECHL Playoff Statistics

SeasonTeamGPW-LGAASV%SO
2020–21South Carolina Stingrays137-62.48.9180

AHL Regular Season Statistics

SeasonTeamGPW-L-OTGAASV%SO
2020–2133-0-01.00.9691
2021–2295-3-02.06.9221
2022–233320-8-52.18.9161
2023–243427-4-31.76.9295
2024–253923-11-42.80.8913
2025–2684-4-03.10.9110
*As of November 19, 2025.

AHL Playoff Statistics

Shepard contributed significantly to the ' championships in 2023 and 2024, appearing in 20 games each during those postseason runs.
SeasonTeamGPW-LGAASV%SO
2022–232014-62.27.9143
2023–242014-62.49.9100
2024–2572-52.77.8931

NHL Regular Season Statistics

SeasonTeamGPW-L-OTGAASV%SO
2023–2442-1-13.19.8940
2024–2510-1-07.00.7310

Career Totals

ECHL Regular Season: 44 GP, 24-15-4 record, 2.72 GAA, .920 SV%, 3 shutouts. ECHL Playoffs: 13 , 7-6 record, 2.48 GAA, .918 SV%, 0 shutouts. AHL Regular Season: 126 , 82-30-12 record, 2.32 GAA, .907 SV%, 11 shutouts. AHL Playoffs: 47 , 30-17 record, 2.44 GAA, .909 SV%, 4 shutouts. NHL Regular Season: 5 , 2-2-1 record, 3.75 GAA, .865 SV%, 0 shutouts.

Awards and honors

Collegiate awards

During his tenure with the (UMD) Bulldogs from 2016 to 2020, Hunter Shepard earned numerous accolades recognizing his exceptional , including two NCHC Goaltender of the Year awards and selections to AHCA All-American teams. These honors highlighted his pivotal role in UMD's back-to-back NCAA national championships in 2018 and 2019, where he posted elite statistics such as a career .922 save percentage and 1.95 goals-against (GAA) over 119 games, including a school-record 115 consecutive starts. The NCHC Goaltender of the Year award, given annually to the conference's top netminder based on criteria including GAA, save percentage, wins, and shutouts among qualifiers playing at least half the schedule, was bestowed upon Shepard in both 2019 and 2020. In the 2018–19 season, as a junior, he led the NCHC with a 1.92 GAA and .914 save percentage in league play, recording five shutouts and helping UMD to the conference regular-season title. His senior year performance in 2019–20 further solidified the repeat honor, as he topped NCHC goaltenders with a .923 save percentage and 2.13 GAA while starting all 31 games despite the season's COVID-19 interruption. Shepard was also named to the AHCA Division I Men's All-American teams twice, reflecting his national standing among NCAA goaltenders selected by the American Hockey Coaches Association for outstanding seasonal contributions. He earned First-Team honors in 2019 after ranking third nationally in wins (29) and GAA (1.76), with a .923 save percentage and 7 shutouts, backstopping UMD to the NCAA title. In 2020, he received Second-Team recognition for leading UMD to a 22-10-2 record with two shutouts, maintaining his status as a Mike Richter Award (top NCAA ) finalist for the third straight year. His contributions in high-stakes postseason play earned him spots on the NCAA All-Tournament Team for both the 2018 and 2019 Frozen Fours, awarded to the most outstanding performers in the bracket. In 2018, Shepard stopped 57 of 59 shots across three games, including a 28-save in the final against , to secure UMD's first title in 67 years. The following year, he allowed just four goals on 76 shots in the tournament, posting a .947 save percentage en route to back-to-back championships as the first to do so since 1952. Additionally, Shepard garnered All-NCHC honors three times, underscoring his consistent conference dominance: Second-Team in 2018, First-Team in 2019, and First-Team again in 2020. These selections, voted by NCHC coaches based on overall performance, complemented his team awards like UMD's Keith “Huffer” Christiansen MVP in both 2018 and 2019.

Professional awards

Hunter Shepard has earned several accolades during his professional career in the (AHL), primarily with the , recognizing his exceptional performance as a . In the 2022–23 season, Shepard was named the winner of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the of the Playoffs after leading the to the championship with a 14–6 record, a 2.27 goals-against average, and a .914 save percentage across 20 games. He also contributed to the team's victory that year. During the 2023–24 season, Shepard received multiple honors for his regular-season dominance, posting a league-leading 1.76 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in 34 games. He was selected to the AHL First All-Star Team. Shepard shared the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award with teammate Clay Stevenson for leading the league in fewest goals against per game. He capped the year by winning the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding goaltender. Additionally, Shepard backstopped the Bears to their second consecutive title, though the playoff MVP award went to forward Hendrix Lapierre. Shepard did not receive major individual awards during the 2024–25 AHL season, in which he appeared in 39 regular-season games for Hershey before signing with the organization in the offseason. No NHL-level awards have been recorded in his brief appearances with the and as of November 2025.

References

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