Today in Edmonton Oilers History: January 1, 1958 - Happy Birthday, Dave Hunter

January 1, 1958 - The second of four children, the oldest of three brothers to play in the NHL, and future Edmonton Oiler Dave Hunter was born on this day in 1958 in Petrolia, Ontario.

Hunter played his junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey Association, today's Ontario Hockey League. Following the 1977/78 season when Hunter scored 44 goals and 44 assists - his 88 points led the Wolves that season - in 68 games, to go along with 156 penalty minutes, Hunter was selected with the second last pick of the first round, 17th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens.

Given the opportunity to play in the World Hockey Association, Hunter instead signed with the Oilers for what would be the WHA's final season. In the 1979 Expansion Draft the Oilers were able to again obtain Hunter's rights thanks to a backroom deal with the Canadiens that saw the Oilers draft Cam Conner with their first round selection. From then until November of 1987 Hunter stayed with the Oilers, winning three Stanley Cups along the way, before being traded along with Paul Coffey and Wayne Van Dorp for Craig Simpson, Dave Hannan, Moe Mantha and Chris Joseph.

Less than a year later Hunter would return to the Oilers as compensation for the Penguins having claimed Dave Hannan in the waiver draft. Hunter wouldn't even finish the day as an Oiler though, later being claimed by the Winnipeg Jets. After 34 games with the Jets, Hunter was placed on waiver and again claimed by Edmonton, where he would play the final 38 games of his NHL, retiring after the 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs.