#USPHLHistory: Connecticut Jr. Rangers Blueliner Scanlon Breaks Defense Scoring Record

On Sunday, Feb. 4, in a game at the Gallant Arena on the campus of Merrimack College, Connecticut Jr. Rangers defenseman Hunter Scanlon scored his record-breaking 193rd career point and added one more to end the day at 194 to set the new mark. This made him the Premier’s all-time leading scorer among defensemen.

He then also became the first Premier blueliner to pass the 200-point mark after an eight-point game against the Brooklyn Aviators. He now has 202 points in 120 career regular season games.

Scanlon, a native of Rockford, Ill., first signed on in the USPHL Premier in the 2021-22 season with the former New York Aviators (prior to that franchise being sold to the current Brooklyn Aviators ownership). With the Aviators, under Head Coach Mike Stanaway, he scored 32 points before improving to 72 points in 2022-23, when the Aviators finished the season at the USPHL Nationals. In seven total postseason games, he scored 10 points.

This year, he’s already set the single season mark for USPHL Premier defenseman scoring with 98 points (the previous record was 74 held by the New York Aviators’ Danylo Sukhonos). He still has enough games ahead to pass 100 points for the first time for a blueliner in the league.

When Mike Stanaway became Head Coach with the Connecticut Jr. Rangers during the 2023 off-season, Scanlon was one of many former New York Aviators who joined him in Stamford, Conn. He took a moment to send some thoughts about the record and his real goals behind his production.

“I worked hard for this but it wasn’t something I was aiming for. Winning was my goal and was lucky enough to be able to break the record, my teammates and coaches made it all possible.”

“Hunter is such a dynamic player,” said Stanaway, now in his third season coaching the veteran defenseman. “He has made such an impact with my program over the years and I have enjoyed watching him grow as a player and a person. I am so proud of his accomplishment, but the record doesn’t begin to define him. He has a bright future ahead of him and I can’t wait to watch all the success that comes his way.”

Scanlon has also appeared in four NCDC games, playing in 2022-23 for the former New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs.

The USPHL congratulates Hunter Scanlon on setting new USPHL Premier records for single-season and career scoring by a defenseman!

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