Matt Hunwick Matthew Hunwick ( born May 21 , 1985 ) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . Playing career . Amateur . Hunwick first played amateur junior in the Detroit based Honeybaked Hockey Program , before he was selected to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor , Michigan . After two seasons with the USDP , and showing potential as a two - way puck - moving defenseman he was recruited to play collegiate hockey with the University of Michigan in the CCHA . In his freshman season of 2003 – 04 , Hunwick finished third among team defenseman in scoring with 15 points in 41 games and was named to the CCHA All - Rookie Team as the Wolverines progressed to the North - East regional finals . Hunwick was then selected at the conclusion of the season by the Boston Bruins , in the seventh round , 224th overall , of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft . As a sophomore in the 2004 – 05 season he scored his first career hat - trick , in a 8 - 3 victory over Bowling Green State on December 10 , and was honored as the NCAA National Offensive player of the week . Hunwick increased his points total to 25 in 40 games with the Wolverines to be named to the CCHA Second All - Star Team . Hunwick received the same Second All - Star accolade while serving as an alternate captain in 2005 – 06 , when he recorded a personal best 11 goals and 30 points in 41 games to finish second among Wolverines D - men . Returning as a senior to the Michigan Wolverines in the 2006 – 07 season , Hunwick took over as team captain . He was apart of a formidable blueline partnership alongside Jack Johnson , while recording a career high 21 assists and posting 27 points in 41 games . Awarded the Wolverines ’ Vic Heyliger Trophy as the team ’ s most outstanding defenseman for a third consecutive season , Hunwick was named to the CCHA First All - Star Team , West Second All - American Team and given the honour as the CCHA ' s best defensive defenseman . Professional . Following completion of his collegiate career , Hunwick was then signed by the Boston Bruins to a two - year entry level contract on June 26 , 2007 . Attending his first Bruins training camp , Hunwick was among the final cuts and assigned to American Hockey League affiliate , the Providence Bruins to begin the 2007 – 08 season . After spending a month with Providence , Hunwick was recalled by Boston and played his first NHL regular season game in a 2 - 1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on November 10 , 2007 . In his third recall to the Bruins , Hunwick recored his first NHL point , an assist in a 2 - 1 defeat of the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 9 , 2007 . He finished his first professional season , primarily with Providence scoring 23 points in 55 games while totaling 13 games in the NHL from four separate recalls . In the following 2008 – 09 season , Hunwick was again initially re - assigned to the AHL but after only 2 games was recalled and remained with the Bruins for the majority of the campaign . He scored his first career goal against Vesa Toskala in a 3 - 2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 17 , 2008 . His goal sparked a 6 game scoring streak which tied Hall of Fame defenseman , Ray Bourque , as a club record for rookie defenseman . On January 10 , 2009 , in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes , Hunwick got into his first NHL fight , one - punching to knock down Justin Williams . Establishing a puck - moving role among the Bruins defense corps , Hunwick amassed a career high 21 assists and 27 points in 53 regular season games . Hunwick made his post - season debut with the Bruins in game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Montreal Canadiens on April 16 , 2009 . However on April 18 , 2009 , at a team meeting before game two against the Canadiens , Hunwick complained of abdominal pain . After consultation with the team doctor , it was determined that he needed medical treatment and Hunwick was taken to the hospital via ambulance . He underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured spleen , and was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs . Hunwick opted out of salary arbitration and re - signed to a two - year contract with the Bruins on July 20 , 2009 . Recovered from his splenectomy , Hunwick played his first full NHL season in 2009 – 10 , playing in a career high 76 games . Despite matching his 6 goals from the previous year , Hunwick regressed offensively and struggled to recapture his form throughout the year to be occasionally relegated as a reserve defenseman . He recorded an assist as his first career post - season point in game one of a series Quarterfinals victory against the Buffalo Sabres . Succumbing to the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Semi - finals , Hunwick finished to appear in all 13 playoff games for 6 assists . In the 2010 – 11 season , with the Bruins in need to reduce roster salary , Hunwick was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Colby Cohen on November 29 , 2010 . On November 30 , 2010 , Hunwick made his debut for the Avalanche in a 3 - 2 overtime defeat .