{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1999)}} {{For|the theologian|Zachary Hayes}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | name = Zack Hayes | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|4|24}} | birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 227 | position = Defenceman | shoots = Left | league = AHL | team = Milwaukee Admirals | prospect_league = | prospect_team = | former_teams = Vegas Golden Knights<br>Vaasan Sport | draft = Undrafted | career_start = 2021 }} '''Zachary Hayes''' (born April 24, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). Originally undrafted by teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), Hayes has previously played for the Vegas Golden Knights.
== Early life == Hayes was born on April 24, 1999, in Calgary, Alberta,<ref>{{cite web |title=Zachary Hayes Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/zachary-hayes-8481849 |website=NHL.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> the oldest of four children. He played several sports as a child, including soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, and field hockey, but was the most passionate about ice hockey.<ref name="redden">{{cite news |last=Redden |first=Trevor |title=The Captains: Steady climb for rugged Hayes |url=https://panow.com/2019/02/06/the-captains-steady-climb-for-rugged-hayes/ |work=paNOW |date=February 6, 2019 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> Hayes spent his minor ice hockey career with the Calgary Northstars of the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL). He appeared in 27 games for the Northstars during the 2015–16 season, recording one goal and 10 points over that span.<ref>{{cite news |title=Raiders Sign Zack Hayes |url=https://chl.ca/whl-raiders/raiders-sign-zack-hayes/ |publisher=Prince Albert Raiders |via=CHL.ca|date=January 28, 2016 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>
== Playing career == === Junior === Selected in the ninth round (184th overall) of the 2014 Western Hockey League (WHL) bantam draft, Hayes' parents wanted him to explore other options, whereas he played two games for the Canmore Eagles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) before ultimately agreeing to a contract with Prince Albert.<ref name="redden" /> After recording 29 points through his first 144 WHL games, he was named an alternate captain for the Raiders in 2018–19.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prince Albert Raiders announce leadership group for 2018–19 season |url=https://chl.ca/whl-raiders/18412-2/ |publisher=Prince Albert Raiders |via=CHL.ca |date=August 24, 2018 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> That season, Prince Albert won the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in 34 years, advancing to the 2019 Memorial Cup as WHL champions prior to being eliminated in round-robin play by the Guelph Storm.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cicerella |first=Kyle |title=Raiders WHL championship puts hockey back on the map in Prince Albert, Sask. |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5302331/prince-albert-raiders-whl-championship-hockey/ |work=Global News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=May 22, 2019 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>
After being named as Raiders team captain the following season,<ref>{{cite news |title=Raiders Announce Leadership Group for 2019–20 Season |url=https://chl.ca/whl-raiders/191015-raiders-announce-leadership-group-for-2019-20-season/ |publisher=Prince Albert Raiders |via=CHL.ca |date=October 15, 2019 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> he set career highs with seven goals and 16 assists in 60 games, as well as a team-leading +37 plus–minus.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hayes Signs AHL Contract with Vegas |url=https://chl.ca/whl-raiders/2046-hayes-signs-ahl-contract-with-vegas/ |publisher=Prince Albert Raiders |via=CHL.ca |date=April 6, 2020 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> Collectively, Hayes finished his major junior career with 15 goals and 79 points across 272 total games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Raiders captain Zack Hayes signs ELC with Vegas Golden Knights |url=https://chl.ca/whl/former-raiders-captain-zack-hayes-signs-elc-with-vegas-golden-knights/|last1=Hodder|first1=Zach |publisher=Western Hockey League |via=CHL.ca |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>
=== Professional === On April 6, 2020, the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL) signed Hayes to a one-year contract with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.<ref>{{cite news |title=Golden Knights Sign Free Agent Defenseman Zack Hayes To AHL Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-sign-free-agent-defenseman-zack-hayes-to-ahl-contract/c-316530274 |via=NHL.com|publisher=Vegas Golden Knights|date=April 6, 2020 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> On March 30, 2021, the Golden Knights signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract that would take effect for the 2021–22 NHL season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vegas Golden Knights Announce Roster Transactions |url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/vegas-golden-knights-announce-roster-transactions/c-323082722 |via=NHL.com |publisher=Vegas Golden Knights |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> Hayes was promoted to Vegas on March 21, 2022, making his NHL debut for the Golden Knights' 3–0 shutout loss to the Minnesota Wild.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pierce |first=Jessi |title=Talbot makes 28 saves, Wild shut out Golden Knights |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-minnesota-wild-game-recap/c-332091174 |publisher=National Hockey League |website=NHL.com |date=March 22, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>
In the following 2022–23 season, Hayes was re-assigned to begin the campaign with the Silver Knights in the AHL. After registering 1 assist through 14 games, Hayes was traded by the Golden Knights to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for future considerations on November 30, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canes Acquire Zack Hayes From Vegas |date=November 30, 2022 |url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/canes-acquire-zack-hayes-from-vegas/c-338227080 |access-date=December 1, 2022 |publisher=Carolina Hurricanes |via=NHL.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He was assigned directly to the Hurricanes' AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. In reporting to the Wolves, Hayes made 14 further appearances, collecting three points before being traded for the second time within the NHL season, dealt from the Hurricanes to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Jack Dugan at the league's annual trade deadline.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/canes-acquire-jack-dugan-from-devils/c-342069686 | title = Canes acquire Jack Dugan from Devils | publisher = Carolina Hurricanes | via=NHL.com|date = March 10, 2023 | access-date = March 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name="comets">{{cite web |url=https://www.uticacomets.com/news/detail/utica-comets-new-jersey-devils-announce-player-movement |title=Utica Comets & New Jersey Devils Announce Player Movement |publisher=Utica Comets |date=March 10, 2023 |access-date=November 16, 2024}}</ref> He would subsequently finish the season with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.<ref name="comets"/>
At the conclusion of his contract with the Devils, Hayes opted to embark on a career abroad by agreeing to a one-year contract with Finnish-based, Vaasan Sport of Liiga, on September 19, 2023. He was brought in to strengthen the team's defence corps after an injury to Valtteri Hietanen.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://vaasansport.fi/fi-fi/article/pelaajat/puolustaja-zack-hayes-vahvistaa-sportin-puolustusta/7379/ |title = Puolustaja Zack Hayes vahvistaa Sportin puolustusta | trans-title = Defenseman Zack Hayes added to Sport blueline | publisher = Vaasan Sport | date = September 19, 2023 | access-date = September 20, 2023 | language = Finnish }}</ref> He returned to North America after just a single season overseas, signing a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket, the top affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, on July 22, 2024.<ref>{{cite press release| url = https://www.rocketlaval.com/en/press-release/contract-defenseman-zack-hayes/ | title = Rocket agree to terms with defenseman Zack Hayes |publisher=Laval Rocket | date = July 22, 2024 | access-date = July 22, 2024}}</ref>
On July 2, 2025, Hayes agreed to a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Admirals for the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/news/ads-sign-four-to-ahl-deals/ |title=Ads Sign Four to AHL Deals|publisher=Milwaukee Admirals|date=July 2, 2025 |access-date=July 2, 2025}}</ref>
== Career statistics == {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season !! Team !! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2014–15 || Calgary Northstars || AMHL | 32 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 8 | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 || Calgary Northstars || AMHL | 33 || 2 || 11 || 13 || 34 | 7 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 8 |- | 2015–16 || Canmore Eagles || AJHL | 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 || Prince Albert Raiders || WHL | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2016–17 || Prince Albert Raiders || WHL | 72 || 2 || 10 || 12 || 82 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 || Prince Albert Raiders || WHL | 71 || 3 || 14 || 17 || 98 | 7 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 6 |- | 2018–19 || Prince Albert Raiders || WHL | 68 || 3 || 24 || 27 || 74 || 23 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 10 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019–20 || Prince Albert Raiders || WHL | 60 || 7 || 16 || 23 || 68 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2020–21 || Henderson Silver Knights || AHL | 35 || 2 || 5 || 7 || 26 | 5 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021–22 || Henderson Silver Knights || AHL | 54 || 2 || 8 || 10 || 66 | 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- | 2021–22 || Vegas Golden Knights || NHL | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 || Henderson Silver Knights || AHL | 14 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 13 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2022–23 || Chicago Wolves || AHL | 14 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 7 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 || Utica Comets || AHL | 15 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 9 | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 6 |- | 2023–24 || Vaasan Sport || Liiga | 53 || 1 || 8 || 9 || 119 | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 || Laval Rocket || AHL | 46 || 2 || 6 || 8 || 51 | 5 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 12 |- |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan=3 | NHL totals ! 3 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |}
==Awards and honours== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ! colspan="3"|WHL |- | Ed Chynoweth Cup champion | 2019 | <ref>{{cite web| url = https://panow.com/2019/11/01/raiders-receive-rings-after-a-long-but-worth-it-wait/ | title = Raiders receive rings after a long but worth-it wait | website = paNOW | date = November 1, 2019 | last1 = D'Andrea | first1 = Jeff | accessdate = July 22, 2024}}</ref> |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{ice hockey stats |nhl=8481849 |elite=281743 |espn= |euro= |hr= |hockeydb=191336 |tsn= }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayes, Zack}} Category:Living people Category:1999 births Category:Ice hockey people from Calgary Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen Category:Canmore Eagles players Category:Chicago Wolves players Category:Henderson Silver Knights players Category:Laval Rocket players Category:Milwaukee Admirals players Category:Prince Albert Raiders players Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players Category:Utica Comets players Category:Vaasan Sport players Category:Vegas Golden Knights players Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Finland