I came to appreciate Hayden’s game more and more as the tournament went along, learning that while he may not wow you with any dynamic plays or high-end physical tools, the high-end processing, spatial awareness and passing ability might make him one of the more effective forwards to come out of Nova Scotia this year. I thought he was taking really strong routes as a puck-carrier in transition, consistently working his way into space so that he could operate and leverage his playmaking to get pucks to teammates. There may not have been a player throughout the entire tournament who was able to execute passes to the slot as frequently as Hayden, using a variety of different methods to do so as well and demonstrating a versatility to his game. He could thread pucks through traffic from off the halfwall, drive wide around defenders and hook passes up high into space or even execute passes from below the goal line while dealing with pressure from a defender. He certainly didn’t shy away from physical play either, often engaging in board battles and providing support while fishing pucks out of scrums to prolong cycle sequences.

Hayden proved to be one of the more versatile attackers throughout the event, doing equal damage off the rush and off the cycle. He was able to adapt quickly off the rush to what the defenders were giving him, either cutting laterally up high if they backed off or executing quick short area passes to a teammate if pressure was approaching him. Along the perimeter in the offensive zone he was one of the more effective forwards at withstanding contact, spinning off it and getting himself into space before throwing a puck to the middle of the ice looking to generate chances. His strength helped him come out on top in most puck battles, helping him secure possession and generate more puck touches in the offensive zone as a consequence. Off-puck in the offensive zone he had a knack for getting himself to the front of the net just as a loose puck would jump out so he could get a dangerous chance in close. He earned himself a spot on the QMJHL Cup roster with his performance, where I expect him to be a highly effective middle-six forward for Nova Scotia.

Hayden was one of the main play drivers for Nova Scotia throughout this game, showcasing some excellent playmaking to consistently get pucks to the middle of the ice in the offensive zone to generate high danger scoring chances. His processing ability kept him one or two steps ahead of the play, allowing him to make quick passes on his puck touches and catch defenders off guard on multiple occasions. In one sequence he even delivered a slick one touch behind the back pass from below the goal line that even caught his teammate off guard who wasn’t able to receive the pass. Off-puck Hayden was consistently getting himself into good positions in the offensive zone, always keeping his feet moving to bounce in and out of loose pockets of space and reassessing his routes to get to the front of the net.

Hayden’s competitive and energetic style of play made him nearly impossible to notice throughout this game. He was always first on the forecheck looking to create havoc and stymie Team Green’s breakout attempts. I thought he was doing a great job as well at using his frame to win inside positioning on defenders and win battles for loose pucks in the dirty areas. With the puck on his stick Hayden was using his body effectively to shield the puck and operate around the perimeter with prolonged puck possession. He made a great pass off the rush in the first period that found its way through multiple defenders and landed right on the stick of a teammate for a tap in goal.