The commitments keep rolling in for Northeastern, as they continue to stock their pipeline of talented future Huskies. Most recently, the Huskies received a verbal commitment from Nolan Hayes, an 2002 birth year defenseman from right here in Boston, Massachusetts.
Hayes is already 19 years old, and checks in as a right-handed 6-foot 180 pound defenseman. He is playing this season for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL after spending last season with the South Shore Kings of the NCDC. Prior to South Shore, Hayes played prep hockey for both Cushing Academy and Thayer Academy, while also spending time with the Boston Jr Eagles 18U program and the Neponset Valley River Rats 16U program. While at Cushing, Hayes played with fellow Northeastern commits Cameron Lund and Jackson Dorrington. Prior to his commitment to Northeastern, Hayes had verbally committed to Sacred Heart in February 2021.
Hayes profiles as an offensive defenseman, putting up 19 points (8 goals) in 35 games last season for South Shore. In his one season at Cushing, he put up 30 points (10 goals) from the blue line in 34 games, and added 15 points (3 goals) in 27 games as a junior at Thayer. Throughout his developmental years he also was a frequent attendee of Team USA Selects camps. Back in 2018, he also was the 5th overall pick in the QMJHL American Draft by the Moncton Wildcats.
His coach at South Shore called Hayes “a steady defenseman in all zones, but has the ability to take over a game and control the outcome of a game with his intuition and ability to alleviate pressure and make a scoring opportunity out of nothing.” Cushing Academy lauded Hayes as a “skilled D with great vision. Gifted skater and puck-moving defenseman. Will be a great playmaker.” Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal added another positive review of Hayes as an offensive defenseman.
Given his age, we expect Hayes to enroll next season in the Fall of 2022, as a 20-year-old player. He adds to a growing 2022 class for Northeastern that is sure to lock up depth and skill on the blue line for years to come.
Congratulations to Nolan!
As always, go Huskies!