INDEPENDENCE, Missouri – The
Missouri Mavericks announced Tuesday the Central Hockey League (CHL) club has signed defenseman Colten Hayes. The Mavericks also waived defenseman Jamie VanderVeeken on Monday evening.
"We felt we needed to make a change and Colten will add another element of physicality and intensity to our blue line," said Mavericks' Head Coach Scott Hillman. "He has a very good skill set and will make us a tougher team to play against."
Hayes, 22 (1/31/90), is currently in his sophomore season after playing his rookie season and a portion of this season in the ECHL. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman played in a total of 48 games in the ECHL last season, 39 with the
Stockton Thunder and nine with the
Reading Royals. He finished with 23 points (3-20=23) and 90 penalty minutes. 21 of his 23 points came with Stockton where he finished third on the team in scoring among defensemen. This season, the Maple Ridge, British Columbia native has played in 10 games with the ECHL's
Fort Wayne Komets and has 48 penalty minutes.
Hayes previously played three seasons of junior hockey split between the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. In his final season in juniors with the Okotoks Oilers (AJHL), Hays finished with 54 points (12-42=54) and 200 penalty minutes in just 55 games.
Defenseman Jamie VanderVeeken was waived by the Mavericks on Monday evening. He had eight points (4-4=8) through 15 games with the Mavericks this season.