The Soo Greyhounds have signed second-round draft pick Travis Hayes.
Hayes will become the third member of his family to play in the Ontario Hockey League, following his older brothers.
Selected 25th overall by the Greyhounds in the 2023 OHL draft, Hayes spent the 2022-23 with the Detroit Compuware 15s, where he scored 34 goals and 66 points in 63 games.
“We were looking at our first couple of picks in terms of guys that were on the board that are pure goal scorers and Hayes is in that mix,” Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis said when Hayes was drafted.
Raftis added that Hayes is “kind of a mix of his two brothers” who also competed in the OHL.
Hayes’ brother Avery recently completed his overage season with the OHL-champion Peterborough Petes while his other brother, Gavin, recently completed his second season in the league with the Flint Firebirds and is a draft pick of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
“He definitely has a nasty streak to him too, which is going to add elements to his game,” Raftis said of the youngest Hayes.
In announcing the signing, Raftis called Hayes "a fiery competitor."
"He has a knack for finding space in the offensive zone," Raftis said. "Often getting to the right place at the right time allows him to create offence and get an elite level shot off."
Hayes is the second member of the Greyhounds 2023 OHL draft class to be signed. The team signed first round pick Brady Martin in late-May.