Sayers enjoying coming out of retirement with the Icehawks

Sayers was originally drafted in the third round by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. He played 104 WHL career games between the Hurricanes and the Victoria Royals—scoring seven goals and 24 points. Before that, Sayers was named the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s Top Defenceman in 2012-2013 with the Prince Albert Mintos, after leading the league in points by a D-man.

Kim Dryka is the man Icehawks fans can thank for the recruitment. Dryka, the Icehawks’ head coach and director of hockey operations, talked extensively with Sayers to get him on the team. Icehawks’ president and general manager Wayne Mesenchuk also credits Dryka for getting the logistics done, including getting Sayers officially released from the WHL to join the Icehawks.

“I wanted to do something that wasn’t just working and sitting at home. Kim Dryka really convinced me,” said Sayers. “He just said to come out, ‘you know you’ll have fun, I know you know some guys on the team already.’ He just convinced me, it’s not going to be a hard thing to do, just to keep me busy and have fun with it.”

The deal didn’t come over night, as Dryka had to be patient with his discussions with the 19-year-old defenceman to get him on the team.

“It took a little bit, you know,” said Dryka. “When we heard that he didn’t want to play in the western league no more and that he was back home, there were a lot of conversations with him. We talked for probably about three weeks to a month. I just told him the pro’s and con’s, mostly pro’s of playing at home and he could still be working and going on with his career of what he wanted to do.

“He’s a guy coming that has western league experience and played at a higher level. Anytime you can add someone like that, it’s going to bring the morale of the team up and bring the level of everyone up that’s skating on the ice with him.”

After the Icehawks won their first two games on the road, 5-3 over the Saskatoon Royals on Oct. 1 and 8-2 over the West Central Rage on Oct. 4, Sayers suited up for the Icehawks. He played in the team’s home opener Oct. 7 in a 4-2 loss to the Tri-Town Thunder and the Icehawks’ 3-0 loss to the Regina Capitals on Oct. 11.

Although he’s been held pointless in his first two games, Sayers believes his slow start will dissipate once he gets his feet beneath him.

“Little bit slow, definitely not the shape I was when I was in junior,” said Sayers. “Other than that, I think I’m finally getting my feet under me. It’s coming around.”

Sayers and the rest of the Icehawks will have a pair of home games this weekend, Saturday against the Saskatoon Westleys and Sunday against Fort Knox.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Bryton Sayers

Sayers enjoying coming out of retirement with the Icehawks

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