The over-age captain of the Raiders was chosen by his teammates as the player who best exemplified what it meant to be a Prince Albert Raider. (Keith Dwiggins/Portland Winterhawks)

By paNOW Staff

Players Choice

Hayes selected as Players’ Choice

Apr 20, 2020 | 2:00 PM

The players have spoken, and the Prince Albert Raiders have chosen their captain Zack Hayes as the recipient of the Players’ Choice Award Presented by Prince Albert Source for Sports.

Hayes, the 20-year-old veteran is a Raider through and through after being drafted by the club in the ninth round of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. As a 16-year-old, Hayes remained at home playing with the Calgary Midget AAA Northstars before making the jump to junior hockey for the 2016-17 season.

Since then, he’s played in all but five games with the club and became a part of the bedrock of the team’s championship culture. In a submitted video, Hayes detailed what that culture is built upon.

“To be a Prince Albert Raider is to have a winning mentality and to do anything to help the team succeed. They are never outworked or outcompeted, and they are always willing to do what others won’t. They are a leader both on the ice and in the community,” Hayes said.

Although his final season of junior hockey was cut short due to the coronavirus crisis, Hayes’ career is far from over, as he recently signed a professional contract with the American Hockey League affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights.

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The rugged defender will bring leadership experience to the next level, something that has been developed in his four years in Prince Albert. For the last two, he wore a letter including the captaincy this last season.

“It is with a great sense of pride that I am able to accept the Players’ Choice Award this year. I would like to thank my teammates for voting for me as the player that best exemplifies what it means to be a Prince Albert Raider.”

This afternoon, the Raiders will announce their final award winner for the 2019-20 season.

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