Kaiden Guhle. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Guhles and Hayeser

Raiders D partners Guhle and Hayes split team’s Most Valuable Defenceman award

Apr 18, 2020 | 2:48 PM

By the end of the Prince Albert Raiders’ season, the wily old vet in Zack Hayes and sophomore star Kaiden Guhle become a dynamic duo defence pairing for the Raiders. They were a shutdown pair, a power play pair, and if the Raiders needed a goal late in the game, they were often on the blue lines then, as well.

But when it came time to pick the Raiders’ Most Valuable Defenceman, the team couldn’t decide which one—so they chose both. Guhle and Hayes split the award and both congratulated each other more than they talked about themselves in their acceptance speeches on Raider Vision.

“Zack taught me a lot this year about being a good person with good leadership skills,” Guhle said. “On the ice, he taught me a lot about communication and always being an outlet. Zack’s been a great role model for me and a great leader this year and even last year. I can’t thank him enough for that.”

“He’s a great player and a great teammate,” Hayes said of Guhle. “He plays every aspect of the game well, offensively, defensively and physically. He brings that every night consistently. There’s no one that I’d be more proud to share this award with.”

Hayes also was sure to thank the coaches that work the most with defencemen in his career, current assistant coach Jeff Truitt and former associate coach Dave Manson.

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“I’d like to thank Jeff Truitt and Dave Manson for all their hardwork over the last four years to shape me into the defenceman I am today,” Hayes said. “They have so much knowledge and experience, and I was able to learn so much from them over the past four years.”

The last time this award was split was the team Kaiden’s older brother Brendan Guhle co-won the award back in 2015-16. He split it that year with then 20-year-old Jesse Lees.

Kaiden Guhle led all Raiders defencemen with 11 goals and 29 assists. He’s also the top-ranked WHL skater heading into the NHL Entry Draft—ranking eighth in the NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings.

Hayes scored seven goals and 16 assists, a career high for him as a 20-year-old. Hayes signed an AHL contract with the Vegan Golden Knights organization earlier this offseason.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW