The Tips received a boost for the upcoming season today by signing prospect Manraj Hayer to a WHL education contract. Hayer, a skilled center from Vancouver, B.C., is entering his 17-year-old season.
Hayer was the revelation of the past two training camps. After going undrafted in the 2008 bantam draft he showed up as in invitee and was probably the best 1993-born forward at rookie camp, earning a spot on Everett’s protected list. Then last year he was one of the best players in camp, regardless of age. Hayer would have made the team, but his family decided his 16-year-old year was best spent playing junior A, and the Tips were left sweating about whether they’d eventually receive a commitment. Now Everett has that commitment.
Hayer is a smaller player at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, but he’s tenacious and he backs it up with good skills, skating ability and hockey sense. He didn’t have an overwhelming season playing for Surrey of the BCHL, with five goals and 10 assists in 38 games. But he was the youngest player on an old team (significantly older than Everett’s roster last season) and had injury issues. In the playoffs he tallied four assists in four games.
This is a good signing for the Tips. With Hayer and 1992-born forward Cody Fowlie now committed to the team, Everett has a pair of rookies who are a little more seasoned and are considered capable of playing regularly right away.
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