Swamp Rabbits re-sign Hayton

Monday, September 9th

GREENVILLE, S.C. —The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have agreed to terms with goaltender Kyle Hayton for the 2019–20 season.

The Swamp Rabbits are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes and the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers.Hayton spent his first full professional season with three teams. He began the season with the Fort Wayne Komets before being traded to Allen. After being waived by the Americans, the Swamp Rabbits claimed him on Feb. 26 and threw him into the fire. He started six games for Greenville, including two of the last three games of the year. With Greenville, he posted a 3.03 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage while allowing three or fewer goals in four of his six starts.Hayton split his collegiate career between St. Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin. He excelled greatly with the Saints, netting ECAC Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie Team and Second All-Star Team honors in his freshman year when he went 20-13-3 with a 1.95 goals-against average and a save percentage of .937. He also earned a nomination for the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in the NCAA. His junior year saw him add to the trophy case as the ECAC Hockey's Ken Dryden Goaltender of the Year Award, First Team All-ECAC, Second Team CCM/AHCA East Region All-American, the ECAC Hockey Media Association's Goaltender of the Year, and First Team All-ECACHMA selection.His sole season with the Badgers gave him the keys to the starting job, and with that, the attention of the hockey world, as a member of the Mike Richter Award watch list for the second time in his career, and noted as a Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch.Hayton's junior and prep school career saw him play for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League for two seasons. He took part in the USHL All-Star Game during the 2013–14 season.