Gladiators acquire Hayes, sign Yoder

DULUTH, Ga. – The Atlanta Gladiators announced the team has acquired defenseman Malcolm Hayes in a trade with the Kansas City Mavericks and signed defenseman Zach Yoder to a contract.

Hayes is a 25-year-old defenseman who was born and raised in Atlanta. He began his pro career last season with the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Fayetteville Marksmen, nothcing two assists in 17 games before signing with the Mavericks, where he added an additional two assists in 18 contests. Prior to turning pro, Hayes played three seasons of college hockey at the University of Maine before transferring to the University of Alaska-Anchorage for his senior season.

Yoder is also a 25-year-old defenseman that hails from the metro Atlanta area. He is the product of the Woodstock High School ice hockey program in Cherokee County, Georgia. He played one season at the Air Force Academy before gaining most of his collegiate experience at Ferris State University. He began his professional career appearing in four games for the Toledo Walleye towards the end of the 2019-20 season.