Hawkey back with Swamp Rabbits

GREENVILLE, S.C. —The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have signed goaltenderHayden Hawkeyto a contract for the 2020–21 season. Hawkey concluded the 2019–20 season with the Swamp Rabbits, but did not see any game action.Hawkey was claimed off of waivers on March 7. He started his pro career with the Kansas City Mavericks after four years at Providence College. Hawkey made three appearances, including getting the start on Kansas City's opening night on Oct. 11.The 25-year-old goaltender from Parker, Colorado, was drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. At Providence, he appeared in 125 games, posted a 2.02 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage to go along with a 72-36-13 record.With Hawkey in net, the Friars qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all four years of his tenure, including a trip to the Frozen Four in 2018–19. Their loss was to the eventual national champion, the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Hawkey finished his collegiate career as a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, given to the NCAA's top goaltender, and was named a Hockey East All-Star Honorable Mention.Hawkey also tops the Providence hockey history leaderboards in games played by a goaltender (124), wins (72), minutes played in a career (7,260), career shutouts (16), shutouts in a single season (8) and shutouts in NCAA Tournament games (2). He ranks second in career GAA (2.02), and eighth in total saves (2,741).Hawkey completed his United States Hockey League career with the Omaha Lancers with a 27-13-5 record, a 2.29 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. His first season in Omaha was his best, as he captured 2014 USHL Goaltender of the Year, All-USHL First Team and USHL All-Rookie Team honors with a 22-6-3 record, a 1.99 GAA and a .926 save percentage during the regular season. Both of those goaltending metrics were the league's best.