Gavin Hayes Bio
Gavin Hayes (born May 14, 2004) is an American professional ice hockey player. A left winger, he currently plays for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hayes was selected by the Blackhawks in the third round, 66th overall, of the 2022 NHL entry draft.
Standing 185 centimeters tall and weighing around 80 kilograms, Hayes has developed through the Ontario Hockey League before transitioning to the professional ranks in North America. He is regarded as a promising forward in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, with his pro career beginning in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Gavin Hayes was born on May 14, 2004, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Growing up in a hockey-focused household, he was introduced to the sport at a young age, an environment that shaped his early development as a player. His path toward competitive hockey began in Michigan, where youth and minor programs provided his first structured exposure to the game.
Hayes comes from a family with a strong connection to hockey. He has three brothers who also play the sport, a background that has influenced his approach to the game and his competitive mindset. This family environment played a meaningful role in his formative years and helped lay the foundation for his future career.
Path to Professional Hockey
Hayes moved into major junior hockey when he joined the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the 2021-22 season. In his first OHL campaign, the Firebirds advanced to the conference finals, where they were eliminated in seven games by the Windsor Spitfires. The experience gave Hayes early exposure to high-stakes playoff hockey.
During the 2022-23 season, Hayes posted junior career highs with 41 goals and 40 assists for 81 points in 66 games, establishing himself as one of the Firebirds’ top offensive contributors. He continued to develop with Flint into the 2023-24 season before being traded to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on January 7, 2024. That same year, he began his transition to professional hockey after being selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL entry draft.
Gavin Hayes Career
Junior Career (2021-2024)
Hayes spent his OHL career primarily with the Flint Firebirds, where he became a consistent scoring threat. His most productive junior season came in 2022-23, when he set personal bests with 41 goals and 40 assists. That production reflected his growing role as a top-six forward capable of driving offensive play.
In January 2024, Hayes was traded to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he finished his junior career. The midseason move offered him a fresh environment and the opportunity to compete in a new organization while preparing for the professional ranks.
Professional Debut with Rockford IceHogs (2024-Present)
Hayes signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on April 3, 2023, beginning the formal pathway to professional hockey. He made his AHL debut with the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks’ top developmental affiliate, during the 2024-25 season.
In his rookie professional season, Hayes tallied 5 goals and 10 assists in 50 games for the IceHogs. His campaign was hampered at times by a severely sprained shoulder, limiting his consistency but still allowing him to gain valuable experience at the pro level. The season marked his official arrival in professional hockey.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hayes is recognized as a left winger with a scoring instinct, evidenced by his 41-goal junior season. His production in the OHL suggested strong offensive instincts, including the ability to finish plays and contribute as a playmaker, and he carries those traits into his professional transition with Rockford.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Hayes’s career include being selected 66th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL entry draft, signing his entry-level contract in April 2023, and posting 81 points in his standout 2022-23 OHL season. His transition to the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs in 2024 marked his formal entry into professional hockey.
Gavin Hayes Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hayes comes from a hockey-oriented family, with three brothers who all play the sport. His older brother Avery Hayes plays as a forward for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, while younger brother Travis Hayes is a forward for the Soo Greyhounds. Gavin and Travis were teammates in Sault Ste. Marie during the 2023-24 season.
On April 12, 2025, the youngest Hayes brother, Elijah Hayes, was selected by the Soo Greyhounds in the 12th round of the OHL Priority Selection, further extending the family’s presence in junior hockey. The shared commitment to the sport has shaped Gavin’s development and identity as a player.
Personal Life
Hayes is an American by nationality and continues to pursue his professional hockey career with the Rockford IceHogs as a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. His brothers remain actively involved in competitive hockey at various levels across North America.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year represents an important stage in Gavin Hayes’s development as he continues his tenure with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL. Building on his rookie professional season that saw him record 5 goals and 10 assists in 50 games, Hayes enters the year focused on growing his role within the Blackhawks’ prospect pipeline. His progress will be closely monitored as he works to refine his game at the professional level.
Throughout the season, Hayes aims to build on his offensive strengths while adjusting to the pace and physicality of the AHL. With his entry-level contract running through 2026, the organization has time to evaluate his long-term fit within the Blackhawks’ forward group. Each game with Rockford represents another step toward potential NHL opportunity.
As a 21-year-old forward in a developmental role, Hayes’s 2025 outlook centers on consistency, health, and continued growth as a two-way left winger. The season provides a chance to solidify his standing within the prospect pool and prepare for the next stage of his professional career.