Sawyer Hannay Returns to Junior Hockey

Former Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Hannay has returned to junior hockey after a short professional stint overseas with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Hockey League in which he only appeared in one game.

Last Monday, Hannay was dealt to the Victoriaville Tigres after spending the past few weeks practicing with the Halifax Mooseheads. He did not figure into the Mooseheads’ plans because the team had already committed their four overager spots to other players.

Hannay made his debut for the Tigres on Friday against the Moncton Wildcats wearing number 27 and made an immediate impact. He was named the third star of the game and won a fight decisively over winger Kyle Haas in a 7-3 routing of the Wildcats.

“His fight has given us wings. He had a very good meeting with effective defensive game,” said Tigres head coach Yannick Jean in a Google Translation. “Hannay provides a new dimension.”

The Canucks selected the 6’4″ and 198 pound Hannay in the seventh round, 205th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but have since forfeited the rights to him. Players selected in 2010 had to be signed by June 1, but the Canucks did not see enough in the defenceman to warrant signing him.

Despite this, it is believed the Canucks are still interested in the defenceman since they were the ones that made arrangements for Hannay to play professionally in Salzburg.

The Red Line Report regarded him as the fifth toughest prospect available in the 2010 draft. At the very best, Hannay could develop into a number sixth or seventh defenceman in the mold of the New York Rangers’ Stu Bickel—an intimidating stay-at-home defenceman with the ability to engage in fisticuffs.