ATHLETE – HOCKEY – INDUCTED IN 2014
Although he was never drafted, Brian Hayward carved out an 11-year NHL career, earning three league awards.
Hayward led the Guelph Platers to a four-game sweep of Prince Albert to win the 1978 Centennial Cup, the national Jr. A championship.
He starred at Cornell University, being named an all-American and team MVP in his senior season. In his final game in 1982, he made 61 saves, tying a school record that still stands. He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
Hayward was signed as a free agent by the Winnipeg Jets. In 1983, midway through his first pro season, he was recalled by Winnipeg. He stopped 25 shots in a 6-3 win over Toronto in his NHL debut.
Hayward won 33 games in 1984/85, shattering the team record of 20. After one more season in Winnipeg, Hayward was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
In four seasons in Montreal, along with Patrick Roy, Hayward won the William Jennings Trophy for the league’s lowest team goals-against average three times. Though Hayward backed up a future Hall of Famer, he pulled his weight.
In 1986-87, he led the NHL with a 2.82 average in 37 games. The following season, Hayward finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting for the league’s best goalie.
Hayward reached the Stanley Cup final twice, with Montreal in 1989 and Minnesota in 1991.
Hayward finished his career with the expansion San Jose Sharks. He made 39 saves to beat Calgary 4-3, recording the first win in Sharks’ history. Back injuries forced him to retire in 1993 with 143 wins in 357 NHL games.
After retiring, Hayward became a colour commentator for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. He has worked more than 2,000 Ducks games, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Olympics.