2014 NHL Draft: Aaron Haydon excited to someday live in the warm weather of Dallas

By Robert Bondy –

Growing up in Michigan and playing juniors in the Ontario Hockey League, Aaron Haydon was ready to get out of the cold weather.

Someday soon, he might be able to thank the Dallas Stars for coming to his rescue.

The Stars selected Haydon with the 154th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2014 NHL Draft on June 28. The Plymouth native said it wasn’t easy waiting around the Wells Fargo Center for his name to be called, but was relieved when the news finally came.

“Today, you know it was stressful, it was a long time, a long wait, but once my name was called it was weight off my shoulders,” Haydon told MiHockey at the 2014 NHL Draft in Philadelphia. “… I’ve wanted to go somewhere warm and figured out that Dallas is going to be a good spot.”

Haydon played the last two seasons in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs, and was one of 41 players selected from the league in this year’s NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 197-pound defenseman made a name for himself on the blue line in his two seasons with the club, appearing in 113 games, including 10 playoff contests, and recording nine goals and 18 assists. Haydon, who is expected to return to Niagara next season, also was selected this past year to compete in the Canadian Hockey League’s Prospects Game out in Calgary as one of the league’s top NHL prospects.

Haydon is thankful for the opportunities Niagara presented him and points to his time across the border as the reason he was able to reach this career milestone.

“It was the best decision for me,” Haydon said. “The OHL, the CHL I guess, is the best league in the world for development, and you know, once Niagara told me they were going to pick me I got all excited and really took a leap in hockey, and that’s why I’m here today.”

Haydon added that his billet family played a huge role in making the transition easier and was thinking about them when he was selected by the Stars.

Before playing with Niagara, Haydon had a decorated youth career at the highest level as a member of Belle Tire. Haydon was one of a handful of 2014 NHL draftees, including first rounders Brendan Perlini and Dylan Larkin, that played under head coach Joe Smaza at Belle Tire.

Haydon mentioned it was exciting to see all of his former teammates be selected in the draft and is grateful for the opportunity to play with such a talented bunch.

“We had a ton of skill on that team and it’s really nice to know that we had a team that special,” Haydon said.

Haydon went on to add that Michigan provides elite opportunities for those playing hockey and wouldn’t have traded away his playing days in the mitten state for anything.

“Michigan hockey, the development is crazy, all the players from the country want to come in and play against the Detroit teams and I was lucky enough to play for four growing up and ended up at Belle Tire for the last four years,” Haydon said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to play anywhere else.”

At only the age of 18, Haydon has a long potential career in front of him and is expected to return to Niagara next season to help the Ice Dogs compete again for the J. Ross Robertson Cup.