Jayce Hawryluk

History

2010-11: Jayce Hawryluk skated for the Russell Rams bantam AA team in Western Manitoba. He was selected by Brandon in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.

2011-12: Hawryluk skated for the Parkland Rangers midget major team and played for Team Manitoba in the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup. He led the Rangers in both points and penalty minutes; scoring 31 goals with 36 assists and 138 penalty minutes in 40 games. The Rangers finished last in the Western Division. Hawryluk scored 3 goals with 4 assists in four games for Team Manitoba.

2012-13: Hawryluk made his WHL debut with Brandon as a 16-year-old and skated for Canada Western in the 2013 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He appeared in 61 of 72 games for the Wheat Kings and scored 18 goals with 25 assists; finishing -18 with 46 penalty minutes on a Brandon team that had the WHL’s third worst record. Hawryluk had no points and 16 penalty minutes in four games for Canada Western at the WHC.

2013-14: Hawryluk played for Canada’s U18 team at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August and in the 2014 World Junior Championship and skated for Brandon in his second WHL season. Teamed with fellow 2014 NHL Draft prospect John Quenneville on the Wheat Kings’ top line much of the season, he led Brandon forwards in assists (31) and plus/minus (+16). The Wheat Kings finished third in the East Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Hawryluk scored 24 goals and had 44 penalty minutes in 59 regular season games. He scored 5 goals with 7 assists and was +5 with 12 penalty minutes in eight playoff games. Skating for Canada, he had his only point of the Ivan Hlinka tournament, a goal, in Canada’s 4-0 gold medal game win and was +1 with 6 penalty minutes in five games. Hawryluk had an even plus/minus  with 2 assists and 10 penalty minutes in six games at the WJC. He was ranked 37th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by Florida in the second round (32nd overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft.

2014-15: Hawryluk attended training camp with Florida before returning to Brandon for his third WHL season and played for the WHL all-stars in the Subway Series against Russia. A pivotal member of the dominant Wheat Kings team that won 53 of 72  games and reached the WHL finals, he scored 30 goals with 35 assists and was +42 with 69 penalty minutes in 54 regular season games. Hawryluk scored 10 goals with 9 assists and was -2 with 24 penalty minutes in 16 playoff games. Brandon lost to Western Conference champion Kelowna in the WHL finals. Hawryluk had 1 assist and was +1 in two games with the WHL all-stars. 

2015-16: Hawryluk was the WHL’s fourth-leading scorer in his fourth season with Brandon and played in his second Subway Series. He attended Canada’s training camp for the 2016 World Junior Championship and accompanied the team to Finland but was one of the final four players cut before the tournament started. Hawryluk scored 47 goals with 59 assists and was +59 with 101 penalty minutes in 59 regular season games for  the Wheat Kings. Brandon was first in the East Division and rolled through the WHL playoffs, sweeping Seattle in the finals to advance to the Memorial Cup. Hawryluk scored 7 goals with 23 assists and was +11 with 29 penalty minutes in 21 WHL playoff games. He scored 1 goal with 1 assist in two games for the WHL all-stars against Russia. Hawryluk signed a three-year entry-level contract with Florida in March 2016. 

Talent Analysis

Hawryluk is an offensively skilled forward used in all situations. He shoots the puck well and is a gritty forward that will drive to the net aggressively. He is reliable defensively. Hawryluk is shorter than most elite forward prospects but has a thick build and is strong on the puck.

Future

Hawryluk was one of the WHL's top scorers in 2015-16 playing for the powerful Brandon Wheat Kings and will look to crack the Panthers' lineup in training camp. Signed to an entry-level contract in March 2016, he is likely to begin his pro career with the AHL's Portland Pirates in 2016-17. Hawryluk does not possess the prototypical size of an NHL forward but is willing to play a physical game and projects as a capable top-six forward who can play a variety of roles.