The Norwich Sea Captains of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) are very pleased to announce that defenseman Tim Hayden has committed to attend Anna Maria College this fall to continue his academic and hockey careers. Hayden was the first player in Norwich Sea Captains history to sign a tender when he did so in April of 2021. During his three seasons in Norwich, Hayden suited up for a franchise record 147 games for the crimson and navy. He tallied 18 goals and dished out 48 assists to total 66 points during those four seasons, establishing franchise records for defensemen in all three categories.. The 2003 New Fairfield, Connecticut native will major in a business-related field at Anna Maria and play for the Amcats’ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III program. This season will mark Anna Maria’s first season competing in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).
Hayden scored the first goal in franchise history when he lit the lamp in the first game of the 2021-22 season as the Sea Captains fell to the Long Beach Sharks 4-1 on September 25. During Norwich’s inaugural season, Hayden scored four goals and added ten assists to record 14 points. He was selected to represent Norwich at the 2022 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania February 7-8. During the 2022-23 season, Hayden potted nine goals and added 20 assists to total 29 points in 50 games played. These totals included two assists in three Fraser Cup Playoff games, as the Sea Captains made their first playoff appearance in franchise history. Hayden was named the Bauer NA3HL East Division Second Star of the Week twice during the 2022-23 season. The first time Hayden received this accolade was on December 13 after he helped the Sea Captains to two victories over the Bay State Bobcats when he recorded an assist in a 2-1 win on December 9 before scoring twice and adding another assist in a 5-1 triumph on December 10. Hayden earned recognition the second time on February 10 after helping lead Norwich to back-to-back victories over the Long Beach Sharks. He scored once and had a assist on a 2-1 win on February 2 and then added another assist in a 4-2 win on February 4. He also earned monthly honors as the Joshua’s Worldwide Norwich Sea Captains Defenseman of the Month for December 2022 and February 2023 as well as being tabbed as an Honorable Mention for Defenseman of the Month by the NA3HL for the same two months. Hayden was once again selected to participate in the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament February 6-7 where he was a member of the East Division team that competed in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. Hayden played in 51 games during the 2023-24 season, scoring five goals and notching 18 assists to earn 23 points. He served as a co-captain of the team with fellow defenseman Chris Hamilton. On December 1 Hayden was a central figure in yet another franchise first, as he netted the winning goal in a shootout to help Norwich clinch a 3-2 victory over the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. This marked the first shootout win in team history. Hayden earned Honorable Mentions in the Bauer NA3HL Stars of the Week program on January 10 and February 6. To earn the honor in January, Hayden netted the game-winning goal and added an assist as the Sea Captains topped the New Jersey Titans 7-1. He then earned his February nod after recording two primary assists in a split of a two game set against the Northeast Generals on February 2-3. Hayden was tabbed as the Joshua’s Worldwide Norwich Sea Captains Defenseman of the Month for September 2023 and January 2024. He garnered an Honorable Mention for the Defenseman of the Month from the NA3HL for the same two months. At the conclusion of the season, Hayden was selected to participate in the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament for the third time, however he was unable to play in the event due to an injury sustained during the 2024 Fraser Cup Playoffs. Hayden was also recognized as the Norwich Sea Captains’ Most Valuable Player, earning the honor in a vote of his teammates the team’s staff.
Hayden discussed his decision to attend Anna Maria and reflected on his experiences in Norwich saying, “I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to play hockey and continue my academic career at Anna Maria. The school is a great fit for me and the hockey program joining the MASCAC will only help continue to build upon its impressive growth in recent years, I want to thank Coach Nick DiNicola and Coach Jordan Olson for being there with me over my three years in Norwich. I especially want to thank Coach Kevin Cunningham for giving me many opportunities to succeed and for supporting me on every step of my journey. I also want to thank my teammates for pushing and motivating me on and off the ice every day. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and I am so appreciative of everyone who has helped me achieve my goal of playing college hockey.””
“I do not even know where to start with Tim. He is a tremendous hockey player who has continued to work tirelessly to develop his game from the first moment I met him. His desire to be his best is among the top players that I have coached throughout my career. I am so thrilled for Tim, and his family, that he has earned this opportunity to play for a program that has an exciting future at Anna Maria, I know that Tim will be significant part of the Amcats’ program and a credit to himself, his family and the Norwich Sea Captains during his time at Anna Maria and beyond,” said Coach Cunningham.
Hayden becomes the eighth member of the 2023-24 Norwich Sea Captains to announce his college commitment. He joins teammates Erik Masengill (Maryville University), Jameson Bain (Western Michigan University), Sava Makarenko (Oswego State) Brian Essing (Manhattanville University), Chris Hamilton (Western Connecticut State University), Sam Adams (Colorado State University) and Blake Alexander (Western Connecticut State University) in advancing to college hockey next season. All college commitments are sponsored by Eastern CT Contracting.
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