Hayton’s new Badgers journey fits him like a glove
October 26, 2017 | Men's Hockey, Andy Baggot, Varsity Magazine
Goaltender Kyle Hayton’s road to Wisconsin was no easy feat. Now that he’s here, Hayton — and his new teammates — couldn’t be happier.
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — The road Kyle Hayton traveled to become a member of the Wisconsin men's hockey team was pockmarked with challenges large and small, obvious and subtle, expected and surprising.
The most daunting part of the journey was committing to it in the first place: To leave St. Lawrence after three decorated, record-setting seasons in goal and enroll at UW as a graduate transfer.
The most compelling segment of the ride was satisfying the academic requirements needed to change schools and be eligible to play right away: Finishing off his degree in the summer after his third year.
The most intriguing part of the transition is at hand: The fifth-ranked Badgers (5-2 overall) host St. Lawrence (0-6) in a non-conference series Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center.
"He makes unbelievable saves seem like an everyday save" Kyle Hayton has fit in just fine with @BadgerMHockey ???? http://go.wisc.edu/varsity-8-9
— Wisconsin Badgers(@UWBadgers) Oct. 26, 2017
Hayton is 4-2 with a 2.47 goals-against average and 90.7 save percentage in six starts for UW heading into a weekend duel with his old team, a proud Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association entry coached by Mark Morris.
"It'll be fun to see those guys again and get a chance to play at the other end," said Hayton, who traded in his old Saints-inspired helmet for a Wisconsin-themed one just this week.
The unique reunion was scheduled long before Hayton began executing his transfer, but that doesn't detract from its energy.
"There's a lot of emotions attached to the weekend," UW coach Tony Granato said. "He's been looking forward to this one for the right reasons."
Hayton, 23, left the upstate New York campus in Canton in large part because he desires a shot at an NHL career — he's an undrafted free agent — and felt Wisconsin offered a bigger, brighter stage for such an audition.
In order to make that happen, Hayton devoted his summer to taking a series of classes so he could complete his undergraduate degree work in business and economics.
Hayton, a three-time ECAC all-academic selection, is enrolled in the graduate program for education leadership and policy analysis at UW.
Hayton had some assistance in his remarkable project. His mother, Kristen, is a learning specialist living in Denver and his fiancé, Laura Chappuis, who moved to Madison with Hayton, is on the verge of finishing her online degree work in human resources management.
Kristen Hayton said Kyle, the oldest of three children, explained his plan to his parents — father Lewis is a photographer — and asked her if she would help organize things.
"It was a big undertaking," she said. "I was worried about how exhausted he'd be at the end of the summer.
"But once he sets his mind to something — hockey or academics — I know he'll figure it out and get it done. I knew it was what he really wanted to do, but I was worried about him being burned out, but he did it."
Kristen Hayton said her first-born was enamored with the idea of a fresh start as an end to his college career.
"It wasn't an easy decision for him," she said. "He was there at St. Lawrence for three years. He loved his teammates there. He really loved the school and the fans. He labored a long time over the decision, wanting to do the right thing."
During three seasons with the Saints, Hayton was 54-37-13 with a 2.09 GAA, 93.4 save ratio and a school-record 13 shutouts. He was a second-team All-American and Goaltender of the Year in the ECAC as a junior, but opted to add another page to his college resume at UW.
"It was a huge deal to think about leaving your senior year and going somewhere brand new and working all summer," Kristen Hayton said. "It definitely took a lot of guts in a lot of different ways. I know he's thrilled with every aspect of it.
"He knew it was a great opportunity and knowing he could work with Coach Granato and work with such a great team at such a great school and great fans and great rink, there was so much there at the end of the road.
"He had a good prize to fight for and work through."
Chappuis, who met Hayton while attending Shattuck St. Mary's High School in her hometown of Faribault, Minnesota, said they weighed the pros and cons of him transferring before making the leap.
"Kyle is so ambitious, so I totally expected him to go for it," she said. "He's up for a challenge in any sense.
"I think he was very brave and had no doubt this would be the best decision for him. So far it's working out."
The most delicate portion of Hayton's expedition is ongoing as well: Blending in with 27 teammates, three coaches, one extra-large campus and city that he knew little about when he turned 23 back in May.
Hayton didn't join the Badgers until after they completed their summer conditioning program in Madison, regarded as a major bonding period.
"I was expecting a little worse, a little harder of a time, but the group of guys here is unbelievable," Hayton said. "The coaching staff is super-welcoming. The guys took me in from Day One when I got here.
"I had friends on the team the first day I was here. It's a great group of guys. I couldn't have asked for anything more."
UW senior forward and captain Cameron Hughes and senior defenseman Tim Davison hosted Hayton during his initial visit to campus. The two veterans operated off an edict from Granato, who told them to treat Hayton as though he were part of the Badgers brotherhood.
"As soon as we met him on the recruiting visit he gelled with everybody," Hughes said.
"He came in in stride," Davison said of Hayton. "It just seemed like he'd been on our team the last four years."
Davison had some history with Hayton. Not only were the two teammates on multiple USA Hockey national selection squads growing up, Davison knows Alex Dahl, an Eau Claire, Wisconsin, product who was St. Lawrence's senior captain last season.
"A lot of it is on him," Davison said of Hayton. "He came in and was mature about it. He keeps to himself, but he's making friends, no problem."
Before making the move to UW, Hayton said he spoke behind the scenes with Hughes, Dahl and sophomore JD Greenway, who grew up not far from the St. Lawrence campus in Canton, New York. The feedback was inviting and positive, especially after Hayton and Chappuis met team members for the first time.
"We just got that sense right away," Chappuis said. "They were all so kind and accepting. I think Kyle's meshed with them really well."
Hayton said he likes the mood in the UW dressing room. It's fun until it's time to hit the ice.
"Just a great group of guys that's ready to win, loves being around the rink, loves the coaching staff," he said.
"Everyone, they're getting their work done and doing everything right. There's not many locker rooms that I've been in have been as relaxing a place to be in."
Listed at 6-foot and 165 pounds, Hayton is known for his quickness, athleticism and ability to read the play in front of him.
"His attention to detail is second to none," Hughes said.
"I can't speak enough to his maturity, his calmness and his presence back there," said Davison, one of eight seniors on the UW roster.
"He makes the unbelievable saves seem like an everyday save. He makes three or four of those a game.
"Some of the saves he's made, you can put together a highlight video."
Davison smiled knowingly when the topic of Hayton's academic finishing kick was broached.
"That speaks to his maturity, his dedication," Davison said. "He was dialed in and that's the same way he takes it on the ice. Focused on the task at hand.
"He obviously wants to have a huge year and make it to the next level. He wants our team to have success, so he's doing whatever he can to help our team with that."
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Hayton has a 20-year-old sister, Micaela, who attends Union College, and a brother, 17-year-old Conan, a goaltender who attends Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria, Minn.
Hayton was 9 when his father was diagnosed with colon cancer. Kristen said her husband survived, but was "touch-and-go" for a year or so. During that stretch of uncertainty, she worried she wouldn't be able to fund Hayton's hockey pursuits.
"People came out of woodwork to help keep Kyle in hockey," she said, noting the episode was unforgettable in part because "you learn the kindness of people."
The experience left an emotional mark on the Hayton family.
"It makes you realize how precious every moment of your life is and appreciating your family and your experiences because you realize that life can change on a dime," Kristen said.
The Haytons and Chappuises will be on hand at the Kohl Center to see Kyle face his old teammates.
Kristen said Saints fans treated her son exceptionally well and have been supportive of him throughout his career.
"They saw him as a person, not just another player," she said.
Chappuis said Hayton's former teammates have generally been understanding of his decision to transfer.
"It's a career move and they get that," she said, referring to an opportunity in the pros. "They're all basically shooting for the same thing."
How will Kyle handle the reunion?
"I think he'll think it's fun," Kristen said. "He loves the pressure. He loves the fun of seeing friends."
One more stop on a memorable journey.
