Colten Hayes: From Ice Hockey Star to Coaching Mentor and Skill Development Leader

Colten Hayes is a name that has earned respect within the hockey universe—not just for his imposing figure as a defenseman, but for his transition into a passionate coach and mentor. Colten was born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Hayes built a professional hockey career with a variety of teams in the ECHL and CHL. Having spent years out on the ice, he has now turned his experience to helping young players achieve success through coaching and his own hockey development company, Coast2Coast Hockey.

If you are a hockey enthusiast, a young sports star or just someone who is interested in helping inspire sporting heroes, Hayes’s story is one of determination, survival, and mentoring. His story goes beyond game sheets and numbers; it’s about making a love of the game translate into an enduring legacy. Through his coaching with the Olds Grizzlys and his development camps around Canada, Hayes is instructing the next wave of hockey players and changing lives in the process.

Quick Bio

Who Is Colten Hayes?

Colten Hayes is a retired Canadian professional hockey defenseman of muscular build, right-hand shot, and fighting style of play. He was born on January 31, 1990, in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. His career began in 2011. Over the course of various seasons, he played for highly ranked teams such as the Stockton Thunder, Reading Royals, Fort Wayne Komets, Missouri Mavericks, and the Alaska Aces. Hayes’s consistent and dependable play made him a pillar of trust in every locker room he walked into.

What separates Hayes from most retired players is what he did after he ended his playing days. Rather than backing away from the game, he plunged deeper into it. Today, he is an assistant coach for the Olds Grizzlys in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and the owner of Coast2Coast Hockey Development. His goal: give young hockey players the training, discipline, and mindset to play at the sport’s highest levels.

Early Life

Trained in the sport at a young age, raised in Maple Ridge, Colten Hayes developed a love for hockey. Like all Canadian kids, he spent his childhood on local rinks and backyard ice, developing his skills and sharpening his competitive edge. He played in the BCHL and AJHL’s minor leagues, where his defensive skills began to reveal themselves.

His coming-out party took place during the 2010–2011 season with the Okotoks Oilers in the AJHL. There, Hayes recorded an impressive 54 points in 55 games, an unusual feat for a defenseman. He was also AJHL Defenseman of the Year, an honor that was the springboard to his pro career. These early experiences shaped Hayes into a player who valued hard work, team commitment, and a physical brand of hockey—habits which would stick with him throughout his pro career.

Career Beginnings

Hayes began his pro career in the ECHL during the 2011–2012 season, with the Stockton Thunder and Reading Royals. His early professional years were a whirl of team relocations—a fact with which many players are familiar in the volatile minor league sports arena. Amid the instability, Hayes continued to prove himself, quickly earning ice time and respect with every new team he joined.

While in the ECHL, Hayes played a total of 235 games and accumulated 87 points and a record 452 penalty minutes. These statistics not only indicate his value on offense but his toughness and skill at playing a hard-nosed, team-over-self style of defense. He proved himself to be a reliable veteran, helping younger players to adjust to the demands of professional hockey, even before becoming a formal coach.

What Is Colten Hayes Up To Nowadays?

After retiring from professional play, Hayes turned his focus towards coaching and development. Today, he is an assistant coach for the Olds Grizzlys of the AJHL, working directly with junior-level players to refine their game and decision-making on the ice. His approach to coaching is a reflection of his playing days, balancing discipline, motivation, and knowledge of the game to further players’ development.

In addition to his behind-the-bench coaching, Hayes is also the owner of Coast2Coast Hockey Development, a training company that offers year-round development camps for skaters of all levels. From young beginner skaters to top junior players, Hayes provides organized camps, skills clinics, and one-on-one instruction. His impact is not confined to the ice, but in the lasting self-assurance and values he helps build in young athletes.

Colten Hayes’s Physical Stature

Colten Hayes was always a standout due to his physical stature. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, his size alone made him a presence on the ice. He was accustomed to using to his body—whether it was to block shots, body-check, or to clear the crease in front of his goalie. His right-handed shot and reach also made him a power-play threat and an important defensive matchup.

Even in the latter part of his playing career, Hayes has managed to maintain his athletic physique, prioritizing health and fitness not only in his playing life but also in his coaching. His authoritative presence is one of the reasons why he is credible as a trainer and coach. As a model to young players who admire him, physical fitness is just as crucial as learning the skills of hockey.

Net Worth

Although Colten Hayes’s net value is not publicly stated, his long playing career and life post-hockey signal success. His history of playing in the ECHL and CHL and sponsorship and endorsements in his top years most likely positioned him for success. But it is his post-playing life—most notably his coaching and business venture—that continues to grow his income.

By operating Coast2Coast Hockey Development, Hayes is able to earn a living from training camps, individual sessions, and team contracts. The greater the reach of the business and the more recognized it becomes across Canada, the greater its revenue potential. Hayes has taken his playing years and turned them into a successful and fulfilling business model—one that keeps him engaged with hockey and financially remunerated.

Social Media

Hayes has a small but active social media base, especially on his X (previously Twitter) account, @_hayzer. There, he shares information regarding training sessions, coaching updates, team victories, and motivational concepts. He is also regular with sharing information on the young players who train under him, acknowledging them and building public support for their success.

Aside from his in-ice activities, Hayes advertises hockey camps in his business, Coast2Coast, and postures on social media, marketing camps, acknowledging player achievement, and sharing training tips. His presence on the internet further amplifies his influence off the ice, giving him an even broader reach among budding players, parents, and other coaches. His online capacity to connect is in line with his on-ice life approach—always about mentoring and assisting budding stars.

Future Prospects and Vision

Down the line, Colten Hayes has big plans on and off the ice. In an assistant coach role, he’d like to eventually work his way up into head coaching roles, possibly within bigger leagues such as the WHL or possibly even in pro development programs. His dream is to continue assisting young players further their careers, whether they’re aiming for college scholarship purposes, major junior success, or pro-level experience.

Outside of coaching, Hayes wants to expand Coast2Coast Hockey Development into Canada’s best training organization. He visualizes multi-location business with more employees and partnerships with the top teams and schools. His long-term vision is to follow his passion for giving back to the game and giving every young player an opportunity to have the tools, resources, and mindset to reach his or her full potential.