Hayden Jeffery comfortable in familiar small-town setting

Dann Tardif / OJHL Images

Hayden Jeffery understands what junior hockey means to a small community.

The 19-year-old goaltender grew up in Grimsby, Ontario, a town of about 30,000 between Hamilton and St. Catharines.

For Jeffery, heading to the rink to watch the Grimsby Peach Kings was a big part of his childhood, a franchise that has been a part of the community for generations.

“I was always around hockey,” Jeffery said. “I’d go to the Peach Kings games every Friday night with my dad. It was a small town, but it was awesome. I got to play with a bunch of my friends, and that’s really where I fell in love with the game.”

The Peach Kings joined the Ontario Hockey Association in 1922, their name is a nod to the peach orchards in the Niagara region. Over the decades, the hockey club has built a reputation as one of the most respected Junior C programs in the province.

Jeffery came up through the Niagara North Stars AAA program before joining the St. Catharines Falcons in the GOJHL. A graduate of West Niagara Secondary School, his development caught the attention of OHL scouts. In 2023, the Niagara IceDogs selected him in the U18 Draft.

“It was awesome, being able to live at home, drive 20 minutes to the rink, and get a couple games with my favourite team growing up,” he said. “I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”

The 6-foot-1 netminder made five appearances with the IceDogs last season. When things didn’t go as planned with the Niagara this season, Jeffery looked for other opportunities. That’s when Trenton came calling.

“I talked to Derek Smith over the summer and came down for a visit. I really loved it here. It seemed like a great environment. When things didn’t work out in Niagara this year, I couldn’t be any happier playing here,” he said.

The Golden Hawks went 47-6-3 last year, capturing a Buckland Cup and finished with the CJHL’s best points percentage.

“It’s awesome to be part of a group where everyone has the same mentality, that you can win every night,” Jeffery said. “We want to win the Buckland Cup again, and then the Centennial Cup after that. It’s nice that everyone’s focused on winning every game.”

The high expectations and talent level in Trenton has helped to elevate everyone's game.

“It honestly feels like you’re practicing with an OHL team most days,” he says. “Every guy can shoot the puck. It makes coming to the rink fun, and you’re getting better every day with that kind of competition.”

Jeffery has focused on the small details, controlling rebounds, reading plays quicker, and his movement in the crease. He credits his offseason training with Ryan Ludzik and Derek Bujan for helping him take the next step.

“They’ve been some of my biggest supporters,” he said. “They check in, they care, and they’ve made getting better a lot easier. I couldn’t thank them enough.”

Jeffery is among the OJHL leaders in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage to start the season. The nationally ranked Golden Hawks have started the season with a 15-2-0-2 record.

“For me, when I play, it’s all about getting wins at the end of the day,” he says. “Stats aren’t really on my mind. I just care about working hard, coming to the rink with a positive attitude, and doing my best every night.”

His parents, Scott and Sally, still make the drive for Friday night games, keeping that same family connection that started back in Grimsby.

Looking back, Jeffery says a lot of his success comes from staying patient through setbacks, particularly the knee issues that at times made him question his future.

“Honestly, that kid probably thought he was done with hockey,” he said. “Just being able to come back and play fully healthy has been an accomplishment in itself. Everything that’s come after that has been a bonus. I’m just happy to be playing hockey.”