Stanley on solid path to promising future with Senators

OTTAWA --First impressions can sometimes be deceiving. Take Ottawa Senators defenseman prospect Hoyt Stanley.

The 18-year-old, selected by the Senators in the fourth round (No. 108) of the 2023 NHL Draft, comes across as shy in conversation, his body language timid with tense shoulders and eyes that constantly wander downward. But underneath that modest demeanor is a player with immense drive and strong belief in his abilities.

Moments after being drafted, Stanley was asked to describe his game.

"I think I'm a two-way defender who's mobile and has a good hockey IQ, and has good stickhandling," Stanley said. "I think I can contribute in all situations and help the team win."

There aren't many boxes he left unchecked.

Being chosen by Ottawa is just the latest chapter in Stanley's rapid ascent, fueled by being part of an athletic family. His father, Graham Stanley, was a forward in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and ECHL; his mother, Kyra Stanley, was internationally ranked in trampoline and his sister, Kaiden Stanley, plays field hockey at the University of California.

Three years ago, Hoyt Stanley was drafted by Everett of the Western Hockey League, but opted instead to play Junior A in the British Columbia Hockey League due to his size. Stanley was 5-foot-6 in 2020, but during the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, he grew 4 inches and put on 40 pounds of muscle.

"Growing up, I was a smaller guy, so my parents just said if I wear double numbers, it might make me look a little bit bigger," Stanley said at Senators development camp last month.

Now, he's 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and coming off a breakout season, with 38 points (four goals, 34 assists) in 53 games with Victoria of the BCHL last season. And soon, he'll make his NCAA debut with Cornell University.

Cornell associate head coach Ben Syer, who recruited Stanley, recalled watching him in person for the first time.

"This kid could skate, and he played with his head up," Syer said. "He made the right decisions, you know, he had hockey sense. Those are the things that struck us as important. He showed poise."

A unique opportunity awaits Stanley in his freshman season. Major minutes are up for grabs.

"We've lost three [defensemen] that played a lot for us last year," Syer said. "So, we need to have guys that are going to come in and have a huge impact. He's going to be given that opportunity to get minutes, to play in different roles."

Two defensemen that played for Cornell last season have signed NHL contracts; Sam Malinski signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on March 30 and Travis Mitchell signed a two-year contract with the New York Islanders one day later.

Adapting to more experienced, stronger competition will be the main focus for Stanley this season. He's already the second tallest defenseman on Cornell's roster, but Stanley and Syer each acknowledge filling out his frame will do wonders for his game.

"I think that'll help him in his down-low play," Syer said. "That's his biggest area [to improve in], just getting stronger, because in time, he's going to be just fine with his poise and the hockey IQ."