A former Fort Saskatchewan Ranger is on his way to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel and his squad will take on the Colorado Avalanche in the final series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Morinville-raised player spent much of his early career in Fort Saskatchewan, beginning when the U15 AAA team picked him up in 2011.
Congrats to @RAChockey alumni @Bhags9 who will be participating in the Stanley Cup final this year. Guess he won’t be able to make the alumni game on Wednesday. 😏😏😏 #RedBuckets pic.twitter.com/5O1RrYVi3L
— Rangers Athletic Club (RAC) (@RAChockey) June 12, 2022
The Buffalo Sabres selected the 23-year-old in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He signed with the Blackhawks as a free agent in 2018 and recorded 24 points in 52 games as a rookie during the 2020-21 season with Chicago.
Earlier this year, Hagel was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a first-round pick in 2023 and 2024, plus prospects Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk.
With two seasons remaining on his three-year, $4.5 million deal, Hagel has already set career highs in goals (21), assists (16) and shots (94) this season.
The first game of the Stanley Cup Final takes place in Denver on Wednesday (Jun. 15) at 6 p.m.