Hanson is Winterhawks’ dependable defenseman

Hanson has scored five goals since, including one playoff goal. So it’s not a surprise that he can describe the “lucky” goal he scored against the Vancouver Giants as a 16-year-old.

“Brad Ross came around the corner and threw me a saucer pass,” Hanson recalled. “(The shot) hit one guy’s shin pad, bounced toward the corner, hit another guy’s shin pad then went back in far side.”

Like that first goal, Hanson can vividly describe each fight he’s been in — all three of them.

“I like to play physical, but I’m not too much of a fighter,” he said.

But he’s had to fight to get onto the ice. Now one of three over-age Winterhawks in his final season of junior hockey, Hanson played in all 72 games in both his 17-year-old and 18-year-old seasons, and in 68 last season. In addition to his 304 regular-season games, Hanson has played in 58 playoff games — but usually in a supporting role.

“It’s disappointing. Anyone in this league, you look back at their (youth) hockey and they’re the go-to guy on their team,” Hanson said. “When you come here there’s some ego check that happens. I definitely thought I’d be a top-six (defenseman) for sure in the first year, top-four by the third year.”

Instead, he played an understudy role as the Winterhawks acquired a series of talented defensemen — William Wrenn, Seth Jones, Matt Dumba and Garrett Harr — to shore up championship-contending teams.

“That has been hard on me. But all you can really do is try to make yourself better each day in practice and try to do what you can with the ice time that you get,” Hanson said.

That’s a message from former Winterhawks Mike Johnston that resonated with Hanson. “I think the biggest thing that Mike taught me is to work on things extra hard in practice when you’re not getting a lot of playing time,” he said.

Winterhawks coach Jamie Kompon said that mature attitude serves the team well both as a steady player in his own zone and as someone who looks out for his younger teammates.

“The veteran leadership he provides is important,” Kompon said. “There is a reason why he has played 300 games in this league.”