Defencemen Hayes Hundley and Vinny Borgesi have been signed out of the NCAA ranks by the Maple Leafs in the past few weeks.<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 02, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
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Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n As part of our Maple Leafs coverage at the Toronto Sun, we\u2019re keeping tabs on the club\u2019s prospects, checking in on a weekly basis with the Leafs\u2019 hopefuls across the hockey landscape.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Today, we talk to defencemen Hayes Hundley and Vinny Borgesi of the Toronto Marlies.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Spring is in the air and, for National Hockey League teams, it\u2019s that time of year to mine NCAA rosters and sign players that could one day progress to the point that they\u2019re NHL-ready.<\/p>\n Hundley and Borgesi are coming at their employment in the Leafs organization \u2014 aside from both patrolling the blue line \u2014 from completely different angles.<\/p>\n HAYES HUNDLEY ARRIVES<\/p>\n First to Hundley, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract on March 27.<\/p>\n We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play Video<\/p>\n The 21-year-old Hundley left the University of St. Thomas following his rookie season to sign with Toronto.<\/p>\n He\u2019s with the Marlies on an amateur tryout before his contract starts in 2026-27. Hundley previously had not been to Toronto before arriving this week.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n After catching the attention of Leafs director of college scouting and player recruitment Chris Bourque, it wasn\u2019t a hard decision for Hundley, a native of Ohio, to agree to a contract after just one year of NCAA hockey.<\/p>\n \u201cI just felt a lot of love from Toronto early on, felt a connection there,\u201d Hundley said on Thursday at the Ford Performance Centre, following his first full practice with the Marlies. \u201cIt was ultimately up to me to decide if I was ready to come out of school. The resources for development here seemed endless.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s perfect to get in here right now and meet everybody, meet the staff, meet the guys, get my feet wet. Next year, I can come in and hit the ground running.\u201d<\/p>\n Marlies coach John Gruden, naturally, welcomes any chance to help develop any young player. With Hundley, what comes in the next few years will be crucial. He shoots right and has good size \u2014 he\u2019s 6-foot-3, 210 pounds \u2014 and wants to learn.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Gruden knows Hundley\u2019s coach at St. Thomas, Enrico Blasi, and liked what he when he got in touch to ask about Hundley.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s raw, but has definitely some huge upside to what he could become,\u201d Gruden said. \u201cYou can see it in the skating, you can see it in the size.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely something there. We have a really good scouting staff and they\u2019re not just going to pick his name out of a hat. When you\u2019re an organization looking for right-handed defencemen \u2026 it\u2019s our job as a staff to help him along that path.\u201d<\/p>\n Considering he was not an NHL draft pick, what would Hundley have said year ago after a season with Fargo of the USHL if he had been told that in 12 months he\u2019d be taking initial steps with the Leafs organization?<\/p>\n \u201cI would have said it\u2019s possible, but it sounds a little far-fetched,\u201d Hundley said with a smile. \u201cI\u2019m a late-bloomer. I\u2019ve always had a couple extra years to grow, versus being the bigger, stronger, faster guy. I always knew it was possible. It was just a question of how was I going to develop in the past couple years.. I\u2019ve taken steps each year.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n We asked Hundley about his unusual first name. Though he grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, he said there\u2019s no connection to the late and legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes. And there\u2019s no family history of it.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not a whole lot of a story,\u201d Hundley said. \u201cMy parents (Julie and Drew) just liked the name.\u201d<\/p>\n If Hundley makes a name for himself in Toronto, the Leafs will be satisfied.<\/p>\n BORGESI MAKING HIS MARK<\/p>\n Borgesi, listed at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, is at the other end of the size spectrum from Hundley.<\/p>\n Speed and hockey IQ were assets as Borgesi, a native of Philadelphia, progressed through four years at Northeastern University. There are leadership qualities as well, as Borgesi not only was Northeastern\u2019s captain in 2025-26, but also wore the C for the U.S. collegiate select team at the Spengler Cup this past winter.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Memo to Maple Leafs’ new hockey boss: Hope this team’s core satisfies you<\/p>\n![\"St.](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0403-hayes-hundley-leafs-ncaa-prospect.jpg\")
St. Thomas defenceman Hayes Hundley skates to the puck during a NCAA game against Lake Superior State earlier this season. AP PhotoArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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