Hankinson was drafted 201st overall by the Blackhawks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft from the University of Minnesota. He became an offensive standout for Chicago's AHL affiliate the Norfolk Admirals, eventually playing 14 games for the Blackhawks. In 2003, he moved to Anaheim where he played just 4 more games in the NHL, spending much of his Ducks career in their AHL franchise the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. After a brief spell in Switzerland and another season in Cincinnati, Hankinson retired and now runs the Hankinson Hockey School in his hometown of Edina, Minnesota.