Hawgood spent his junior career with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, and made such an impression that the Blazers retired his #4 sweater. He represented Canada twice at the World Junior Championships, including the infamous "Punch-up in Piestany" at the 1987 tournament. (Hawgood emerged from the brawl with a broken nose, thanks to a head butt from Vladimir Konstantinov.) Hawgood was named to the all-star team at the following year's WJC in Moscow, leading Canada to the gold medal.