Surrey, B.C. – The Surrey Eagles are proud to announce the commitment of defenseman Tate Taylor (04) to the team for the 2020-21 B.C. Hockey League season. The Eagles will be carrying two 16 year old defenseman this season, in Taylor and teammate Tait Ross. This will be the first time since 2013-14 the Eagles will be carrying two 16 year old players on the active roster.
The Richmond, B.C. native played last season with the Delta Hockey Academy U16 team in the Canadian School Sport Hockey League (CSSHL). Last season, Tate scored 5 goals and had 18 points in 34 games, trailing only Ross by 2 points for the team lead in scoring from a defenseman. The young defender stands 5’10, weighs 155 pounds and is a right shot defenseman.
For Taylor, the young defenseman knows it’ll be a big challenge but is excited for the opportunity to play in the league. “I’m really excited to get started with the Eagles. It’s a great organization, and I’ve had some great talks with Cam [Keith] over the summer and throughout camp.” A big factor for Taylor when picking where to play was joining a team with players he’s comfortable with. Tate explained, “It was good to come to camp and knowing a few guys, especially Tait. Tait and I have been good friends for the past year. It definitely affected my decision to play for Surrey.”
Tate understands he’s one of the younger players in the league, and talked about the adjustments he’ll need to make in order to make an impact at the BCHL level. “I’m going to need to get faster and to play more physical. I’ll look to protect the puck, and make simple plays to get myself going. Once I get comfortable I’ll be able to expand my game.”
For Eagles fans who haven’t been able to see him play, Tate gave himself a scouting report on his game. “I’m an offensive defenseman with an understanding of how to play in my own zone. I like to make plays, use my speed to my advantage, and making good passes in the offensive zone. In the defensive zone I pride myself in my positioning.”
It’s yet another big acquisition for Eagles Head Coach Cam Keith, who continues to add impactful pieces to a team with championship aspirations. When he talked about his newest defender, Cam highlighted Tate’s hockey IQ. “Tate Taylor’s a special kid. He’s one of these hybrid defenders where you can’t tell whether he’s a forward or a defenseman. He thinks the game at an elite level, and will draw a lot of attention from big [NCAA Div 1] schools. While people might look at him and discredit his ability, once you see him on the ice you’ll understand how good he is.”
Welcome to the flock Tate!
