Rookie D-Man Aims For Pro Debut With Killer Bees

Published on August 26, 2003 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees News Release


ROOKIE D-MAN AIMS FOR PRO DEBUT WITH THE BEES

DEFENSEMAN RYAN TAYLOR JOINS KILLER BEES ROSTER

HIDALGO, TX: August 26, 2003 – The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League added a fourth rookie to their inaugural roster with the signing of defenseman Ryan Taylor for the 2003/2004 season.

"With five years of Canadian university hockey and two seasons of playing junior hockey in North America's premier junior hockey league, I see Taylor as an experienced rookie," said Killer Bees Head Coach Tracy Egeland. "He is an intelligent kid, so with his maturity and intelligence he should be able to adjust just fine to the pro level." Taylor, a 6'3" 210-pound native of North York, Ontario, steps into professional hockey after a five year college career at York University in Toronto, Ontario. He scored a goal and contributed 6 assists for 7 points in 18 games last season with the Yeomen and made his second trip to the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) National Championship Tournament, which is equivalent to the NCAA's Frozen Four Ice Hockey National Tournament.

The 25 year-old defenseman was at York University from 98/99 - 02/03 and served as a student-athlete while majoring in Education. Taylor combined for 7 goals and 19 assists for 26 points and 102 penalty minutes in 115 career games at the college level. He served as the Yeomen's assistant captain the past two seasons and was a CIS Academic All Canadian last season for his academic excellence. Taylor was also a recipient of the Memories and Dreams of Maple Leaf Gardens Award, which is an award established by the Toronto Maple Leafs presented to a Canadian hockey student-athlete that shows high academic standards.

Before enrolling into York University, Taylor played two seasons of major-junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Taylor spent the 95/96 season with the Niagara Falls Thunder and the 96/97 season with the North Bay Centennials. Over his OHL career, Taylor combined for 5 assists in 91 games.

Taylor is the Killer Bees 13th player signed, joining goaltenders Jeff Levy and Jacque Vezina, forwards Jason Abel, Jason Hawes, Troy Linna, Bill Newson, Dan Odegard and Justin Van Parys, and defensemen Sean Gillam, Kevin Mackie, Darcy Smith and Jason Tessier. With less than 25 professional games played, Taylor is classified as a rookie/developmental player. CHL guidelines require all teams to carry at least three rookie/developmental players on the roster at all times. Taylor becomes the fourth rookie signed, joining Hawes, Odegard and Vezina. Head coach Tracy Egeland is available for interview, which can be arranged by contacting the Killer Bees office. Video requests of Taylor can be made by contacting York University hockey SID Jim McLarty at (416) 736-5984. Additional information on Taylor can be attained by contacting Chris Due with the Killer Bees.

The Killer Bees will drop the puck for their inaugural season on October 18th in San Angelo and will play their home opener on October 31st at 7:30 PM as they will host the Corpus Christi Rayz inside the state-of-the-art Rio Grande Valley Events Center. Season tickets and corporate opportunities are available by calling the Killer Bees office at (956) 843-7825. For more information concerning Killer Bees hockey, please visit their website at www.killerbeehockey.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from August 26, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central