Coming attractions: defenseman Jeff Taylor

by Ryan Fay

The Dutchmen will have voids to fill on the blueline next season with the pending graduations of Greg Coburn, Ryan Forgaard, and Shawn Stuart.

One player who could occupy one of those spots is Clifton Park native Jeff Taylor, a recruit scheduled to come in this fall.

Taylor, who previously played at Albany Academy, is currently with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the U.S Hockey League (USHL). He has three goals and 15 assists in 43 contests and his +32 rating is fourth best in the league.

For some insight on the 18-year-old defenseman, I chatted with former RPI assistant coach Jim Montgomery, now the general manager and head coach of the Fighting Saints.

UNION HOCKEY NEWS (UHN): What are some of Taylor's strengths?

JIM MONTGOMERY (JM): His quickness and his intelligence. He's an extremely smart player with great instincts. He's very valuable all over the ice, especially breaking the puck out.

UHN: How much progression have you seen from him in his time with you this year?

JM: Quite a bit. His confidence has grown and so has his maturity level. He quarterbacks our power play and he's a big part of the nucleus of our team that's in first place.

UHN: Where does he need to improve going forward?

JM: He still needs to get stronger like any teenage athlete. He needs to continue to build muscle mass in the weight room so he can have the physicality needed at the college level.

UHN: As someone who has coached in both the ECAC and the USHL, how big of a jump is for a player to go from one league to the other?

JM: It's always another level when you go from junior hockey to college hockey. But the easiest transition by far is to go from the USHL to college hockey.

UHN: Why's that?

JM: We're the best preparatory league. We play at a high level as far as speed, strength, and conditioning. The USHL does all the elements of college hockey at a level below. Our schedule mirrors that of college hockey where we're basically a Friday-Saturday league. Our players work out twice a week, they practice four times a week, and they play twice a week. Everything leads to your body and routine getting used to college hockey.

UHN: How would you gauge Taylor's readiness for Division I college hockey?

JM: He'll be an impact freshman.