Jeff Taylor and his parents were long-time Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute hockey season-ticket holders.
Now, Taylor?s parents will need season tickets to see their son play at Union this season.
Taylor, a Clifton Park native and 2012 Albany Academy graduate, headlines the list of eight recruits who will be joining the two-time defending ECAC Hockey tournament-champion Dutchmen, Union coach Rick Bennett announced Thursday.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Taylor is one of four defensemen coming in. The others are Noah Henry from the British Columbia Junior Hockey League?s Powell River Kings, Matt Krug from the U.S. Hockey League?s Indiana Ice and Griffyn Martin of Avon Old Farms.
There are three forwards ? Alex Gonye from Deerfield Academy, Eli Lichtenwald of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League?s Nipawin Hawks and Mike Vecchione from the USHL?s Tri-City Storm.
The other recruit is goalie Alex Sakellaropoulos from the USHL?s Chicago Steel.
Taylor committed to Union while he was at Albany Academy. He spent last season with the USHL?s Dubuque Fighting Saints, who won the league title. Taylor had five goals and 22 assists in 57 games.
But Taylor and his family were fans of RPI before Taylor began going to Union games.
?I had RPI season tickets from 2 or 3 [years old] to 14,? Taylor said. ?It?s kind of ironic.?
With his skills, Taylor should fit right in on the blue line along with senior Mat Bodie and junior Shayne Gostisbehere.
?He?s a little bit of a hybrid between Mat Bodie and Shayne Gostisbehere,? Bennett said. [He?s a] defenseman that keeps it simple, but can jump into the offense, as well. I think he?s got a tremendous upside at Union, and I look forward to his progression.?
Henry started last season with the BCHL?s Penticton Vees before being traded to Powell River. In 52 combined games, the 6-0, 190-pound Henry had two goals and 14 assists.
The 6-1, 198-pound Krug spent the last two seasons with Indiana. He had five goals and 17 assists in 108 career games.
Martin, who is 6-0 and weighs 187 pounds, was Avon Old Farms? captain last season. He was named the team?s most valuable player after collecting three goals and 14 assists.
FORWARDS
The 5-10, 195-pound Vecchione originally committed to New Hampshire, but backed out of it. He spent the last two seasons with Tri-City. He was the Storm?s second-leading scorer last season with 26 goals and 34 assists in 63 games. Vecchione was the team captain.
Gonye, who is 6-1 and weighs 175 pounds, played for Deerfield Academy for four years. He was tied for second in team scoring last season with six goals and 18 assists in 24 games.
At 6-6 and 235 pounds. Lichtenwald is probably one of the biggest recruits Union has ever had. Lichtenwald started last season with the USHL?s Omaha Lancers and five goals and 14 assists in 19 games. Midway through the season, he went to Nipawin, the team he started his junior career with in 2010-11 and was the SJHL?s Rookie of the Year, and finished with nine goals and 13 assists in 19 games.
GOALIE
Shortly after junior Troy Grosenick announced that he was leaving the Dutchmen to sign with the San Jose Sharks, the Dutchmen landed the 6-3, 215-pound Sakellaropoulos. He posted a 22-20-2 record in 48 games last season with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage and three shutouts.
NOTE
Forward Tyler Hynes, who was a teammate of Taylor?s at Albany Academy and had been expected to be a part of this recruiting class, will spend another year with the Lancers before coming to Union next season. Hynes, who is from Slingerlands, had six goals and three assists in 53 games last season.
To see my interview with Bennett, click here.
Follow @slapschotts on Twitter. Follow @dgazettesports on Twitter.
Source: http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/schott/2013/aug/01/clifton-parks-taylor-heads-union-hockey-2013-14-re/
nerlens noel Mark Balelo Anne Stringfield paczki lent la times heart attack grill
