Seafair To Tampa

Some call it the tunnel series, but for Ty Taylor (18) he made his travel plans going from Seafair MHA to the Delta Academy in Tsawwassen to hone his skills eventually ending up with the BCHL Vernon Vipers.

He stands 6’3” and 196 lbs and has his sights and travel plans heading to the Sunshine State in Florida after being selected in the NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round.

The Lightning’s Development Camp begins June 25th ending up June 30th, the following Saturday and featuring the club’s top prospects in the system.

He (Taylor) was named the BCHL top goaltender in part due to his impressive 1.87 GAA, .93 SV%, including his seven (7) SO in 31 games.

He also managed to earn a full-ride NCAA Division One Scholarship to the University of New Hampshire, which only adds to his regimented training schedule over the past weeks.

He(Taylor) mentioned “Obviously, I’m still trying to get better every day but I also realized I better be prepared too. Now, I’m really glad I was working out.”

He continued “I’m just really pleased with how everything has worked out and I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. It’s just nice to see all the work I have put in has paid off and I just want to keep improving.”.

He did not attend the Draft in person, but rather watched from his Family home in Steveston when the TV broadcast went into a commercial break – GREAT TIMING!!

It was at this moment that he received a text message telling him that the Lightning had selected him 214th overall and is the first player from Richmond since Glenn Gawdin was selected in the 4th round of the 2015 draft.

At this point his phone never stopped ringing and was congratulated by everyone that knew him.

He was mentioned to attend the Sockeyes camp, but instead attended the BCHL Vipers camp and never looked back.

He will be one of nine players in New Hampshire’s recruiting class and is currently due to leave for the Durham school in August.

Congrats on this selection and it continues to show the overall development of minor hockey in the lower mainland.