can say hello to. I haven’t
made a decision yet, but I’m,
starting to get a little closer.”
Tom is one of a group of
10 Manitoba players – along
with Keyanna and Keyara
Lea, Carrigan Umpherville,
Ashlee Hirschfield, Julie
Albert, Saige McKay, Shayna
Moore, Mya Jorgenson and
Trechelle Bunn -- who are
playing this season with the
prestigious Junior Women’s
Hockey League’s Shamrocks.
Taylor is a Grade 12 student
taking post-high school-
graduate work on-line in order
to prepare for next season.
She is also a Winnipegger
by way of Kenora.
“Yeah, I’m originally from
Kenora but I’m statused to
Whitefish Bay First Nation
in Ontario,” she said. “My
mom’s friend told her about
the Balmoral Hall program
back when I was in Grade
7. So my mom and I talked
about it and we decided I
go to BH in Grade 10.
“I originally talked to Team
Ontario but I’m playing for
Team Manitoba because
Coach (Dale) Bear asked
me to tryout. Dale’s a great
guy and a great coach.”
Tom is committed to
playing NCAA Division 1
next season, but right now
she’s a lot more focused
on the success of the
Shamrocks. In fact, we
asked her to list off the most
important reasons for her
decision to play in Boston.
“Well, for one thing, this
is college country,” she said.
“You only have to travel 15
minutes to watch a university
game. I love being able to
do that because it shows me
where I am in my game and
what I need to do to play
successfully at the next level.
“We have access to ice
every single day. I can get
ice whenever I feel I need
it or want and that’ really
important. And everyone here
is interested in helping you
TAYLOR TOM WAS
MANITOBA’S 2017
HARDHAT AWARD
WINNER
become better. No matter the
situation, whether it’s hard
or easy, somebody will be
available to help you with any
situation – on or off the ice.
“I’ve really enjoyed the
experience of being away from
home. To be able to do before
I go to college is a bonus,
too. Now I know that when
I leave to go to university, it
won’t be as difficult a step
as it might have been.
“And I love how busy we
are. We practice four or five
times a week, play on the
weekends and often have
another practice on the
weekend. We’re always busy
with school and hockey and
we’re always working on
improving and for a player my
age, that’s really important.”
Tom is in love with her
living arrangement, as well.
There are 17 girls living
together in a house in North
Billerica, Mass. She is just 12
minutes from the rink and
it’s a perfect living situation
for almost the entire team.
The Shamrocks play and
work out in the old Boston
Bruins training facility, which
is just 20 minutes from NCAA
Division 1 Merrimack College.
However, the team will play
and practice in the wheelhouse
of Harvard University, Boston
University, Boston College,
Northeastern University
and for the 2018-19 season,
Holy Cross University.
In fact, there are 17
NCAA Division 1 women’s
hockey programs within
a three-hour drive of the
rink in Wilmington, which
represents one half of all the
NCAA Division 1 women’s
hockey programs. No wonder
Taylor is excited to play at
the NCAA Division 1 level.
“I’m having a good year,” she
said with a laugh. “The hockey
is great and love playing with
these girls and I love playing
for Sean.” And Coach Fisher
could not be happier, having
the 5-foot-9 defenseman
in his lineup every night.
“She’s a good player, but
most importantly Taylor has
bought in to the culture we
are building here in Boston,”
Fisher said. “She puts team
goals in front of individual
goals and always puts her
work in front of her skill.”
It’s the kind of thing that
happens when a hockey player
loves where she plays. ❍
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