The Nipissing Lakers Varsity Men's Hockey team is looking to bolster its offence this off-season, and today they have added another piece to their scoring, but did it by inking an offensive defenceman.
The Lakers have added defenceman Taylor Davis, a New Jersey native, and he will join the Lakers in September for the 2016-17 season.
Davis said he’s really looking forward to the next chapter of his hockey career, as well as earning an education.
“It's an honor to be given the opportunity to be able to wear a Lakers jersey. My family and I are very excited. I will be able to get an education while doing what I love,” he said.
Davis will join the Lakers after finishing up his junior career with the Weeks Crushers of the Maritims Jr A Hockey League, where he led the league in goals and points by a defenseman, scoring 16 times and adding 33 assists, good for 49 points in 47 games.
He also added nine points in 17 playoff games as the Crushers claimed the championship and advanced to the Fred Page Cup.
Prior to his success with the Crushers, Davis played three seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s, posting 22 points in 117 games.
Despite his strong offensive season, Davis believes he’s a strong player at both ends of the ice.
“I'm a two-way defenseman who likes to be effective at both ends of the ice. I am physical, have a good stick in the ‘D’ zone and have good vision which allows me to make a good first pass, and a big shot from the blue line,” he explained.
McParland likes what Davis brings to the lineup as well, noting that he’ll help the transition game as well as well as exiting the defensive zone.
“We are glad to add another player that can help generate the attack from backend. After having three OHL seasons behind him with the Ottawa 67's, Taylor played for the Maritime Champions (Weeks) Pictou this past season, and was the top scoring defenseman in the league,” McParland said, adding that his offensive game was impressive all season long.
Davis said while he like contributing offensively, whatever it takes to win, that’s what he’ll do.
He has played different roles throughout his career, but whatever the coach and team need him to do, he’ll be ready and willing to take on the challenge.
“I’m a team first guy and winning is everything for me. I want to contribute to the team success,” he said, adding he was impressed by what Nipissing had to offer and the combination of hockey and schooling made his decision easy. “It's a small school and I'll get to know my professors which was huge for me and the way they recruited was a selling point for me.”
The 21-year-old is at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds and will be a welcomed addition to the Lakers lineup.
“We have had an agreement in place for some time now and just worked out the final logistics,” McParland said of adding Davis. “We’re looking forward to having Taylor help us out on and off the ice here at Nipissing.”
