The Trenton Golden Hawks have no shortage of leaders on their roster. At the trade deadline, they added another in forward Nathan Taylor. At the beginning of this season, he was named captain of the Lindsay Muskies.
His journey this season has been anything but ordinary. Taylor started the year in the OJHL with Lindsay before making the jump to the Cowichan Valley Capitals (BCHL). He eventually found his way back, joining Trenton in pursuit of a championship.
"It all happened super quick," Taylor said. "There were a couple of days before the deadline, and I was looking to come back. Trenton has always been a team in this league that I've looked up to, and when that opportunity came about, it was hard to pass down."
Taylor has wasted no time making an impact with Trenton, tallying one goal and 10 assists in 14 games, showcasing the playmaking ability that made him a sought-after deadline acquisition.
Taylor has also embraced the winning culture in Trenton and the supportive fan base.
"They come out every night and they support us, and they're the reason why we get to play," he said. "They show tons of energy, and that really helps the team get going, so we're really thankful to have them."
Though he arrived midseason, Taylor has integrated into Trenton’s leadership group. While he doesn’t wear a letter on his jersey, the 19-year-old understands that experience he brings.
"We have great leaders on this team," he said. "We all build off each other, and bringing that to a locker room. I have some of that experience, but just because you don't have a letter doesn't necessarily mean you're not a leader."
Taylor credits the Golden Hawks’ team culture for making his transition smooth.
"It's really easy to see why this team is so successful. I came in here not too long ago and already have been welcomed with open arms," he said. "That makes it really easy to adjust to coming into a new team midseason, so I'm really grateful for the way they treat each other and myself. We're just looking to keep going from there."
While Taylor has had a whirlwind season, he's embraced the challenges of adapting to new teams. He now finds himself on a club that won the Brant Snow Memorial Trophy as OJHL Regular Season League Champions with a 47-6-2-1 record.
"I think this year has definitely been my longest journey throughout a season," he said. "It's my first time ever switching teams mid-year. I'm grateful that I ended up here and I have this opportunity to reach one of these goals of mine, which is to win a Buckland Cup championship. I'm super excited."
A native of Whitby, Ontario, his return to the OJHL comes with the benefit of being closer to family.
"When I was away in BC, I obviously missed my parents a lot," said Taylor. "I'm used to them always being at the games and being my biggest supporters, so I'm super grateful that I'm close enough where they can come out and watch me again, I'm loving every second of it."
Having settled in Trenton, Taylor is now perfectly situated to make a significant impact in the postseason.
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