January 5, 2024
General Game Notes: The host Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0, 1st period lead and the Golden Knights never recovered. RIT would also add an late empty net goal in the 3rd period. Goalie Tommy Scafone earned the 33 saves, shutout win while defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro scored two goals.
Trey Taylor (D, L, 6’2″, 190, Clarkson University, 02/04/2002, Clarkson)
Game Grade: B+
Comments: The left-shot defenseman has good size with mobility and puck-handling skills. He has the ability to use the 10-n-2 stride to create space and separation from defenders. He showed some offensive ways as he would jump up on a play and be active from the back and in the offensive zone by roaming off the point position. In the 1st period, he did not force passes and made good puck decisions. Defensively he was solid in positioning, head on a swivel, and using his reach to break up plays. Although a few shifts were he drifted out of position in his own zone. He was good at using his reach for stick checks and keeping the opposition to the outside as always faced the play and poked at the puck on the opponent’s stick. He had a good shot block in the 2nd period on the penalty kill. While #18 Beck received the most power play time, would have liked to have seen Taylor receive more time running power play. He played a 2v1 rush well in the 2nd period, as he committed the puck carrier to shoot wide and denied the passing option. There is potential with skating ability, fluid stride can open up hips with pivots and strong pushes to open ice. He can cover large areas of ice quickly. If and when he does jump up on the play, he recovers back defensively quickly. He often played the offside being left-handed with #18 Beck as a defensive partner. He stood up for his goalie in the 3rd period after his tender took a late stick after the whistle. He was good on a power play shift late in 3rd period as ran from the start one shift, released a 1-timer that challenged the goalie, distributed the puck well, used his skate twice to keep in the zone, and then took a pass on entry at the blue line and made the pass to the net on #5 Sarsland (goal was ultimately called offsides). He will need some defensive zone development although possesses many good tools, especially skating. There is potential in his game at the pro level.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Russ Bitely