Watch above: The Yorkton Terriers boast the top-three point scorers in Saskatchewan’s bantam AA hockey league. Jack Haskins looks at the trio who are considered elite WHL prospects.
YORKTON, Sask. – Any hockey team that scores nine goals per game, probably won’t lose too many contests, and filling the back of the net is what the Yorkton Terriers bantam AA team does best. Through 20 games, the Terriers have lit the lamp 186 times, that’s 106 more goals than the second highest scoring team in the league. A team this dominant doesn’t come around very often, if ever.
The Terriers have talented players scattered throughout their roster, but their first line of forwards is truly special. The trio has played on the same line for four consecutive years, simply because, they’re too good to split up.
“It’s hard to keep these three away from one another,” explains Terriers head coach Graham Garrett. “When they’re out on the ice they’re a force and they create that chemistry coaches are always looking for.”
The Terriers trio features a speedy centreman in Carson Miller, who is flanked by Keenan and Kaeden Taphorn, twin brothers who play physical hockey and are also gifted offensively.
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Miller and the Taphorn brothers started playing together four years ago when they were in their first year of pee wee. They’ve been playing on the same line ever since.
“We know where each other are on the ice and we just have good chemistry,” says Keenan.
“They’re such great players,” said Miller. “It’s so good to know them in a deeper way, they’re just great guys.”
What these three have accomplished this season is stunning. All three players average well over three points per game. Miller leads the league in points (71), followed closely by Keenan Taphorn (70), and Kaeden Taphorn (68). One WHL scout believes that all three will get selected in the first round of the 2015 WHL bantam draft.
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Kaeden knows that the draft is looming, and his days of playing on the same line with his brother Keenan, and good friend Carson will likely come to an end. But Kaeden plans on enjoying himself this season, and letting the chips fall where they may.
“I just really try to ignore it, just have fun this year and just play our game.”
Keenan, Kaeden, and Carson are all looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Western Hockey League one day, but for now, they’re perfectly happy to tour around Saskatchewan and maybe burn out a few goal lights along the way.
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