”I absolutely love it”

When Taylor Davis isn’t acing tests, she’s lacing her skates for her next hockey practice.

Taylor, who turns 14 today, is a student at Lakeland Junior High in Rathdrum. She plays right defense for the Thunderchicks, an all-girl hockey team for players under 19. The team is part of the Mountain Youth Hockey Association and represents North Idaho, drawing players from the Spokane, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene areas.

“It’s not a very popular sport, but I absolutely love it,” she said.

Taylor is one of the more rounded players and can move between positions easily, said head coach Amber Nadreau. She added that Taylor’s coachable spirit has been one of her greatest strengths, and her skating skills also have improved, she has more confidence and she’s able to anticipate her teammates’ moves.

“I could stick her on any place on the ice, and she’d figure it out,” Nadreau said. “There’s not many I could do that with.”

When the pressure kicks in and opponents approach, Taylor will look up, see the open ice and see the open player instead of passing on a whim. Some of her passes landed points, Nadreau said.

Taylor said the sport offers a mental challenge that keeps her on the ice with numerous puck plays and possibilities. She said hockey also gives her a chance to unleash her competitive side.

“It’s really intense,” she said. “You get to push them around, and there are certain techniques you use so you don’t get called for a penalty.”

Nadreau said Taylor has potential to be a standout but works well as the silent leader on the team. She’s the team captain, often leading by example. During practice, she’s the first one on a drill and cheers her teammates on until everybody’s done.

Taylor said when it’s game time, she always wants to be the first to the puck.

“When you’re playing, you know you have to do your best – you have to go, go, go.”

She has been on the go since she was 6. Her mom, Jill, took her to Spokane Chiefs games, and she decided the ice was where she wanted to be.

Her mom was shocked that Taylor wanted to play ice hockey, but she said the family supports her sport of choice.

“I wanted her to know that she can do anything,” her mom said.

Taylor went to a few open skate sessions and had enough natural skill to start playing with others her age. After picking up the basics at a beginners hockey class, she started playing on co-ed teams.

“I wanted my child involved in something positive,” Jill said. “It keeps her busy and it keeps her focused.”

The team’s season lasts from October to March, including practices twice a week and about three games a month.

Taylor said the hardest part has been developing her skills, such as stick-handling and skating. She takes every chance she gets to improve her game, including off-season workouts and training camps. She’s been to camps in Michigan, Minnesota and Toronto.

She said the camps have helped her game, and she made the Idaho state team this year, which brought the most points against teams from Wyoming and Montana. Her next camp adventure is an all-girl tryout starting Wednesday. During the camp, players are looked at by coaches and scouts from across the country.

Nadreau said Taylor knows where she wants to go with the sport, and having long-term plans puts her ahead of the curve. Taylor said she prefers the drive and devotion on co-ed teams and will play her last season with the guys next year. After that, she plans to devote her time with the Thunderchicks and go on to play with the pros.

“This is my total dream for life,” she said. “I want to go to college, play for a college team and get a college scholarship.”