Get to know Bloomington HS hockey player Chanler Taylor
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Chanler Taylor was hooked on hockey at a young age. Her earliest memories take her back to when she was 6 years old and her parents renting hockey skates and gear for her at the Pepsi Ice Center in downtown Bloomington.
“I remember the gear smelled horrible. I also remember I loved being on the ice,” Chanler said.
She remembers it took time to learn how to skate and stop. But once she did, her days of playing hockey at a competitive level weren’t far off. By age 7, she was playing travel hockey and has been chasing the puck and a dream ever since.
That dream was realized in November when the Bloomington High School senior signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Concordia University in Mequon, Wis, an NCAA Division III program. Chanler is just the third female in Intercity history to go on to play college hockey.
Considering there isn’t a high school hockey program at her high school — or any area high school, for that matter — being recruited by a college program is no small feat. It has required a sacrifice of time and treasure by her entire family.
With no all-girls’ club teams offered locally, Chanler played competitively with the Bloomington Thunder, a Tier 2 boys team, from age 7 until she was 12. Adjusting to playing on a boys’ team took some time to build trust and for Chanler to convince her teammates that she was as skilled as they were.
“For me, the switch flipped with Chanler when the boys finally started passing her the puck,” says Scott Taylor, Chanler’s dad. “When they started trusting her with the puck, that’s when you saw her confidence take off.”
Russ Guest, a longtime coach and advocate of youth hockey in Bloomington-Normal, sparked more passion in Chanler. He coached her through her first 12-under season before passing away at 49 years old in 2016 after a battle with cancer.
Before his passing, they shared an unforgettable one-loss season with the Thunder that ended with them winning the Wolves Cup championship of the Northern Illinois Hockey League.
“He was an amazing coach,” Chanler said. “It helped a ton that he trusted me and had faith in me. My teammates shared the puck with me and let me play my game as well.”
Seeking additional competition and a desire to play on a Tier 1all-girls team, Chanler and her family made the decision to join the Chicago Fury for a higher level of play beginning with her 14u season. The switch came after much family discussion and a commitment from everyone to help Chanler pursue her dreams.
Chanler’s parents downsized their home, sold a sports car and worked irregular work schedules to go all-in on hockey.
“There were a lot of weeknights of getting home at 11 o’clock at night from practices in the Chicago area,” Scott said. “It has all been worth it, but there have been sacrifices.”
Playing higher-level competition required traveling farther to tournaments in far-flung places. The Taylors’ family vehicle has seen places like Boston, Texas, Colorado, Detroit, Florida and Canada.
“We don’t go on family vacations,” said Katie, Chanler’s mom. “When she first started playing here with the Thunder, it was a trip or two to Chicago on the weekends to play, which wasn’t too bad. When she went up a level in competition, that’s when we started going everywhere.”
Chanler has been with the 19u AAA Blues from St. Louis the last two seasons and is serving as assistant captain this season, while making the transition back to defenseman from a forward last year.
“She’s a very unselfish kid,” said Blues coach Connor Chatham. “She is such a versatile and unflappable player. She will do whatever we ask of her. She’s a coach’s dream to be honest.”
The Blues’ schedule has kept the Taylors on just as busy of a pace. On a weekend with a tournament, Chanler leaves school early on Thursday, misses in-person classes on Friday and returns late Sunday.
“I make sure I stay on top of it and let my teachers know on Monday of that week where I will be,” Chanler says. “We have so much online now that I can do my schoolwork in the car, airport or hotel.”
“And she’s stayed an honor student through it all,” Katie said. “Putting your child in youth sports and watching them succeed and go on to play their sport in college, it’s amazing to watch them grow and develop.”
Chanler plans to major in exercise science. She was recruited to play defenseman but has enough experience at forward that she hopes she could see time at either position. Having played in front of college coaches for several years, Chanler is glad to have the recruiting process completed.
“It is a huge weight off,” she said.
Chanler says she doesn’t feel as though she’s missed out on a typical high school experience.
“I still go to football, basketball and volleyball games with my friends when I’m home,” she says. “I have my school friends and my hockey friends. I’m just doing me; going to school and playing hockey.”
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