Jacks Forward Taft Commits to Colorado College

Press Release

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced that forward Charlie Taft has committed to continue his hockey career next season at Colorado College.

"I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in right now without the USHL and the Lumberjacks," Taft said. "The 60 rigorous games I played in helped me develop my game and get used to greater physicality than I'd ever faced."

Taft collected 30 points (17g, 13a) and a plus-four rating in 56 games this season for the Lumberjacks. Three of his goals were shorthanded, tying for the team lead. He was tops on the Muskegon team with 162 shots on goal. Taft had a career night when he earned a point on all five goals (3g, 2a), including a hat trick, in the 5-0 win vs. Cedar Rapids on March 18th. The forward also recorded four points (2g, 2a) in six playoff games. It was the first USHL season for the 19-year-old from Edina, Minnesota who was selected by the Lumberjacks in the fourth round (51st overall) of the 2010 USHL Entry Draft.

"Charlie's willingness to compete for pucks and for ice continued to grow as the year went on, and it's a testimony to what the USHL forces players to have to do to be successful," said Kevin Patrick, Head Coach/GM of the Muskegon Lumberjacks. "He learned to put his size and strength to his advantage and learned to work for contact. You have to battle for ice. You don't score 17 goals in this league without the willingness to go to the hard areas."

Seven other players from the 2010-11 season are also committed to Colorado College; Matt Hansen (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Jaccob Slavin (Chicago Steel), Peter Stoykewych (Des Moines Buccaneers), Jordan DiGiando (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Scott Wamsganz (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Ian Young (Fargo Force), and Aaron Harstad (Green Bay Gamblers).

The Colorado College Tigers are a member of the WCHA and had 14 USHL alumni on the roster during the 2010-11 season; Nick Dineen (Sioux Falls Stampede), Dakota Eveland (Omaha Lancers), Gabe Guentzel (Sioux Falls Stampede), Tim Hall (Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets), Joe Howe (Colorado College), Alex Krushelnyski (Chicago Steel), Doug Leaverton (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Ryan Lowery (Lincoln Stars), Joe Marciano (Omaha Lancers), Eamonn McDermott (Fargo Force), William Rapuzzi (Green Bay Gamblers), Stephen Schultz (Lincoln Stars), Jaden Schwartz (Tri-City Storm), and Scott Winkler (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders).

"To play in the NHL is the dream for everyone," Taft said. "Now I've taken the next step to get there. It's a long road, but regardless of where it is, I want to be playing hockey until I grow old."

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)