Taylor Settles '24 Recruiting Profile

My introduction to the game of hockey probably wasn't the same as most people. Living in New England my mom wanted me and my brother to know how to ski, swim and skate so she signed us up for skating lessons but little did she know they were through Newton Youth Hockey. So when the skating lessons had finished, the program transitioned us into learn to play and from there we just went with it. When I got older I was given the chance to stop but I decided that I really liked hockey and wanted to continue with it. For the next 3 years I played for the boys and I was the only girl on my team because in previous years most of the girls had switched to play for the girls team.  Playing with the boys gave me a challenge and it made me work harder because I was always having to prove myself to be as good as them. When I finally did switch over to a girls team it was really different, less physical contact, more learning how to use your body to protect the puck but I adjusted. I am happy I was given the opportunity to play on the boys team because it gave me motivation to keep playing and to always work hard.

As a female hockey player I am hoping to improve throughout my high school experience and my goal is to become good enough to compete at a collegiate level. I am a super hard worker and I find it really helpful when coaches are able to provide constructive criticism and positive feedback about my game to reinforce what I am doing well and what I can continue to work on. Although I play defense I like to refer to myself as "offensive defense" I like to rush the puck a lot and take opportunities but I know when I need to stay back and help out my team. Im flexible position wise and I can play wherever I am needed. This year on my high school team I was asked in the middle of the season to help out on forward and I spent the majority of the rest of the season playing forward. Although I had a little bit of trouble adjusting to forward, I was able to learn a lot about the position and it helped me as a defenseman because playing both positions allows you to know where the other is supposed to be and you're more aware of who you're supposed to be looking for and where.